Intoxicating hemp products like Delta-8, have surged in popularity due to an accidental loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill, that legalized hemp production. In Ohio these ‘gas station weed’ products are unregulated, creating significant safety concerns, especially because they are easily accessible for and marketed towards minors. These untested products can be found in gas stations, head shops and vape stores that are popping up across the state. 

The lack of oversight allows for the widespread sale of harmful products with unknown potency, ingredients and risks.

Intoxicating hemp is a synthetic cannabinoid that is often marketed as an alternative to marijuana. However, it is largely unregulated and the products have no consistent safety or quality standards. Intoxicating hemp is sometimes made with chemicals that are not safe for consumption, and the lack of oversight means that the potency and purity can vary drastically. This makes it impossible for consumers to know what they are ingesting, putting their health and safety at risk. 

Policymakers, regulators and academics have expressed a range of concerns regarding the proliferation of intoxicating hemp products that can be found at places like gas stations.

While the federal government has been slow to close a loophole created by the 2018 Farm Bill, individual states across the country are taking action on intoxicating hemp.