Finger On The Pulse

We commend the House Agriculture Committee’s support in favor of Representative Mary Miller’s (R-IL-15th) amendment to the 2024 Farm Bill. The amendment changes the definition of hemp to specifically exclude semi-synthetic cannabinoids like delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC, and THC-O that produce the same psychoactive effect as delta-9 THC.

Not familiar with this insidious and underestimated threat to our youth? David Siegel simplifies the issue for parents:

“Hemp [is] a non-psychoactive component of the cannabis plant that was legalized by the agriculture improvement act of 2018. Savvy players in the drug market have learned to circumvent existing drug regulations by using toxic chemicals to convert cannabidiol (CBD) in hemp into a growing list of psychoactive [semi-]synthetic cannabinoids such as delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC, THC-O and HHC. Although these [semi-]synthetic cannabinoids produce the same effects as delta-9 THC in marijuana, they continue to blur the lines between what is legal or not due to gaps and conflicts in federal and state regulations. Our children can now purchase products containing these [psychoactive] substances online and in convenience stores, gas stations and specialty stores advertising them as natural or therapeutic products. This needs to stop.

It is imperative that your children know that synthetic [and semi-synthetic] cannabinoids are not natural, not harmless and not the same as marijuana. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), synthetic cannabinoids are not safe and may have a greater effect on the brain than marijuana—at times proving even more dangerous or life threatening. They can be addictive and are known to cause concerning mental and physical health issues, including vomiting, violent behavior and suicidal thoughts.”

– David Siegel, Victoria’s Voice, Second Edition

The “savvy players” David alludes to know exactly how to convert the non-psychoative CBD found in hemp into psychoactive products.

Brooke, Hoots, PhD, MSPH, Richard Holdman, MD, MPH, and Kenneth Finn, MD, Cannabis: Responding to the Evolving Landscape, 2023 RX Summit Presentation.

This is the very loophole that we must address in the Farm Bill for the health and safety of our children.