The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) on Tuesday issued a vital health advisory concerning potential risks associated with the consumption of hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids.
The advisory, said department officials, is a response to a recent increase in availability of products containing hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids and the emerging concerns regarding the health effects of these substances, especially among youth.
The intoxicating compounds are currently untested in humans, unregulated and sold to the public without restriction, officials noted. Until safety data is available for human consumption, officials advise avoiding the products.
According to DHSS, hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids, including but not limited to delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC and THC-P, have been found in various products available in the market. The cannabinoids, while derived from hemp, possess psychoactive properties similar to delta-9 THC found in marijuana, and their consumption can result in impairment and adverse health effects, said officials.
Currently, a wide variety of foods, beverages, purported dietary supplements and other commodities containing hemp-derived compounds, both intoxicating and nonintoxicating, are available online and in traditional brick-and-mortar establishments in Missouri. The products are marketed progressively and assertively in eye-catching ways to attract public consumption, particularly that of young consumers, DHSS noted.
Consumption of hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids puts individuals at risk for poisoning, unintended intoxication, contaminants and byproduct effects on the body and impaired driving, they added.
“It is highly concerning how accessible these products are to the public, especially our youth,” said Paula F. Nickelson, director of DHSS. “There is no way for consumers to know exactly what is in the product they are consuming and just how intoxicating it may be.”
Missouri consumers are urged to only purchase cannabis-infused products from state-licensed dispensaries. The regulated facilities adhere to strict quality control measures and provide transparent information about the contents and potential risks associated with their products.
If a product is sold outside of a Missouri-regulated cannabis dispensary, product labels should be checked when possible to identify and avoid the following product ingredients, which are hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids: Delta-8 THC, Delta-6 THC, Delta-10 THC, Delta-11 THC, THC-A, THC-O, THC-P, THC-V, THC-JD, PHC, HHC, HHC-P and HXC. However, cautioned officials, it is important to note there is no regulatory authority verifying these product labels are accurate.
View the full advisory online at health.mo.gov/emergencies/ert/alertsadvisories/pdf/advisory041824.pdf. To see an in-depth report by DHSS on the topic, go to health.mo.gov/safety/cannabis/pdf/hemp-derived-cannabinoids.pdf.
