Reports of Synthetic THC Sold in Washington State

The cleanliness of our weed is important. But… do we really know what’s in it these days?

For those interested in ensuring that the cannabis being sold today is pure and safe for consumption… this one’s for you!

As the waves of cannabis legalization have expanded across the US, state-by-state markets and corresponding regulatory bodies have been formed. And although many of the regulatory rules have been crafted thoughtfully, there are some existing cannabis policy gaps that have created loopholes that contribute to concerning market behavior. 

Recently, the cannabis marketplace has seen some interesting developments in the way of synthetic cannabinoids. Synthetic cannabinoids, for all intents and purposes, are those created in a laboratory setting. And now, we are seeing the sale of products containing synthetic cannabinoids to consumers. 

In these cases, consumers may not understand the implications of consuming synthetics. Or, they may not even be aware that the products they are buying contain synthetic cannabinoids. 

And recently, there were even reports of synthetically created THC being sold in WA State. Yes… synthetic THC (Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), not Delta 8 or Delta 10. Except it was created synthetically and being passed off as standard THC and then sold to unsuspecting customers. Yikes!

The Emergence of Synthetic Cannabinoids: Delta 8 

One of the most prevalent manifestations of synthetic cannabinoids over 2020 and 2021 has been the emergence of Delta 8 THC products. 

Notably, Delta 8 THC is a cannabinoid that is innate to the cannabis plant, but is usually found in small quantities. Delta 8, however, can also be synthetically created from CBD. Many of the Delta 8 products available today were formulated by manipulating CBD isolate, in the lab, into Delta 8. 
Among the cannabis consuming community, there is so far a lack of consensus as to how we should be regulating Delta 8 – or whether or not Delta 8 holds any medicinal value in the first place. While some people think that Delta 8 is beneficial and should be able to be sold anywhere, including grocery stores, corner stores, and vape shops, other people don’t think that Delta 8 products should be sold at all. 

Recently, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned against the use of products containing Delta 8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). 

Additionally, state-specific regulatory bodies have recently banned the sale of Delta 8 products. Want to learn more about the latest on Delta 8 policy? Check out Veriheal’s article on this here.

Synthetic THC Sold Under the Guise of Naturally Created THC

In Washington State, a recent scandal showed that the situation surrounding synthetic cannabinoids is going to be more extensive than simply regulating Delta 8 THC.

In June 2021, the cannabis community was alerted to reports of synthetically produced THC products being sold and marketed to customers without any transparency to the customer. As reported by Respect My Region, cannabis wholesalers downstream in the supply chain were not aware that their suppliers were passing off synthetic THC. 

This was a quick wake-up call to cannabis healers and advocates that the synthetic cannabinoid discussion goes beyond the regulation of new and novel cannabinoids. Now, we also need to make sure that the major cannabinoids we know and love, including THC, are also confirmed to be of natural origin. 

Many of the brands involved in this situation, including Unicorn Brands, claimed that their manufacturing practices were within the bounds of the law and not something to be concerned about. Rather, they saw their products as a pinnacle of new and innovative manufacturing processes. However, I think more analysis of synthetic cannabinoids is required before we can truly view this development as beneficial “innovation”.

Regulatory Responsibility

One of the main concerns with state and federal cannabis policy is that it places such specific restrictions on the production and sale of natural cannabinoids, particularly THC. While some regulation is necessary, much of the existing regulation has led to unintended consequences. Producers looking to increase their profit margins have been able to engage in questionable practices that squeak through legislative loopholes and could possibly put consumers at risk. 

I’ll say this… many of the cannabis businesses who operate in the cannabis space have good intentions. But, as capitalism dictates, there are going to be companies that make their business decisions (including sourcing, production, and sales decisions) based on whatever provides the most profit. 

This “race to the bottom” in the cannabis marketplace, unfortunately, can lead to some concerning outcomes. My hope is that regulatory bodies, across jurisdictions, will stay ahead of the curve and do the work required to refine and clarify policy to create laws that make sense for all the stakeholders involved and keep the end-user safe.  

Since the synthetic THC scandal in Washington was first reported, the LCB (Washington’s Liquor and Cannabis Board) ruled against synthetic THC cannabinoids completely. And yet, the situation is still murky, and there is talk of them changing this stance for Delta 8; as of September 2021, they are proposing that Delta 8 will be able to be legally sold in regulated i502 dispensaries. In WA and beyond, this is still an ever-moving situation. 

Consumer Responsibility

With a lack of substantive research about the long-term effects of synthetic cannabinoids, including Delta 8 THC, I recommend that all conscious cannabis consumers keep their eyes on the developing picture of synthetic cannabinoids. Before you try it for yourself, do your own research! And, stick with brands that provide transparent product testing whenever possible.

When you are purchasing cannabis, never hesitate to ask questions and conduct additional research to ensure that the brands you buy from are offering you real and natural cannabis products. Because, when you purchase a THC-rich product from your local dispensary, you deserve to know that the THC was created by God’s green earth and not by a human in a laboratory setting.