Delta-8: 9 things to know about the legal THC product sold in Central Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. — Have you heard of delta-8? It’s a legal THC product that’s being sold right now all across Central Florida.

Here are 9 things you need to know about the products, according to the Food and Drug Administration:

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1. Delta-8 is a psychoactive substance found in the Cannabis sativa plant. Marijuana and hemp are two varieties of that plant.

2. FDA officials say delta-8 THC is one of over 100 cannabinoids produced naturally by the cannabis plant. But it’s not found in significant amounts in the plant. So concentrated amounts of delta-8 THC are typically manufactured from hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD).

Read: Legal loophole allowing THC products banned elsewhere to be sold in Florida

3. Delta-8 THC products have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA for safe use and officials say the products may be marketed in ways that put public health at risk.

4. The FDA is concerned by the proliferation of products that contain delta-8 THC and are marketed for therapeutic or medical uses, although they have not been approved by the FDA.

Read: Florida lowers amount of medical marijuana doctors can prescribe to patients

5. The FDA has received adverse event reports involving delta-8 THC-containing products. The FDA received 104 reports of adverse events in patients who consumed delta-8 THC products between Dec. 1, 2020, and Feb. 28, 2022. National poison control centers received 2,362 exposure cases of delta-8 THC products during that same time frame.

6. Delta-8 THC has psychoactive and intoxicating effects.

7. Delta-8 THC products often involve the use of potentially harmful chemicals to create the concentrations of delta-8 THC claimed in the marketplace.

Read: Pediatric hospitals see spike in respiratory illnesses among young children

8. Delta-8 THC products should be kept out of the reach of children and pets. FDA officials said manufacturers are packaging and labeling these products in ways that may appeal to children (gummies, chocolates, cookies, candies, etc.). These products may be purchased online, as well as at a variety of retailers, including convenience stores and gas stations, where there may not be age limits on who can purchase these products.

9. The FDA is actively working with federal and state partners to further address the concerns related to these products and is monitoring the market for product complaints, adverse events, and other emerging cannabis-derived products of potential concern.

Legal loophole allowing THC products banned elsewhere to be sold in Florida A substance that gets you high is not regulated and has made users sick and even proven fatal. (WFTV)

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