Factors Associated with Delta-8 THC Retail Availability in Fort Worth, Texas, 2021–2022

Abstract

Background: Delta-8 THC is a federally unregulated psychoactive cannabis product rising in popularity. However, little is known regarding its retail availability. Method: We assessed Delta-8 THC retail by calling locations with alcohol, tobacco, and/or consumable hemp retail licenses in Fort Worth, Texas, before and after Texas announced ongoing litigation surrounding Delta-8 THC legality. We linked census block area deprivation index (ADI) scores (1–10; 10 = most disadvantaged) to locations. Logistic regression models examined associations between license type, ADI, ADI*license type interaction, and Delta-8 availability at each time. Results: Retail availability was 11% at Time 1 (n = 133/1,223) and 9% at Time 2 (n = 94/1,026). Alcohol (aOR_Time1 = 0.18, 95%CI = 0.12,0.28; aOR_Time2 = 0.14, 95%CI = 0.08,0.24), tobacco (aOR_Time1 = 15.13, 95%CI = 6.78,33.74; aOR_Time2 = 12.39, 95%CI = 4.97,30.91), and consumable hemp licenses (aOR_Time1 = 21.85, 95%CI = 7.91,60.39; aOR_Time2 = 22.93, 95%CI = 6.92,75.98) were associated with Delta-8 THC retail availability; ADI scores were borderline but not statistically significant. The multiplicative interaction at Time 2 indicated locations with both high ADI scores and alcohol retail licenses had higher odds of selling Delta-8 THC. Differential associations between ADI and Delta-8 THC availability were observed based on those with (b = 0.007) or without (b = −0.023) alcohol retail licenses. Conclusions: Both timepoints had similar proportions of Delta-8 THC retailers, indicating that despite the uncertain legal landscape in Texas, interest in Delta-8 did not appear to be declining. Geographic socioeconomic disparities were observed among locations with alcohol retail licenses. Future regulations may include minimum distances from specific locations (e.g., schools), particularly in more disadvantaged areas. Increasing the compliance of Texas Delta-8 THC retailers to have the required hemp license is important for surveillance and product safety.

Keywords:

• Hemp-derived cannabinoid
• new psychoactive substance
• policy
• law
• public health
• delta-8 THC

Acknowledgements

Authors would like to thank Theresa Agwuncha, Rohit Balasundaram, Rebeca Galindo, Sofia Olsson, and Vishal Sekhon for calling retailers. The funders had no role in any aspect of the study design, data analysis and interpretation, writing of the manuscript, or decision to publish.

Author contributions

Cassidy R. LoParco: conceptualization, methodology, software, formal analysis, writing—original draft; Amanda Y. Kong: conceptualization, methodology, writing—review & editing; R. Andrew Yockey: methodology, writing—review & editing; Vishaldeep Sekhon: writing—review & editing; Sofia Olsson: writing—review & editing; Matthew E. Rossheim: conceptualization, methodology, writing—review & editing, supervision.

Disclosure statement

A.Y.K. serves as a paid expert consultant in litigation against the tobacco industry.

Additional information

Funding

A.Y.K. was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health (P30CA225520) and the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET R23-02).