Delta 8 Dangers You Need to Know

According to 2023 and 2024 Gallup poll data, 15% of Americans reported that they smoke weed. It’s an increasingly popular (and still federally illegal) drug in the United States. As more people embrace marijuana, cannabis-adjacent products are hitting the shelves, too, and one of the most noteworthy is delta 8 THC. A popular gas station drug, delta 8 consumption isn’t without risk. In fact, there are a number of delta 8 dangers that are important to understand about this drug on the rise. 

Delta 8 Dangers: Understanding Delta 8 THC

Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol, or delta 8 THC for short, naturally occurs within the cannabis plant. As psychoactive cannabinoids, both THC and cannabidiol (CBD) are most prevalent. THC is broken down into delta 8 and delta 9 compounds within the cannabis plant.

Delta 9 is the more well-known compound within THC. It’s the main ingredient in marijuana, after all. Delta 9 is primarily responsible for the psychoactive and medicinal effects of marijuana, according to the Association of Cannabinoid Specialists. It’s also considered a Schedule 1 substance in the US Controlled Substances Act, meaning delta 9 has a high potential for abuse.

Delta 8, however, occurs in much lower concentrations within cannabis. It also provides weaker psychoactive effects than delta 9. As such, delta 8 falls into a legal gray area with drug classifications, making it ripe for production as a gas station drug. You may encounter delta 8 products sold on shelves of convenience stores, smoke or vape shops, mini marts, or on the web. The products you buy commercially are often synthetically manipulated to increase delta 8’s potency, however.

People who are interested in feeling the effects of weed — though not as strongly — may be inclined to use delta 8 products. More people may use them in states with laws that make marijuna illegal, too. Yet many who do use may not realize the delta 8 dangers they’re facing, such as higher levels of substance exposure, unregulated production, drug abuse, and more.

Common Delta 8 Dangers

Is delta 8 dangerous though, really? In some ways, new information about the drug is still being learned, but red flags are becoming increasingly obvious. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has even issued warnings about delta 8 products posing serious risk to consumers. Delta 8, for example, has not been approved or evaluated by the FDA for any safe use. 

The FDA has also pointed out that delta 8 may be marketed in ways that put public health at risk, too. When kids and pets see delta 8 products packaged in bright colors and sold as candies, gummies, or brownies, they may accidentally take them. And the dangers of delta 8 THC when consumed can also include:

• Tachycardia
• Anxiety
• Dizziness
• Vomiting
• Hallucinations
• Discoordination
• Memory loss
• Delayed reaction time
• Loss of consciousness
• Death

SOURCE: Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association

Because these gas station drugs fall into legal gray areas without regulation, delta 8 products may make medicinal or therapeutic claims on their packaging. Yet the health benefits they promote are wholly unsubstantiated. This lack of regulation also presents other delta 8 dangers in the manufacturing process, such as:

• Using potentially dangerous household chemicals to make delta 8 THC products
• The presence of harmful contaminants or byproducts in ingredients
• Products containing varying levels of delta 8 potency without the user’s knowledge
• Unsafe substance exposure in the final product when made in unsanitary or uncontrolled settings

 

The Reality of Delta 8 Addiction

In addition to the delta 8 dangers above, is delta 8 addictive, too? There’s actually growing concern that addiction can be a very real outcome if you use delta 8 THC regularly. The reality is that delta 8 usage can eventually spark marijuana usage. And marijuana still remains a gateway drug to harder, more addictive substances and cross addictions. Today’s weed is also more concentrated, posing a greater risk for marijuana addiction (and the ensuing need to get marijuana addiction treatment) in its own right. 

But delta 8 addiction is also possible. Delta 8, like marijuana, can impact the pleasure and reward systems of your brain. When you use delta 8 THC, your brain will release dopaminine, making you want to use delta 8 again. As the dopamine release continues, you’ll eventually develop a tolerance. This will mean taking more delta 8 more often to get the same effects. This cycle can soon become vicious, however, leading to delta 8 addiction. 

Drug Addiction Treatment in Tennessee

Are you concerned about delta 8 pulling the strings of your life? If so, we can help at Integrative Life Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Our comprehensive drug addiction treatment program provides both evidence-based and experiential therapies to help you finally overcome your addiction at its source. Tailoring our treatment to your unique needs, our team can empower you to reclaim your life and stay healthy long-term. To get started, call us today. 

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