Delta-8 THC Retail Availability, Price, and Minimum Purchase Age

• Published in: Cannabis and cannabinoid research Vol. 9; no. 1; p. 363
• Main Authors: Rossheim, Matthew E, LoParco, Cassidy R, Walker, Andrew, Livingston, Melvin D, Trangenstein, Pamela J, Olsson, Sofia, McDonald, Kayla K, Yockey, Robert A, Luningham, Justin M, Kong, Amanda Y, Henry, Doug, Walters, Scott T, Thombs, Dennis L, Jernigan, David H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.2024
• Subjects: Adolescent; Cannabis; Commerce; Humans; Marketing; Texas; Tobacco Products; Texas; dispensaries; cannabis; marijuana; 2018 Farm Bill; 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act; retail stores
• ISSN: 2378-8763
• DOI: 10.1089/can.2022.0079

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. 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% ( =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 -tests were used. Eleven percent of outlets ( =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 ( <0.001). Outlets that sold Delta-8 THC were located in areas with greater deprivation ( =0.02). Most reported a minimum purchase age of 21; however, 4% reported 18 years or no minimum age. 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.