How Are Retailers Describing Delta-8 THC?A Mixed-Methods Study in Fort Worth, Texas

Area of Science:

• Cannabinoid research
• Public health
• Socioeconomic studies

Background:

• Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is an increasingly popular, yet largely unregulated, psychoactive substance in the US.
• Understanding how Delta-8 THC is marketed and described to consumers is crucial for public health and regulatory purposes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how retailers describe Delta-8 THC to potential customers.
• To determine if these descriptions are associated with the socioeconomic deprivation of the surrounding retail location.

Main Methods:

• Retail stores selling Delta-8 THC in Fort Worth, Texas, were contacted.
• Qualitative analysis identified themes in retailer descriptions.
• Logistic regression models assessed the association between description themes and Area Deprivation Index (ADI) scores.

Main Results:

• Most retailers (94%) provided a description of Delta-8 THC when asked.
• Common descriptions included comparisons to other substances (49%), cannabis (34%), or nonpsychoactive compounds like CBD (19%).
• Higher ADI scores (indicating greater socioeconomic deprivation) were significantly associated with retailers providing limited information about Delta-8 THC (OR=1.21, p=.011).

Conclusions:

• Retailer communication about Delta-8 THC can be inconsistent and sometimes misleading.
• Socioeconomic factors may influence the quality of information provided to consumers.
• Findings can inform the development of targeted marketing regulations and consumer education campaigns.