Delta-8 THC Retail Availability, Price, and Minimum Purchase Age

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Cannabinoid Science
• Socioeconomic Determinants of Health

Background:

• Retail sales of Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products have surged post-2018 Farm Bill with limited regulation and safety standards.
• The FDA has issued warnings regarding Delta-8 THC's psychoactive effects and potential synthesis using hazardous chemicals.
• Concerns exist regarding increased calls to poison control centers, particularly involving minors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the retail sales environment of Delta-8 THC products in Fort Worth, Texas.
• To analyze the pricing of Delta-8 THC products, considering manufacturing costs and price as a determinant of use.
• To investigate the association between Delta-8 THC retail locations and areas of socioeconomic deprivation.

Main Methods:

• Identified potential Delta-8 THC retailers using lists of businesses with alcohol, CBD, or tobacco licenses.
• Conducted phone surveys with retail outlets to determine Delta-8 THC product sales (n=1,223, 69% response rate).
• Merged outlet zip codes with Area Deprivation Index scores and analyzed product types, pricing, and minimum age requirements.

Main Results:

• 11% of surveyed outlets (n=133) reported selling Delta-8 THC products, primarily vapes, flower, and edibles.
• Edibles were significantly cheaper than vapes/flower, averaging $8.58 less.
• Delta-8 THC retailers were disproportionately located in areas with higher socioeconomic deprivation (p=0.02).

Conclusions:

• Delta-8 THC retail outlets are concentrated in socioeconomically deprived communities, potentially exacerbating health disparities.
• The lower price point of edibles may increase accessibility and risk in these areas.
• Policy interventions, including zoning, minimum age laws, and taxation, are recommended to mitigate Delta-8 THC-related disparities.