Ever wondered why delta-8-THC, THCa, diet weed and more can be sold so freely while cannabis sold by legal dispensaries has such tight restrictions? Well, it all started with a loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp containing less than 0.3% delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC). The issue is that there are other tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) that can also get you high. As a result, dubiously grown and processed ‘legal weed’ has flooded convenience stores, gas stations, liquor stores and other spots. The problem: these products are untested and often include false or misleading labeling.
Why should you avoid hemp-derived products?
☹️ Synthetic cannabinoids ☹️
✅Freshly Harvested✅
Hemp-derived products, such as those containing delta-8-THC and delta-10-THC, are often synthesized in labs due to their natural scarcity. These synthetic cannabinoids are designed to mimic delta-9-THC; however, they are not regulated. This lack of regulation means we don’t know exactly what companies are putting into these products or how they’re being created. Many products are sprayed or mixed with various unknown substances to cut costs and save time.
These products pose significant health risks due to potential contaminants, inconsistent potency and mislabeling. This means that anyone can easily purchase them. In fact, a study by the Keck School of Medicine of USC found that 11.4% of 12th graders used delta-8-THC. Consequently, there have been numerous reports of seizures, tachycardia, hallucinations and other severe health issues linked to these products.
For your safety and to experience the power of the plant as an actual plant, it’s best to avoid synthetics.
What is Jersey doing about it?
On September 12, Governor Murphy signed bill S3235 into law, banning the sale of ‘intoxicating hemp products’ to minors in New Jersey and regulating them in the same manner as cannabis products. With the new law in effect, the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) have 180 days to establish updated cannabis rules. Until then, the sale and production of these products are banned. This also bill tightens the criteria for what qualifies as a hemp or intoxicating hemp product. Now, hemp is defined as containing less than 0.3% THC across all types of tetrahydrocannabinols, not just Delta-9-THC. Additionally, these products must contain no more than 0.5 mg THC per serving and 2.5 mg THC per package, and synthetic cannabinoid products will be excluded.
The bill also expands the role of the CRC to regulate the sale of “intoxicating hemp products”. These products will be subjected to the same product testing, labeling requirements and age restrictions as cannabis products sold by legal dispensaries. This means that intoxicating hemp products will only be available at licensed businesses, ensuring a safer and more regulated market.
What does this mean for you?
Very simply, this means safer cannabis products and more transparency about what’s in your products and how they’re cultivated, processed and handled.
What products are going away?
Intoxicating hemp-derived products containing compounds like delta-8-THC, delta-10-THC, HHC, THCa and more will no longer be available at local headshops, holistic hubs, convenience stores, gas stations, liquor stores, smoke shops and other unlicensed retailers.
What to Avoid
NJ Legal & CRC-Approved
Overall, we want you to be safe out there and know what you are buying! Shop at a licensed dispensary and if the person can’t show you a Certificate of Analysis (COA), you should steer clear. Want to learn more or have questions? Sign up for more updates, reach out to us on Instagram or email [email protected]!
Visit Pure Blossom for Cannabis and Other Essentials
Explore Pure Blossom’s curated selection of New Jersey cannabis brands and essential accessories. Whether you’re doing the old Google thing, searching for a dispensary near me or nearby dispensaries in New Jersey, Pure Blossom is a short, scenic, calming drive away, and our friendly guide-connoisseurs are excited to take you through our curated selection of New Jersey cannabis brands (and other essentials). We’ll see you there!