At the time of this article, delta-8 THC created through chemistry from Hemp CBD, is enjoying a renaissance in popularity and availability. It’s milder psychoactive effects and legal availability make it both easy to get and relatively low risk to enjoy. 

However, the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp production at the federal level, is up for renewal this year, 2024. The farm bill was renewed first in 2021, and is expected to enjoy another renewal this year, but this time around numerous states, among them Louisiana, are seeing bills sponsored that aim to restrict the availability of delta-8  products. 

What Is Delta-8 THC?

Delta-8 THC is a psychoactive cannabinoid that occurs naturally in small quantities in the hemp plant together with CBD. Although the amount present in the plant is fairly small, it’s synthesis was first published about in 1941, and since then the production has become even more refined, creating access to larger quantities of synthesized delta-8. 

Compared to delta-9 THC, the primary psychoactive cannabinoid present in marijuana, delta-8 produces a similar but milder euphoric “high.” The effects are similar enough that for many casual users they are essentially interchangeable, but due to its legal status, and the availability of the synthetic compound, delta-8 is extremely popular in drinks, gummies, and other edibles. 

However this popularity has created some issues. The grey area delta-8 exists in is very much like the grey area that non-psychoactive CBD exists in. The popularity of a legal and nascent market friendly cannabinoid product has led to a deluge of products, rife with unsubstantiated claims, and often of inconsistent quality. 

So What Does The Louisiana Bill Aim To Do?

While regulation and quality are very valid and pressing concerns in the cannabis industry, that is not the focus of the Louisiana bill. Senate Bill 237 is being sponsored republican senator Thomas Pressly of Shreveport, LA. Pressly’s aims to completely eliminate THC products, over concerns that their prevalence makes them potentially available to children. 

Louisiana, which has the highest incidence of alcohol abuse in the Southern United States, is aiming to throttle THC rather than ensuring the safety and regulation of THC products. It is either deliberately or accidentally missing the point that safety is a concern for everyone, with any legal intoxicant, such as alcohol or nicotine, and regulation ensures quality and safety. As another former Louisiana politician pointed out, it threatens to damage the states economy by threatening hundreds of businesses. 

Find Safe Delta-8 Real Tested CBD

While we don’t know how the Louisiana bill will fare in the states legislature, for as long as delta-8 is legal, it’s important to ensure that the products you choose are safe and independently verified for quality and contents. Due to the nature of delta-8 THC production involving solvents and acids, low quality products can contain traces of these harmful substances. This is why Real Tested CBD tests products through unbiased, independent labs to verify their content, and that they are of a safe to consume quality. Visit our Delta-8 Resource Center to find delta-8 products near you, or read our latest test results for CBD.