State lawmakers could soon consider a bill that experts say could prohibit the sale of Delta-8 THC, now readily available at Georgia health food stores and other retailers.
Delta-8 is a compound found in small amounts in some types of hemp plant. It is similar to the Delta-9 compound, which produces the high marijuana users experience. In 2018, Congress passed an agriculture bill that, among other changes, made it legal to grow hemp with concentrations of Delta-9 THC below 0.3%.
But the bill did not specify any other form of THC, including Delta-8, which opened a loophole for businesses to sell products containing Delta-8 even in states that do not allow medical or recreational cannabis use. Today, products can be found in head shops and gas stations as dried leaves, vape cartridges or cooked into food items.
Some people use Delta-8 recreationally, others say it helps them sleep or deal with mental issues like anxiety. Forbes reported this month that Delta-8 THC sales topped $2 billion the past two years as an alternative to traditional marijuana. The Food and Drug Administration warns that Delta-8 products are not evaluated for safety or effectiveness.