Potency and safety analysis of hemp delta-9 products: the hemp vs. cannabis demarcation problem
Abstract Background Hemp-derived delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (∆9 THC) products are freely available for sale across much of the USA, but the federal legislation allowing their sale places only minimal requirements on companies. Products must contain no more than 0.3% ∆9 THC by dry weight, but no li...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-07-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Cannabis Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-023-00197-6 |
| _version_ | 1797451649747255296 |
|---|---|
| author | Lee Johnson Marc Malone Erik Paulson Josh Swider David Marelius Susan Andersen Dominic Black |
| author_facet | Lee Johnson Marc Malone Erik Paulson Josh Swider David Marelius Susan Andersen Dominic Black |
| author_sort | Lee Johnson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Hemp-derived delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (∆9 THC) products are freely available for sale across much of the USA, but the federal legislation allowing their sale places only minimal requirements on companies. Products must contain no more than 0.3% ∆9 THC by dry weight, but no limit is placed on overall dosage and there is no requirement that products are tested. However, some states—such as Colorado—specifically prohibit products created by “chemically modifying” a natural hemp component. Methods Fifty-three ∆9 THC products were ordered and submitted to InfiniteCAL laboratory for analysis. The lab analysis considered potency, the presence of impurities, and whether the ∆9 THC present was natural or converted from CBD. The presence of age verification, company-conducted testing, and warning labels was also considered. Results While 96.2% of products were under the legal ∆9 THC limit, 66.0% differed from their stated dosage by more than 10%, and although 84.9% provided a lab report to customers, 71.1% of these did not check for impurities. Additionally, 49% of products converted CBD to THC to achieve their levels, and only 15.1% performed age verification at checkout. Conclusions Despite some positive findings, the results show that hemp ∆9 THC companies offer inaccurately labeled products that contain more THC than would be allowed in adult-use states. This raises serious issues around consumer safety, and consent when consuming intoxicating products. Steps to boost accountability for companies must be considered by either the industry or lawmakers if intoxicating hemp products are to remain on the market safely. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:57:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d40b288c7f564ede96ff37e04231b9e7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2522-5782 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:57:32Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Cannabis Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-d40b288c7f564ede96ff37e04231b9e72023-11-26T14:07:36ZengBMCJournal of Cannabis Research2522-57822023-07-015111010.1186/s42238-023-00197-6Potency and safety analysis of hemp delta-9 products: the hemp vs. cannabis demarcation problemLee Johnson0Marc Malone1Erik Paulson2Josh Swider3David Marelius4Susan Andersen5Dominic Black6CBD OracleCBD OracleInfinite Chemical Analysis LabsInfinite Chemical Analysis LabsInfinite Chemical Analysis LabsInfinite Chemical Analysis LabsInfinite Chemical Analysis LabsAbstract Background Hemp-derived delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (∆9 THC) products are freely available for sale across much of the USA, but the federal legislation allowing their sale places only minimal requirements on companies. Products must contain no more than 0.3% ∆9 THC by dry weight, but no limit is placed on overall dosage and there is no requirement that products are tested. However, some states—such as Colorado—specifically prohibit products created by “chemically modifying” a natural hemp component. Methods Fifty-three ∆9 THC products were ordered and submitted to InfiniteCAL laboratory for analysis. The lab analysis considered potency, the presence of impurities, and whether the ∆9 THC present was natural or converted from CBD. The presence of age verification, company-conducted testing, and warning labels was also considered. Results While 96.2% of products were under the legal ∆9 THC limit, 66.0% differed from their stated dosage by more than 10%, and although 84.9% provided a lab report to customers, 71.1% of these did not check for impurities. Additionally, 49% of products converted CBD to THC to achieve their levels, and only 15.1% performed age verification at checkout. Conclusions Despite some positive findings, the results show that hemp ∆9 THC companies offer inaccurately labeled products that contain more THC than would be allowed in adult-use states. This raises serious issues around consumer safety, and consent when consuming intoxicating products. Steps to boost accountability for companies must be considered by either the industry or lawmakers if intoxicating hemp products are to remain on the market safely.https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-023-00197-6HempDelta-9 THCFarm BillAgriculture Improvement ActCannabinoid potency |
| spellingShingle | Lee Johnson Marc Malone Erik Paulson Josh Swider David Marelius Susan Andersen Dominic Black Potency and safety analysis of hemp delta-9 products: the hemp vs. cannabis demarcation problem Journal of Cannabis Research Hemp Delta-9 THC Farm Bill Agriculture Improvement Act Cannabinoid potency |
| title | Potency and safety analysis of hemp delta-9 products: the hemp vs. cannabis demarcation problem |
| title_full | Potency and safety analysis of hemp delta-9 products: the hemp vs. cannabis demarcation problem |
| title_fullStr | Potency and safety analysis of hemp delta-9 products: the hemp vs. cannabis demarcation problem |
| title_full_unstemmed | Potency and safety analysis of hemp delta-9 products: the hemp vs. cannabis demarcation problem |
| title_short | Potency and safety analysis of hemp delta-9 products: the hemp vs. cannabis demarcation problem |
| title_sort | potency and safety analysis of hemp delta 9 products the hemp vs cannabis demarcation problem |
| topic | Hemp Delta-9 THC Farm Bill Agriculture Improvement Act Cannabinoid potency |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-023-00197-6 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT leejohnson potencyandsafetyanalysisofhempdelta9productsthehempvscannabisdemarcationproblem AT marcmalone potencyandsafetyanalysisofhempdelta9productsthehempvscannabisdemarcationproblem AT erikpaulson potencyandsafetyanalysisofhempdelta9productsthehempvscannabisdemarcationproblem AT joshswider potencyandsafetyanalysisofhempdelta9productsthehempvscannabisdemarcationproblem AT davidmarelius potencyandsafetyanalysisofhempdelta9productsthehempvscannabisdemarcationproblem AT susanandersen potencyandsafetyanalysisofhempdelta9productsthehempvscannabisdemarcationproblem AT dominicblack potencyandsafetyanalysisofhempdelta9productsthehempvscannabisdemarcationproblem |