The 2018 Farm Bill, which federally legalized hemp with less than 0.3% delta-9 THC, inadvertently opened the door to a booming market of synthesized hemp THC vapes, edibles, and topicals. These products are especially popular in states where adult-use cannabis remains illegal, creating what some lawmakers call a “hemp loophole.”
Unlike traditional marijuana products, many hemp-derived THC items remain largely unregulated. The public often doesn’t realize that the THC in these products isn’t the same as what’s found in legal cannabis. “This isn’t just about getting high—it’s about what else people are inhaling or ingesting without knowing it,” said Robert Welch, director at the National Center for Cannabis for Research and Education.
A new study from Michigan highlights the issue. The Michigan for Safe Cannabis Coalition (MiSCCo), led in part by chemist Josh Swider, tested 45 distillate vape products from 22 major brands. The findings were sobering: 14% contained banned MCT oil, 11% had excessive delta-8 THC, and one failed for multiple pesticides. More alarming, over half of non-member samples contained synthetic delta-9 THC, which has been banned in Michigan since 2012. One in four of those synthetic samples also tested positive for p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA), a toxic chemical used in industrial dyes and cleaners.
“These are compounds that don’t belong in anything meant for human consumption,” Swider told GreenState. “Yet we’re seeing them in products sold to the public with little to no oversight.”
Michigan’s Cannabis Regulatory Agency is now investigating the findings. While any enforcement action could take months—or years—the test results have already prompted new calls for stricter state and federal regulations on synthesized THC products.
As hemp-derived cannabinoids continue to evolve, experts stress the need for clear testing standards, informed legislation, and consumer education. Until then, the safest route, they warn, is to avoid synthesized THC entirely.
Read the whole article from GreenState here.
