Pennsylvania passed the Medical Marijuana Act in 2016, which legalized medical cannabis for qualified patients. Recreational cannabis is still illegal in the state, and possession of up to 30 grams is punishable by a misdemeanor, up to 30 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $500. HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania lawmakers and legal cannabis advocates say unequal access to marijuana has pushed users toward a widely used — but unregulated — psychoactive product whose exact content is often impossible to identify. Chemists who produce marijuana for medical or recreational purposes in states where it has been legalized are testing their products to make sure reactions go as expected and extract any remaining solvents. Ironically, illegally sold marijuana may be safer to use than unregulated delta-8 products, which can be purchased without legal consequences, according to Vrabel. Some of the cannabis sold illegally in Pennsylvania is purchased in states where it is legal, she said, meaning it is subject to regulations and testing that delta-8 products are not. Under state law, you are free to use, possess, sell, distribute, purchase, market, and produce delta-8 products. All delta-8 products must be derived from hemp plants containing no more than 0.3% THC. Marijuana-derived delta-8 is only legal for registered medical cannabis patients. The only legislation that could change the legality of Delta-8 in Pennsylvania is the one proposed in the memo mentioned above. If this future legislation is passed, Delta-8 will become illegal under state law.
Jonathan John, a Pennsylvania-based chemist who manufactures and sells Delta-8 products through his company, Circus Cannabis, said the milder effects of delta-8 are popular with people who are new to marijuana. People who have used products containing Delta-9 before and thought it was too strong also prefer the lower power of Delta-8. Despite impending laws that could restrict or ban hemp-derived delta-8, you can still legally purchase delta-8 products online and in physical retail stores. Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – known as delta-8 – is a cannabinoid derived from hemp. While physical retail stores are a good option for Delta 8 products, we recommend buying from legitimate Delta 8 online suppliers. Online sellers are convenient and easily accessible, and you also buy directly from the company instead of buying through an intermediary. All you need is an internet connection and a credit card, and you`re good to go. Fast forward to 2022, and Pennsylvania is now trying to ban hemp-derived Delta-8 and its products.
Many state-owned companies rely heavily on delta-8-THC products, and many customers use them as an alternative treatment for a variety of health problems. A stubborn ban will simply force Delta-8 underground and create an even less regulated black market. While legalization seems like a long way to go this year, many insiders say there`s a good chance we could see a commercial recreational marijuana program next year, especially since the neighboring state of New Jersey could see legalization in November. Pennsylvania legalized Delta-8 after the passage of House Bill 967 in July 2016. This law legalizes all hemp compounds and derivatives, provided that hemp plants or subsequent products contain no more than 0.3% THC. Senator Schwank is a big supporter of hemp and was one of the first legislators to introduce legislation to bring it back to Pennsylvania. The federal government legalized hemp cultivation in 2018. According to the Federal Agriculture Improvement Act, hemp is defined as a cannabis plant containing 0.3% delta-9 THC or less, which is considered too weak to have a psychoactive effect. In Pennsylvania, some users have turned to it because of the milder side effects reported and because of the state`s complex cannabis landscape: access to medical marijuana can be time-consuming and expensive, and recreational cannabis remains illegal. But these tests are optional for delta-8 manufacturers, said Lauren Vrabel, a cannabis pharmacist in Pennsylvania. A Delta 8 ban is not an ideal situation for Pennsylvania. Berks County District Attorney John Adams recently purchased a random selection of vapes and gummies containing delta-8 and delta-10 — another form of THC that can be derived from hemp — and sent them to Pennsylvania State Police for investigation.
The lab found that each product tested contained illegal levels of delta-9. John argued that concerns about solvents contaminating delta-8 products are exaggerated. If a chemist makes delta-8 foods properly, John argued, they must remove almost all of the solvent, or the distillation process won`t work. “Cannabis”. The plant of the genus cannabis, whether it grows or not, the parts and seeds thereof, the resin extracted from any part of the plant and any compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of the plant, its seeds or resins, including cannabis concentrate. The term does not include industrial hemp or fibre made from the stems, oil or cake made from the seeds of the plant, sterilized seeds of the plant that are not germinable, or the weight of any other ingredient combined with cannabis to produce administrations, food, beverages or other topical or oral products. Pennsylvania federal law had legalized all cannabinoids and derivatives, including all tetrahydrocannabinols except Delta 9 THC. Because hemp is regulated differently in each state, it can be difficult to understand the details of Pennsylvania`s Delta 8 laws. Penn State graduate Becky Marcinko said she and many of her friends buy Delta-8 products from a State College delivery service. Despite the potential legal and health risks, Delta-8 remains a popular choice for people who don`t have access to marijuana, Spotlight PA found. Pennsylvania has also passed amendments to the state`s Controlled Substances Act.
The new laws clarify hemp as an exception to “marijuana,” where it is listed as a Schedule I substance. Thanks to these updates, delta-8-THC is legal in Pennsylvania. When it first appeared on shelves, Delta-8 seemed like a boon for people who didn`t want to buy cannabis illegally or didn`t have access to Pennsylvania`s medical marijuana program. Proponents acknowledge that access to the program is limited due to cost, bureaucracy and lack of public knowledge. The association said it was “not aware of any arrests related to this emerging issue,” but “we know that some counties are working to remove Delta-8 products from shelves.” Pennsylvania Sen. Judith L. Schwank and Sharif Street submitted a memorandum to the state Senate on April 6, 2022. The memo says they will soon introduce legislation to ban the use and purchase of Delta-8, citing lack of regulatory oversight as the main reason. If Pennsylvania wants to control delta-8 products in the marketplace, we think reasonable government regulation is a better option. In this way, the state government can create a regulatory framework that oversees the production, manufacturing and testing of products, thus ensuring better safety, quality and transparency. If regulated, Delta-8 could benefit potential medical marijuana patients, Vrabel said.
However, the question is: Which delta-8 products are safe and reliable to buy? “I am a big supporter of delta-8 as a potential therapeutic and recreational product,” Hudalla said. “I`m just not in favor of using consumers as guinea pigs for new chemicals that haven`t been tested yet.” O`Neill buys its Delta 8 products online for less than what its medical marijuana card costs. To make sure the Delta-8 you buy is legal, you need to make sure it`s made from legal hemp by a licensed grower.