The California Cannabis Industry Association (CCIA), a trade group representing hundreds of companies participating in the largest regulated entity in the United States cannabis Market, has published a white paper entitled “Pandora’s box: The dangers of a national, unregulated market for intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids.”
The document describes the dangers associated with the growing number of increasingly intoxicating products currently being sold as “hemp” by manufacturers who exploit flaws in the Agriculture Improvement Act 2018 (the Agriculture Act of 2018), calls for urgent reform, and proposes four actions ahead to a national public health crisis.
“The proliferation of these unregulated and untested synthetic cannabinoids is a public health crisis and we call for immediate action to protect public safety,” said CCIA President Pamela Epstein.
The Rise of Delta-8 & Co
The cannabinoid compounds cited in the report include the well-known ones Delta 8 THC and other more potent synthetic and derived cannabinoids such as THC-P, THCjd, THC-O, and Delta-10 THC. These new compounds are often several times stronger than regular delta-9 THC and contain dangerous chemicals left over from the manufacturing process.
Experts have raised significant health concerns about products containing this new generation of intoxicants, including psychosis, seizures and lung problems.
Many of these products are sold nationwide with no age restrictions, testing standards, or general oversight. Additionally, they are often packaged to mimic popular snack foods under names like “THC Hot Cheetos,” “Cookie Monster,” and “Lucky Charmz,” both confusing adult consumers and potentially appealing to minors.
“We urgently need laws, regulatory frameworks and enforcement that recognize that a drug is a drug,” said Lindsay Robinson, executive director of CCIA. “Right now it’s easier for a kid to get their hands on these products than a six-pack of beers.”
