States Without Legalized Cannabis Have Higher Rate of Poison Control Calls for Delta-8 THC Products, Says Recent Study

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A recent study published in the Journal of Medical Toxicology (1), titled, “Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposures Reported to US Poison Centers: Variations Among US States and Regions and Associations with Public Policy,” is expressing the possibility that Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products may be leading to a higher number of calls being made to poison control centers in states where cannabis is still considered illegal. Currently, the cannabis industry is unregulated with no uniform standards put in place. This can lead to significant variations in purity and potency in products (2). Researchers from Ohio State University’s College of Medicine (Columbus, Ohio) (2,3), reviewed data from the National Poison Data System (NPDS) during the time period of January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022 where the primary substance was Delta-8 THC. The results showed that there were 4,925 exposures linked to Delta-8 THC. 69.8% of the exposures took place in the southern US (2).

The variables researchers investigated were, “Year, age group, sex, route of exposure (ingestion, inhalation, or other), reason for exposure, exposure type (single-substance or multiple-substance exposure), US region (Northeast, Midwest, South, and West), highest level of health care received, and medical outcome,” (3).

According to the study (2), “The rate of exposure per 100,000 US population increased by 79.2% from 0.53 in 2021 to 0.95 in 2022. In 2022, the mean rate of ∆8-THC exposures in states where cannabis use was illegal was 1.64 per 100,000 population (95% CI: 1.08-2.20) compared with 0.52 (95% CI: 0.29-0.76) in states where cannabis use was legal (P = 0.0010). In 2022, the mean rate of ∆8-THC exposures in states where ∆8-THC was unregulated was 1.36 per 100,000 population (95% CI: 0.95-1.77) compared with 0.17 (95% CI: 0.06-0.27) in states where ∆8-THC was banned (P < 0.0001).”

From the NPDS data, medical outcomes were analyzed via severity. For example, the study listed these outcomes by, “(1) no effect, (2) minor effect (minimal symptoms that generally resolve rapidly), (3) moderate effect (more pronounced, prolonged, or systemic symptoms than minor effect), (4) major effect (symptoms are life-threatening or result in significant disability or disfigurement), (5) death, (6) not followed (minimal clinical effects possible), (7) unrelated effect, or (8) unable to follow (judged as potentially toxic exposure). The category, ‘unable to follow (judged as potential toxic exposure),’ was considered unknown during analyses,” (3).

The research showed that a significant amount of Delta-8 THC exposures took place in the southern portion of the US (2). The states in this area, have for the most part, have not legalized cannabis and consider it illegal.

“The rate of ∆8-THC exposures reported to PCs [poison control centers] was significantly lower among states … where cannabis use was legal,” the study’s authors commented (2). “Consistent regulation of ∆8-THC across all states should be adopted.”

Norml reported that the 2018 Farm Bill entitled the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate hemp-derived products (2). The organization has yet to utilize this ability. Regulators with the FDA claimed Congress is the establishment that needs to be creating a regulatory framework to watch over the “commercial production and marketing of hemp-derived cannabinoid products”, (2).

The conclusion researchers arrived at from the study was that Delta-8 THC exposures which were reported to US poison control centers rose 79% from 2021 to 2022 (1,3). Two-thirds of the cannabinoid exposures resulted in the southern portion of the US. States where cannabis was legalized showed a lower rate of Delta-8 THC exposures. The study’s final remarks were that, “Consistent regulation of ∆8-THC across all states should be adopted,” (1,3).

References

1. Smith, G. A.; Burgess, A.; Badeti, J.; Rine, N. I.; Gaw, C. E.; Middelberg, L. K.; Spiller, H. A.; Hays, H. L. Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol exposures reported to US Poison Centers: Variations among US states and regions and associations with public policy https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39168936/ (accessed Sep 5, 2024).
2. Norml. More calls to poison control involving delta-8 products in states without legalization https://norml.org/news/2024/08/29/study-states-without-legal-access-to-cannabis-experience-elevated-rates-of-poison-control-incidents-involving-delta-8-thc-products/ (accessed Sep 5, 2024).
3. Smith, G. A.; Burgess, A.; Badeti, J.; Rine, N. I.; Gaw, C. E.; Middelberg, L. K.; Spiller, H. A.; Hays, H. L. Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol exposures reported to US Poison Centers: Variations among US states and regions and associations with public policy - Journal of Medical Toxicology https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13181-024-01030-z (accessed Sep 6, 2024).