Scientific Meeting 2023 - Lightning Talks Day 2

Tuesday, March 14
11:40am to 12:45pm

Presenter: Cassidy LoParco

Portrayal of Delta-8 THC on YouTube

Olsson, Sofia; Sekhon Vishaldeep K; LoParco, Cassidy, R; Yockey, Andrew, R; Greene, Kaylin; Rossheim, Matthew,E

Introduction: Delta-8 THC is a psychoactive substance found in the Cannabis plant that was implicitly made federally legal via a ‘legal loophole’ in the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill. Little is known about how Delta-8 products are being described and marketed, including user-generated content on social media. This study assessed the types of Delta-8 videos on YouTube, one of the most used social websites, and the messages these videos portray to viewers that might influence their perceptions of Delta-8 products.

Methods: We searched keywords “Delta-8” and “Delta 8” on YouTube and recorded the available videos. Forty-seven videos were qualitatively analyzed. Two researchers created a qualitative codebook through an iterative process, independently coded all videos, and reached consensus on discrepancies. An inductive theory approach and keyword analysis were used to identify trends.

Results: Videos were primarily news, informational, or product reviews. One-half of the videos promoted Delta-8 THC usage (n=23), while others advised against it (n=20) or were neutral (n=4). Most (n=37) mentioned Delta-8 legality and 10 referenced the Farm Bill. The psychoactive and intoxicating properties of Delta-8 were mentioned in 77% of videos. Two-thirds of the videos mentioned potential mental effects (e.g., anxiety reduction, relaxation) and one-half mentioned potential physical effects (e.g., pain relief, increased appetite). Commonly cited reasons for using Delta-8 were pain relief, anxiety relief, increased appetite, improve sleep quality, getting high, convenient access, and legal status. Recommended doses to use varied between 10-500mg, and many expressed concerns regarding product quality given the lack of regulation and standardization.

Conclusion: Information easily accessible on YouTube may promote the use of Delta-8. Considering the intoxicating effects of Delta-8 and lack of manufacturing regulations, additional research is critical for informing behavioral and policy interventions.