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When it comes to buying Delta-8, the market is recently growing with enticing products from seemingly reputable companies. Unfortunately, not every one of these vendors may be entirely trustworthy in how they operate their businesses online. In this article, we’ll be taking a deeper look at some of the potentially risky or shady practices involved in the Delta-8 industry. Armed with this knowledge, you can safely research and purchase your Delta-8 THC from companies that deserve your business, even if you go with a Vybba competitor. Let’s take a look at some of these problematic Delta-8 shortcomings or questionable sales tactics.
Selling & Shipping To Unauthorized States
When Delta-8 THC first appeared on the market, it was popularized by many as a safer, more approachable version of cannabis that offered a smoother and more controlled effect. While it’s true that all hemp-derived Delta-8 THC products are required to contain no more than 0.3% THC (as mandated by the 2018 Farm Bill), some states have their own additional (and more restrictive) legislation regarding the hemp plant. Several states have banned the sale of Delta-8 THC completely, even while allowing Delta-9 THC (recreational cannabis) to be sold in certified dispensaries. While this may not make a lot of sense, some users speculate that the dispensary approach allows for regulatory scrutiny of cannabis being sold to approved users. Nevertheless, these “legal” states for the more potent Delta-9 THC form can still restrict the less-intoxicating Delta-8 option. When it comes to Delta-8 THC, online retailers should not ship products to states where it is illegal. Many companies have strict guidelines and apps in place to ensure this does not happen. Unfortunately, many companies willfully ignore these laws and ship to any buyer in any state. If you live in one of the twelve states where Delta-8 THC is illegal or restricted, you should avoid buying Delta-8 THC products online for delivery to your state, even if the seller does not appear to restrict shipment to any states.
No Public Test Results
Delta-8 and its production is not directly regulated by the FDA, meaning that anyone with the necessary skills can launch a Delta-8 brand (or any hemp/cannabinoid-infused product) and market it as a “premium” product. The product may very well have less than 0.3% THC, come from top-quality organic hemp using clean extraction processes, and be everything it's advertised as. But how would you really know? Instead of solely trusting the word of a company you’ve most likely never heard of, high quality Delta-8 companies found an excellent way to solve this problem: independent third-party lab testing. The company will send off some or all of their products to an unaffiliated lab, where they undergo rigorous tests to confirm the quality and potency of the cannabinoid content. There is no bias or shady compensation for a better test result; the lab simply tests the products and sends back the official reports. Since these tests are time-consuming and often quite expensive, the presence of these tests offers potential buyers a way to verify and vet the company’s claims before purchasing the product.
Unfortunately, some companies do not offer these test results to the general public, either on their website or the product packaging. You might see phrases like “lab-tested” or “certified” but cannot find any public third-party test results to verify these claims. To be fair, some companies only offer the test results via a QR code directly on the product packaging, but not on the website. This will require a modicum of trust to buy these products initially, which not only discourages potential buyers but also defeats the purpose of lab tests in the first place. If you’re interested in buying Delta-8 THC products online, it’s crucial that the company offers the results of their independent third-party lab tests on their website, viewable to the public before purchase, not just after.
Suspicious Lab Testing
We’ve stressed the importance of independent third-party lab testing to confirm not only the content, but the quality as well. In order for these lab tests to be relevant, it’s extremely important that the lab tests be conducted by independent third-party labs. This means that not only are the labs not affiliated with the company, but there is no chance of bias or shady dealings. There are some brands who do indeed offer lab testing, but the lab testing is done by either a lab within the company or by the same chemists who created the product. While this is not a common practice, such practices leave room for speculation and doubt. If a product is tested by the same people who created it, could it be possible the results were altered slightly to ensure a better score? Keep this in mind when reading any lab results from a new or unfamiliar Delta-8 company, and look for lab tests with a 3rd party-logo of the lab doing the testing, not just an internal document from the company selling the product they claim was tested.
No Public Contact Information
If you have a question about a specific Delta-8 THC product and you’d rather not spend hours searching Google for the answer, wouldn’t it make sense to reach out to the company directly? Surely of all the ways to glean information, contacting the manufacturer seems like the most trustworthy way. For the most part, Delta-8 THC vendors are eager to provide ways to contact them. Whether it be through social media, email, or phone, there should always be some way to reach the company’s customer service. Be wary of sites that do not list any public contact information. While this doesn’t necessarily mean that the company should be avoided at all costs, it’s a red flag if a company or website does not list this information. As a potential customer, it is your right to have your questions and concerns answered. Sites with public phone numbers or even live chat support can give you the confidence that they are going the extra mile to meet the needs of consumers.
Misnaming Products and Strains
Some companies will publicize products as being from specific sources or “strains” incorrectly, making it difficult to fully grasp what type of product you’re using. For example, some companies will advertise “pure Delta-8 THC flower” on their websites. Due to how it is made, there is no such thing as a “pure” or “natural” Delta-8 THC flower; it simply does not exist. The most common method of creating Delta-8 THC flower is to blend a very small amount of Delta-8 THC isolate with solvents and chemicals and then spray this chemical blend onto hemp flowers or leaves. This method makes it impossible to control the amount of Delta-8 THC that is applied and causes each packaged product to vary greatly with each purchase. It also misleads people to think that the Delta-8 isomer is naturally grown in its final form like CBD. You should also be wary of any Delta-8 manufacturer claiming to be “certified-organic”. While they may very well follow organic practices for the raising of hemp, there is currently no such certification procedure available for Delta-8. If you’re buying from a vendor for the first time, pay careful attention to how things are named, described, and portrayed. Trustworthy vendors (like Us!) will be careful to accurately list and detail their ingredients and processing methods to ensure that customers like you know exactly what is being offered.
