Abstract
21 Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids and Counting: Identification of Novel Hemp-Derived Cannabis Products Through Product Reviews on an Online Forum
APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo
Background: Loopholes in the legal definitions of hemp have allowed manufacturers to derive cannabis-specific compounds (“cannabinoids )–many of which are psychoactive–and sell them legally in most US states so long as they contain ≤0.3% Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC). However, knowledge of the types of cannabinoids being sold in products has remained limited, because the marketplace of hemp-derived cannabis products is unregulated.
Methods: In order to describe products being sold with hemp-derived cannabinoids, we conducted a qualitative content analysis of posts categorized as product reviews on a large discussion forum dedicated to hemp-derived cannabinoids from August 21, 2020 to October 21, 2021 (N=282 after removing posts deleted by moderators). Five researchers double-coded all reviews to identify the number of products discussed in the review (κ = 0.81), and for each product in the reviews (N=430), the same reviewers identified the cannabinoids listed as ingredients in the product (κ = 0.73), the manufacturer (κ = 0.88), and the method of consumption (e.g., vaping or edibles) (κ = 0.78).
Results: The products we identified were produced by a total of N=115 unique manufacturers, of which 84.3% had an online website that was returned in the first two pages in a Google search for their name, with 79.1% allowing individuals to mail-order products. These products were labeled as containing N=23 unique cannabinoids as ingredients, the most common being Δ8-Tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8-THC), which was listed as an ingredient in 35.1% of all products, and followed by cannabidiol (CBD; 25.8%), hexahydrocannabinol (HHC; 17.2%), cannabinol (CBN; 14.7%), and cannabigerol (CBG; 14.0%). Over half (54%) of the products listed more than one cannabinoid as an ingredient, with the most common combinations being: HHC + CBN (6.8%), delta-8-THC + tetrahydrocannabivarin (6.0%), and delta-8-THC + tetrahydrocannabiphorol (3.9%). The most common types of products being reviewed were concentrates (32.8%), vapes (31.4%), and edibles (15.3%).
Discussion: Our analysis suggests a growth and rapid expansion of an online market for products containing hemp-derived cannabinoids produced by over 100 different manufacturers. Several of the more popular compounds we identified have psychotropic properties (e.g., CBN and HHC) and have not been well-documented in the academic literature. Jurisdictions should clarify whether these novel compounds can be sold legally as hemp products and through e-commerce.