FDA Warning Highlights Five Serious Health Risks of Delta-8 THC

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Above: The FDA has criticized colorful Delta-8 products like these, because they may dangerously appeal to children.

Last year the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a strong warning highlighting five serious health risks associated with Delta-8 THC.

Delta-8 THC is a mind-altering substance made from cannabis. Earlier this year, the Arkansas Legislature passed Act 629 of 2023 by Sen. Tyler Dees (R – Siloam Springs) and Rep. Jimmy Gazaway (R – Paragould). Act 629 is a good law that prevents Delta-8 THC from being manufactured via industrial hemp — or cannabis — in Arkansas, but the law currently is tied up in federal court.

The FDA’s health warning highlights five key problems with Delta-8 THC.

#1 Delta-8 THC products have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA, and they may be marketed in ways that put the public health at risk.

As the FDA notes, “Selling unapproved products with unsubstantiated therapeutic claims is not only a violation of federal law, but also can put consumers at risk, as these products have not been proven to be safe or effective. This deceptive marketing of unproven treatments raises significant public health concerns.”

#2 The FDA has received numerous reports of health complications from Delta-8.

From December 1, 2020, to February 28, 2022, the FDA documented 104 “adverse event reports” concerning Delta-8 THC. These included hallucinations, vomiting, tremor, anxiety, dizziness, confusion, and loss of consciousness.

National poison control centers received 2,362 Delta-8 THC calls — most of which required evaluation at a healthcare facility. Eight percent of these calls resulted in admission to a critical care unit, and one child reportedly died as a result of exposure to Delta-8 THC.

#3 Delta-8 THC is psychoactive and intoxicating.

The FDA notes that, “Delta-8 THC has psychoactive and intoxicating effects, similar to delta-9 THC.” Delta-9 THC is the primary psychoactive substance in marijuana. The FDA’s warning also notes that many products contain extremely high levels of Delta-8 THC, which raises safety concerns.

#4 Delta-8 THC products often are manufactured with harmful chemicals.

The FDA writes that, “The natural amount of delta-8 THC in hemp is very low, and additional chemicals are needed to convert other cannabinoids in hemp, like CBD, into delta-8 THC. . . . The final delta-8 THC product may have potentially harmful by-products (contaminants) due to the chemicals used in the process.”

#5 Delta-8 THC products may be designed to appeal to children.

Colorful Delta-8 gummies, chocolates, candies, and cookies naturally appeal to children. The FDA noted that these products may be part of the reason Poison Control centers received so many reports of children exposed to Delta-8 THC.

The FDA’s warning makes one thing clear: Delta-8 THC may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.

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Adolescent Mental Health Crisis Underscores Importance of Arkansas’ Social Media Safety Act

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The number of teens experiencing symptoms of depression has spiked since 2009.

According to research analyzed by psychologist Jean Twenge, 49.5% of teens say they feel they “can’t do anything right.”

Forty-four percent say they feel like their “life is not useful.”

And a staggering 48.9% say they “do not enjoy life.”

As Twenge’s research points out, these numbers have climbed steadily upwards over the past decade.

Experts increasingly believe social media is driving the adolescent mental health crisis.

In May U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a statement, saying,

Much of the evidence we do have indicates that there is enough reason to be deeply concerned about the risk of harm social media poses. For example, adolescents who spend >3 hours per day on social media face double the risk of developing symptoms of depression and anxiety.

This is concerning, especially given that, on average, teenagers spend 3.5 hours/day on social media, with one-in-four spending 5 or more hours per day and one-in-seven spending 7 or more hours per day on social media.

In May the U.S. Surgeon General released a health advisory highlighting the dangers of social media use by children and calling on lawmakers to take action.

The advisory noted that, “Social media may perpetuate body dissatisfaction, disordered eating behaviors, social comparison, and low self-esteem, especially among adolescent girls,” and it encouraged policymakers to take steps to strengthen social media safety standards and limit social media access in ways that make it safer for children and better protect children’s privacy.

All of this underscores that the Arkansas Legislature was right to pass Act 689, the Social Media Safety Act, earlier this year.

The Social Media Safety Act is a good law by Sen. Tyler Dees (R – Siloam Springs) and Rep. Jon Eubanks (R – Paris) requiring major social media companies to ensure minors don’t access social media platforms without parental consent. Just like the Surgeon General’s advisory recommended, Act 689 contains protections for user privacy. A social media company that violated the law could be held liable.

Governor Sanders signed Act 689 into law last spring. However, in late June a trade association representing tech giants such as Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram), Twitter, SnapChat, Pinterest, and TikTok filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging Act 689 as unconstitutional. In July the ACLU of Arkansas filed an amicus brief opposing Act 689 as well.

Given how harmful social media content can be for children and teens, tech companies should not be able to let children use their social media platforms without parental consent. Arkansas’ Social Media Safety Act is a good law that helps address this serious problem.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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New Mexico Serves as a Warning to Arkansas on Recreational Marijuana

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Two years ago New Mexico legalized recreational marijuana. At the time, the law contained a provision requiring federal FBI criminal background checks for high-level marijuana business owners.

However, KRQE News reports a technicality in the law prevented the background checks from occurring — and lawmakers in New Mexico have failed to address the issue.

As a result, virtually none of New Mexico’s marijuana business owners have passed a federal background check as lawmakers intended. That has opened the door for criminal enterprises to infiltrate New Mexico’s marijuana industry.

The story is significant, because last year voters in Arkansas rejected a recreational marijuana measure that would have specifically prohibited the State of Arkansas from requiring criminal background checks for many marijuana business owners. New Mexico’s experience shows just how devastating that could have been for Arkansas.

Watch this news story from KRQE to learn more.

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