The association between chronic medical health conditions and Delta-8 THC use among U.S. Adults

The use of Delta-8 THC, a naturally occurring isomer of Delta-9 THC, has increased in the United States following the 2018 Farm Bill. However, data on the prevalence of its use and associated health conditions remain limited. This study aims to assess the association between chronic health conditions and Delta-8 THC use among U.S. adults. A cross-sectional internet-based survey collected self-reported Delta-8 THC use and chronic medical conditions from 1,080 adults aged 18-59 through the Qualtrics^® research panel. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between sociodemographic and clinical correlations of Delta-8 THC use. Results showed that participants reporting any chronic medical conditions had higher odds of reporting Delta-8 THC use in the past 12 months [(aOR)=1.87, 95% (CI): 1.04, 3.28; p<0.05)]. More specifically, participants reporting a history of diabetes [(aOR)=1.95, 95% CI: 1.09, 3.48; p<0.05)], heart disease [(aOR)=3.74, 95% CI: 1.81, 7.72; p<0.01)], and cancer [(aOR)=3.51, 95% CI: 1.75, 7.04; p>0.01)] had higher odds of using Delta-8 THC. Comprehensive research using larger, nationally representative samples and longitudinal assessments is essential to understand the health implications of Delta-8 THC use and inform public health policy.