Among Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick's priorities for the upcoming legislative session is calling on lawmakers to consider banning Delta-8 and Delta-9 hemp products. We support rigorous vetting of these cannabis-derived products. Lawmakers are right to worry about how these products are sold, the lack of regulatory oversight, and the very real health concerns these products pose.
But lawmakers need to consider the issue carefully, rather than immediately implementing a blanket ban that could backfire. The Texas Department of State Health Services has tried to ban Delta-8 and is currently embroiled in a legal battle, but the product remains unregulated on store shelves.
We have previously argued that Texas' cautious approach to marijuana legalization is sound policy, limiting medical marijuana to specific conditions such as epilepsy and cancer. Similar vigilance should be taken with hemp-related products.
The 2018 federal Farm Bill legalized hemp, a cannabis plant that contains no more than 0.3% delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the drug's psychoactive component. Delta-9 products are often found in his CBD store. However, federal law does not mention Delta 8, which is less potent but is now sold without THC limits.
The state law regulating hemp and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2019 only mentions Delta 9.
Delta 8 products are found in edible products such as gummies and e-cigarette cartridges, and are sold in colorful versions. These items can be purchased online, at convenience stores, and at gas stations. According to a study published in the peer-reviewed medical journal JAMA, 11% of high school students nationwide said they had used Delta-8 in the past year.
It is possible to overdose on THC. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, large amounts of this ingredient in the body can send some users to the emergency room. Symptoms include vomiting, tremors, anxiety, dizziness, confusion, and loss of consciousness. The Federal Drug Administration also warns that these products have not been evaluated or approved by the agency and should be kept out of reach of children and pets.
These products should not be sold to minors, and certainly not at gas stations. According to a report, even those who support the availability of cannabis products support regulation. Houston Chronicle. For example, the Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars endorses Delta-8 products for conditions such as chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder, arguing that Delta-8 products are a better alternative to opioids. ing.
Texas lawmakers need to weigh all the pros and cons of consuming and commercializing hemp products, especially Delta-8. They must demand scientific evaluation before enshrining their decisions into law.
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