How Are Retailers Describing Delta-8 THC? A Mixed-Methods Study in Fort Worth, Texas

Objective: Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a large-ly unregulated psychoactive substance rising in popularity in the United States. This study aimed to understand how retailers explained Delta-8 THC to potential customers and if these descriptions were associated with socioeconomic deprivation surrounding the retail location. Method: In Fort Worth, Texas, stores with retail alcohol, cannabidiol (CBD), or tobacco licenses were called. Among the 133 stores that sold Delta-8 THC, 125 retailers (94%) answered the question "What is Delta-8?" Qualitative methods were used to identify related themes; logistic regres-sion models tested associations between themes and area deprivation index (ADI) scores, a measure of socioeconomic deprivation (1-10; 10 = most deprived areas). Results: Retailers often compared Delta-8 THC to other substances (49%). Although most often described as a type of cannabis (34%), several retailers likened Delta-8 to CBD (19%) or hemp (7%), which are nonpsychoactive. Retailers also described potential ef-fects from use (35%). Some retailers reported that they were unsure of what Delta-8 was (21%), told surveyors to look it up themselves (6%), or withheld information (9%). Higher ADI scores were associated with higher odds of retailers communicating limited information (odds ratio = 1.21, 95% CI [1.04, 1.40], p = .011). Conclusions: Study findings may inform the development of marketing regulations, as well as infor-mational campaigns for both retailers and consumers. (J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs, 84, 298-302, 2023)