Specialties & Diseases > Family Medicine

These experts say gas station THC might be your next clinical mystery case

By Julia Ries | Fact-checked by Davi Sherman

Published April 28, 2025

Key Takeaways

Industry Buzz

"Delta-8 THC is often marketed as a ‘lighter’ or ‘legal’ high, but it is important to understand that it is still a psychoactive substance." — Pamela Tambini, MD, an internal medicine and addiction medicine physician
“We don’t have much solid research on how delta-8 affects the brain or body long-term.” — Sylvie Stacy, MD, MPH, an addiction medicine specialist

To purchase tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-infused edibles, vape pens, or beverages, you need to go to a cannabis dispensary or medical marijuana clinic, depending on where you live.

But a legal loophole has led to a different type of cannabis product—delta-8—being sold at gas stations and bodegas across the United States. ^[]

A 2023 survey published in JAMA revealed that teenagers are increasingly using delta-8 products. ^[] According to the findings, 11.4% of the 2,186 US high schoolers who participated in the study used delta-8 in the past year.

What is delta-8?

Delta-8 is a psychoactive substance found in the Cannabis sativa plant.^[] Similar to delta-9 THC (the main compound in cannabis), delta-8 has an intoxicating effect.

“Delta-8 THC is often marketed as a ‘lighter’ or ‘legal’ high, but it is important to understand that it is still a psychoactive substance,” says Pamela Tambini, MD, an internal medicine and addiction medicine physician at Engage Wellness in Acton, MA.

The FDA recently issued a warning about delta-8 products following an increase in adverse events—including anxiety and paranoia—associated with the cannabinoid.^[]^[] Furthermore, marketing of the products often targets children and adolescents.

Seeing as delta-8 products aren’t evaluated or regulated by the FDA, many may be contaminated by harmful substances like solvents or heavy metals.^[] Some products may also contain concerningly high levels of delta-8.

Doctors' concerns

Dr. Tambini says the main concern with delta-8 is that it’s unregulated. “Unlike dispensary cannabis, delta-8 is usually made from chemically processed hemp, and there is no standard oversight to ensure purity or potency,” she says.

It’s also unclear how the cannabinoids might affect our bodies in the long run. “We don’t have much solid research on how delta-8 affects the brain or body long-term,” Sylvie Stacy, MD, MPH, an addiction medicine specialist and the Chief Medical Officer of Rehab.com, tells MDLinx.

According to Dr. Tambini, it’s crucial for parents and physicians to talk with young people about the potential dangers of delta-8 products. Because the adolescent brain is still developing, the risks of using cannabis products like delta-8 are higher.

“THC exposure during this critical time has been linked to memory problems, cognitive decline, and an increased risk of mental health disorders like anxiety, depression, and even psychosis,” Dr. Tambini says.

In addition, since delta-8 is easy to buy, it can become a gateway drug for young people. “Just because delta-8 is legal in some places does not mean it is safe,” she says.