After Delta-8 THC was declared illegal by the Texas Department of State Health Services in October, some cannabis shop owners have turned their efforts to Delta-9 THC.
When the Texas Department of State Health Services deemed Delta THC-8 a controlled substance, it angered many shop owners. Following the legalization of marijuana, the variation was legal to sell. Suddenly, many were scrambling to pull products off their shelves consisting of Delta-8 THC and find a new substitute to supplement lost revenue.
Now, many cannabis shops have turned to Delta-9 THC. It is naturally produced in cannabis and still brings a high for users whether smoked, eaten, or vaped. The difference between Delta-8 and Delta-9 comes down to molecules, in layman’s terms.
Ben Meggs, the cofounder of Bayou City Hemp Co, spoke with the Dallas Observer about Delta-8 being deemed illegal and the new focus on Delta-9.
“Delta-8 is a part of our business, but we make a lot of other different cannabinoids that don’t fall under THC isomers, which is what DSHS is going after right now,” Meggs shared.
“The biggest pivot that you’re seeing right now, and we’ve been working on this and creating products with this for quite some time, is delta-9, and it’s under 0.3% on a dry weight basis.”
Now many cannabis shops are seeing a new demand for Delta-9 THC. In the meantime, lawsuits against the state continue after making Delta-8 THC illegal without notifying businesses. Many learned through word of mouth after the news was posted on the Texas Department of Health and Human Services website.
Following the publication of those regulations, a judge quickly denied a restraining order preventing implementation. A new hearing to address the law change involving Delta-8 THC has been set for November 5.