A molecular lookalike of the intoxicating compound found in marijuana has become popular among teens, especially in areas where marijuana use is illegal. More than 11% of high school seniors who took part in a national survey last spring said they had used delta-B-THC, a psychoactive compound, in the last year. That figure surprised researchers at the University of Southern California and the University of Michigan, who published their findings this week in the Journal of the American Medical Asociation, reports the Los Angeles Times. Products containing delta-8 “have really only been on the market since 2018,” said study leader Alyssa Harlow, a USC epidemiologist.
Gummies, vapes and other products containing delta-8 are available online and in gas stations and convenience stores. The Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers that it has not evaluated the safety of delta-8 products. Chemicals used to convert cannabinoids found in hemp into delta-8 may include harmful contaminants. Products containing delta-8 exploded in popularity after the 2018 passage of an agriculture bill that eased federal restrictions on hemp and created a legal loophole for the compound. Some teens were using delta-8 fairly frequently: Among high school seniors who said they had used it in the previous year, more than a third said they had done so 10 or more times during that period. It’s unclear whether delta-8 affects teens differently than other forms of THC, but researchers are concerned about its impact on brain health for young users.
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