Is there Delta-9 in Your Delta-8? Maybe.

Is there Delta-9 in Your “THC Free” Delta-8? Maybe.

Alternative cannabinoid manufacturers often boast they have the effects consumers want without Delta-9 THC —in this marketplace, can the test results be trusted?

Over the past several months, I’ve had the honor to be working with laboratories in Oregon on a project to demonstrate the power and efficacy of cannabis science. Much like the consumers I’ve disparaged, I’ve mainly focused my efforts on THC — mainly the over-reporting of THC.

That’s not the only issue when lab results might be impacted by greed. Many of my laboratory partners in my lab experiment have expressed to me that they have lost thousands of dollars they refuse to do a ‘delta-9 non-detect.’ In other words — many manufacturers of alternative cannabinoid products are pressuring labs to reclassify or ignore the delta-9 THC in their testing results, so that they can sell their product. The lab shopping on the part of these manufacturers in particular is blatant.

Oftentimes, consumers are seeking alternative cannabinoids so that they can get the relief they’d normally get from THC while still being able to pass a drug test. Or perhaps they aren’t so keen on the effects of delta-9. Regardless of their reasons, they are seeking delta-8 without delta-9.

When manufacturers pressure laboratories to produce inaccurate results — and when their business is measured in the thousands of dollars a month — it becomes harder and harder for laboratories to resist the temptation. All it takes are a couple of rogue laboratories (and there is plenty of evidence that they have proliferated the space) to make honest laboratories feel the squeeze enough to consider desperate tactics.

What’s a Consumer to Do?

Once again, I’m going to say that it takes a lot of research to find brands and people that you trust — and once again, if you are exploring the world of alternative cannabinoids and it’s important that there is no delta-9 with your delta-8: you’re going to need to research the lab that tested it.

And honestly? That’s very hard to do (but not impossible).

I might have a spot of good news on that front, though.

One of the side-effects of the work I’m doing with the labs is that I’m working on creating the Coalition for Ethical Testing of Cannabis and Hemp (CETCH). Right now I’m trying to create it to be a member organization / ‘Better Business Bureau’ for cannabis labs, but more importantly its mission is one of education. In order to fulfill its vision of an ethical testing market place for cannabis, it would also have to help inform consumers, dispensaries, and farmers about what the labels and lab results mean in their state in addition to creating a way they can easily understand the processes and standards used by the labs in their area. Once I get more work done on that and get it up and running, I’ll write about it here more.

Caveat Emptor: As Usual

Since so many laboratories are facing the pressure to make sure that the cannabis products created by producers conform to marketplace regulations, it’s becoming as important to understand the laboratories that test your products, as it is to understand the farmers that grow them and the processors that extract them.

Unless you’re sure about how good the laboratory testing your product is, you can’t be sure that your Delta-8 is free of Delta-9.