TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2022//
TI  - Delta-8 THC retail availability, price, and minimum purchase age
JO  - Cannabis and cannabinoid research
A1  - Rossheim, Matthew E.
A1  - LoParco, Cassidy R.
A1  - Walker, Andrew
A1  - Livingston, Melvin D.
A1  - Trangenstein, Pamela J.
A1  - Olsson, Sofia
A1  - McDonald, Kayla K.
A1  - Yockey, Robert A.
A1  - Luningham, Justin M.
A1  - Kong, Amanda Y.
A1  - Henry, Doug
A1  - Walters, Scott T.
A1  - Thombs, Dennis L.
A1  - Jernigan, David H.
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - BACKGROUND: Retail sales of Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products have increased in the U.S. market since the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, and there is currently little regulation of marketing/sales and limited related safety standards in many states. After thousands of calls to poison control centers (40% for individuals under 18 years old and 70% requiring health care facility evaluation), the Food and Drug Administration issued warnings on Delta-8 THC products, stating their psychoactive effects and that some manufacturers may synthesize Delta-8 using unsafe household chemicals. The current study describes the Delta-8 THC retail sales environment in Fort Worth, Texas. Given its relatively inexpensive manufacturing and that low prices are a major determinant of cannabis use, the price of Delta-8 THC products was examined. This study also examined whether retail outlets in areas with greater socioeconomic deprivation had higher odds of selling Delta-8 THC products. This is important because if Delta-8 THC retailers are disproportionately located in more socioeconomically deprived communities, residents of these communities can more easily access these products and may have higher risk of adverse consequences. <br><br>METHODS: Potential Delta-8 THC retailers were selected by identifying lists of current retail locations with alcohol, cannabidiol, and/or tobacco licenses in Fort Worth. Trained research assistants called outlets in September and October 2021 to query about sales of products containing Delta-8 THC. The response rate was 69% (n=1,223). Outlets' 9-digit zip codes were merged with Area Deprivation Index scores. Products and purported minimum age were described. Chi-squared and Student's t-tests were used. <br><br>RESULTS: Eleven percent of outlets (n=133) reported selling Delta-8 THC. Ninety-six percent sold vapes and/or "flower" (i.e., hemp leaves coated with Delta-8 THC distillate) and 76% sold edibles. Among the least expensive products available, edibles cost, on average, $8.58 less than flower/vapes (p<0.001). Outlets that sold Delta-8 THC were located in areas with greater deprivation (p=0.02). Most reported a minimum purchase age of 21; however, 4% reported 18 years or no minimum age. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Delta-8 THC retail outlets were disproportionately located in areas with more socioeconomic deprivation. Legal intervention such as zoning, minimum age, and tax laws may help reduce Delta-8 THC-related disparities.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2578-5125
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/can.2022.0079
ID  - ref1
ER  -