The illegality of marijuana has contributed to the use of potentially more dangerous substances.
Marijuana must be legalized at the federal level.
The illegality of marijuana has opened doors to alternative products and markets that sell a similar but potentially more dangerous product.
Chemically modified variants of its hemp It has gained popularity recently. These variants offer different chemical combinations of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the ingredient in cannabis that causes the “high” effect. Today, There are many variables Produced and sold in the United States.
THC variants are legal at the federal level because they are derived from the cannabis plant. the The hemp plant is a cultivar From the Cannabis sativa plant, cultivated for industrial and medicinal purposes.
Hemp plants contain no more than a concentration of 0.3 percent THC, While typical cannabis plants range from 10 to 30 percent. All hemp-derived products have been made legal under 2018 Bell Farm.
THC variants are made using an extensive process. First, cannabidiol (CBD) oil is extracted from the flower of the hemp plant. Then the oil is mixed with acid and heated for several hours.
This causes the chemical structure of CBD to change into a different compound that is more like THC. The freshly made solution is then cleaned and filtered to remove all acid.
Because of this extraction process, THC variants are only available in vape products and food.
The effects on the user vary with the variant, ranging from increased relaxation to increased psychoactive qualities.
delta 8, most popular alternative Much like standard THC, it has gained a lot of popularity in the past three years, especially in states where marijuana is decriminalized and illegal.
The University of Iowa has active delta-8 users. Around campus, I’ve had the opportunity to use Delta 8 in social settings.
Research describes the effects as Similar to standard THC but significantly less effective. In general, you will feel a little more relaxed but still be able to hold coherent thoughts. From my experience, I can confirm that Delta 8 reminded me of a lighter THC high.
Indulging in a legal substance lacking in potency may not seem dangerous, but my biggest concerns are black market products and lack of research.
As long as marijuana is federally illegal, the black market will continue to exploit the legal market. in legitimate countries, Taxes are very high That many people still preferred to buy marijuana from illegal sources at low prices caused black markets to flourish and illegal products to be exported to states like Iowa. Legalization at the state level only helps the black market to grow.
search from new frontier data The illegal marijuana market in California alone is estimated to be worth $3.7 billion.
There have been many cases where customers have purchased harmful substances from the black market. A good example of this is the discovery that fake THC cartridges cause lung disease. In 2019, 2,807 people in the United States were hospitalized after smoking these vape cartridges, and 68 died.
Since delta-8 is mainly consumed by vape products, there is a high chance that you will buy a fake vape product claiming to be delta-8.
Another concern is that limited research has been done on variants such as delta-8 to confirm the substance’s safety. People have been consuming standard THC for much longer than they have consumed variants, thus there is more research on the effects of standard THC, however it is still illegal.
A chemically modified variant with unknown long-term effects should not be legalized on a natural product. Whether it’s a variant or any THC vape product, you won’t know exactly what you’re inhaling.
Until marijuana is legalized, alternative and potentially dangerous products will continue to be used.
The columns reflect the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily those of the editorial board, The Daily Iowan, or other organizations with which the author may be involved.
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