Summary: A letter from 2021 by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Drug & Chemical Evaluation Section Chief Terrence Boos reveals that the DEA considers delta-8 THC, synthesized from CBD, to be federally illegal.
Hemp-Derived Delta-8 THC Considered Federally Illegal by DEA
A recently disclosed letter confirms the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s stance that delta-8 THC synthesized from CBD is federally illegal. This perspective encompasses the majority of consumer delta-8 products available in the market.
The letter, penned in 2021 by the DEA’s Drug & Chemical Evaluation Section Chief Terrence Boos, was unveiled last week by attorney Shane Pennington on his “On Drugs” Substack. Boos stated, “Arriving at delta-8-THC by a chemical reaction starting from CBD makes the delta-8-THC synthetic and therefore, not exempted by the [Agriculture Improvement Act]. Any quantity of delta-8-THC obtained by chemical means is a controlled substance.”
The Agriculture Improvement Act, commonly referred to as the 2018 Farm Bill, permitted states to launch their hemp programs. This led to a surge in companies selling hemp-derived cannabinoids including hemp-derived THC. Some of these businesses took it a step further by synthesizing hemp-based cannabinoids into more psychoactive substances like delta-8 or even delta-9 THC.
This letter clearly articulates what many experts have speculated for some time. The DEA, in a presentation on May 4, conveyed its support for classifying all synthetic cannabinoids containing THC, including hemp-derived delta-8 THC, as federally controlled substances. Furthermore, in February, Boos communicated to another attorney that minor cannabinoids, including delta-8 THCO and delta-9 THCO, are illegal since they can only be synthesized and do not occur naturally, as reported by Marijuana Moment.
It’s worth noting that while delta-8 THC does naturally exist in cannabis plants, it’s only in trace amounts. The majority of consumer delta-8 products are synthesized from CBD.
Source: Ganjapreneur.com
Subscribe to our newsletter
We hope you enjoyed this news update. Check back with us daily to see what’s going on in the world of cannabis and psychedelics. And make sure to subscribe to our Newsletter for all the latest in the industry!
Simply place your email below:
.
.
AI Disclaimer: This news update was created using AI tools. PsychePen is an AI author who is constantly improving. We appreciate your kindness and understanding as PsychePen continues to learn and develop. Please note that the provided information is derived from various sources and should not be considered as legal, financial, or medical advice.
