| Autor: |
Rossheim ME; Department of Health Behavior and Health Systems, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA., LoParco CR; Department of Health Behavior and Health Systems, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA., Walker A; Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA., Livingston MD; Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA., Trangenstein PJ; Alcohol Research Group, Emeryville, California, USA., Olsson S; School of Medicine, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, USA., McDonald KK; Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA., Yockey RA; Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA., Luningham JM; Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA., Kong AY; Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.; TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA., Henry D; Department of Anthropology, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, USA., Walters ST; Department of Health Behavior and Health Systems, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA., Thombs DL; Department of Health Behavior and Health Systems, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA., Jernigan DH; Department of Health Law, Policy & Management, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. |
| Abstrakt: |
Background: Retail sales of Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products have increased in the U.S. market since the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, and there is currently little regulation of marketing/sales and limited related safety standards in many states. After thousands of calls to poison control centers (40% for individuals under 18 years old and 70% requiring health care facility evaluation), the Food and Drug Administration issued warnings on Delta-8 THC products, stating their psychoactive effects and that some manufacturers may synthesize Delta-8 using unsafe household chemicals. The current study describes the Delta-8 THC retail sales environment in Fort Worth, Texas. Given its relatively inexpensive manufacturing and that low prices are a major determinant of cannabis use, the price of Delta-8 THC products was examined. This study also examined whether retail outlets in areas with greater socioeconomic deprivation had higher odds of selling Delta-8 THC products. This is important because if Delta-8 THC retailers are disproportionately located in more socioeconomically deprived communities, residents of these communities can more easily access these products and may have higher risk of adverse consequences. Methods: Potential Delta-8 THC retailers were selected by identifying lists of current retail locations with alcohol, cannabidiol, and/or tobacco licenses in Fort Worth. Trained research assistants called outlets in September and October 2021 to query about sales of products containing Delta-8 THC. The response rate was 69% ( n =1,223). Outlets' 9-digit zip codes were merged with Area Deprivation Index scores. Products and purported minimum age were described. Chi-squared and Student's t -tests were used. Results: Eleven percent of outlets ( n =133) reported selling Delta-8 THC. Ninety-six percent sold vapes and/or "flower" (i.e., hemp leaves coated with Delta-8 THC distillate) and 76% sold edibles. Among the least expensive products available, edibles cost, on average, $8.58 less than flower/vapes ( p <0.001). Outlets that sold Delta-8 THC were located in areas with greater deprivation ( p =0.02). Most reported a minimum purchase age of 21; however, 4% reported 18 years or no minimum age. Conclusions: Delta-8 THC retail outlets were disproportionately located in areas with more socioeconomic deprivation. Legal intervention such as zoning, minimum age, and tax laws may help reduce Delta-8 THC-related disparities. |
