As long as real cannabis is banned in many places, producers will look for loopholes in the (drug) law. In recent years, various forms of what is called 'legal THC' have become popular. However, that is not a good thing, says Peter Vermeul, who has been making organic full-spectrum cannabis extracts for 40 years. Not for the – often ignorant – consumer – and not for the legal cannabis industry worldwide. It could cause the demise of the cannabis industry.
“The Danger of the “Legal” THC - by Peter Vermeul, owner of CBD Spain and has specialized in making cannabis extracts for decades – wrote. The reason is the (commercial) hype surrounding so-called 'legal THC products', which often means a product that contains synthetic cannabinoids. And that is exactly the sore point that Peter wants to expose.
Alternatives to the – banned – cannabinoid THC
HHC, H4CBD, THC-P, Delta 8, Delta 10, Delta 11, THC-O and so on. Terms that we regularly see, but what kind of cannabinoids are they actually, and what does it mean for the user? This white paper about that – made by the California Cannabis Industry Association – with the telling title 'PANDORA'S BOX The Dangers of a National, Unregulated, Hemp-Derived Intoxicating Cannabinoid Market', you really should read it.
Unfortunately, the 'cannabinoids' mentioned above are products that are 100% synthetically produced. This happens because of legal provisions on THC delta 9, that is responsible for the high (getting stoned) in the weed and thus be able to sell a “legal” THC.
It is even so bizarre that, for example, THCP – which is 30 times stronger than normal THC – is “legal” according to the producers, with all the consequences that entails. Most of these newcomers to the cannabinoid front do occur naturally in the plant, but only in very small quantities. And that is why it is absolutely unprofitable to extract them from the plant – these extracts would easily cost at least €300.000 per kilo!
The emergence
After industrial hemp cultivation was federally released in America - in the now infamous Farm Bill 2018 – Americans have focused en masse on the production of CBD. The result was enormous overproduction, which of course also resulted in a huge drop in prices.
In 2016, a kilo of CBD isolate still cost $48.000, but the kilo price has now fallen below $200 (!). This makes the production of CBD isolate absolutely no longer profitable, and thus the way was opened for the conversion of this CBD into synthetic cannabinoids as HHC, Delta 8, THC-P etc.
Through a loophole in the law, some smart guys could easily convert the unprofitable CBD into products that resemble THC, and these would be 'legal'. It is expected that in the near future Farm Bill 2023 these loopholes are being closed.
The process of synthetic production of Delta-8, THC, HHC, THC-P, THC-O, etc. is done by converting CBD from hemp fiber into THC and from there the other cannabinoids with chemicals such as organic solvents, heavy metals and strong acids…
Safety, purity and strength not guaranteed
The biggest risk of these unskilled and even kitchen-table produced cannabinoids is that they are not regulated. This means that safety, purity and strength cannot be guaranteed. Unfortunately, when using THC-O already to regret the first deaths.
These developments are very harmful for true cannabis enthusiasts and medicinal cannabis patients. It adds fuel to the fire for political and social opponents, possibly resulting in a complete ban.
Fortunately, several synthetic cannabinoids such as HHC and Delta 8 are in already banned in several countries. Hopefully the one and only cannabis will be legalized soon and the production of all synthetically produced cannabinoids will be banned.
