State leaders recently received another crucial signal to take decisive action against delta-8 THC products. These products have been increasingly blamed for causing illness among a growing number of people, particularly children. Delta-8 THC, typically sold in smoke shops, gas stations, and convenience stores, along with other synthetic hemp-derived compounds meant to induce a high, are often found in imitation snack products that have a particular appeal to young individuals. Nationwide, they are held responsible for hundreds of what the Food and Drug Administration refers to as "adverse events," including hallucinations, vomiting, anxiety, dizziness, confusion, loss of consciousness, and other symptoms in those who have consumed them.
Incident at Rogers Park Elementary School
What transpired on December 3 at a Rogers Park elementary school has not been directly linked, at least publicly, to delta-8. However, the incident where three children were hospitalized after falling ill from eating "gummy edibles" is the latest in a series of similar cases. One notable incident last year involved five Chicago high school students who had to be hospitalized after ingesting gummies linked to a neighborhood smoke shop and suspected of containing delta-8. Additionally, Lurie Children's Hospital has witnessed a significant increase in emergency room visits by children with possible delta-8-related symptoms, as stated by Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd), whose ward is home to Lurie's. Hopkins told the editorial board during a meeting last month that "there's no readily available test for it, [and] kids don't want to tell parents what they took. It's happening at increasing rates."Study on Delta-8 THC Exposures
A September study published in the Journal of Medical Toxicology, based on calls to poison control centers across the country, revealed that more than half of those exposed to the alarming rise in delta-8 THC exposures were children and teens. Nearly one in three exposures involved a child younger than 6 years old. This highlights the significant impact of delta-8 THC on the younger population.FDA and CDC Warnings
In October, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about the risk to children associated with copycat food products containing delta-8. The agency received over 300 adverse event reports on delta-8 between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2023. The FDA had previously warned about the health risks of these products three years ago, around the same time when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that delta-8 products are often mislabeled and not tested for contaminants.Illinois Legislative Actions
Given the situation, some elected leaders in Illinois have called for reining in, and in some cases, banning the sales of delta-8 THC products. Fourteen states have already adopted such a ban, and seven states have opted for tighter regulation. In October, Rolling Meadows became the latest in a string of about 10 Chicago-area suburbs to ban delta-8. Rolling Meadows also passed a resolution calling for state action on the matter.Proposed Bills
A bill that passed the Illinois Senate last spring but stalled in the Illinois House would have limited hemp-derived THC sales to state-licensed cannabis dispensaries. These dispensaries go through a rigorous licensing process. The measure was sponsored by state Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-Hillside, who emphasized the dire need to regulate the hemp industry before losing another young life to these pervasive products. Reviving Lightford's bill is one option for lawmakers and the governor to consider when the Legislature reconvenes.State Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, who opposed the Lightford bill, pushed a competing measure that would limit sales to people 21 or older, require manufacturers to undergo product testing to obtain $500 licenses, impose a 10% tax rate on sellers, and allow current sellers to remain in the market. While we understand the need to protect and promote businesses in our state, we cannot allow unregulated products to remain on the market at the expense of public health. Tight regulation may seem sensible, but from a practical and science-based perspective, it presents challenges as chemists can tweak compounds and there are no reference standards for those synthetic compounds on which to base regulations, as explained by one chemist who views delta-8 and similar products as "synthetic designer drugs."Sales of unregulated delta-8 products at smoke shops and similar places have had an impact on the business of licensed dispensaries that must adhere to strict regulations. Politicians have been aware of the delta-8 problem for several years, and it is now time for action, not more talk.
