Novel Δ 8 ‑Tetrahydrocannabinol Vaporizers Contain Unlabeled Adulterants, Unintended Byproducts of Chemical Synthesis, and Heavy Metals

Cannabis e-cigarettes containing Δ 8 -tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 8 -THC) produced synthetically from hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) have recently risen in popularity as a legal means of cannabis consumption, but questions surrounding purity and unlabeled additives have created doubts of their safety. Herein, NMR, GC-MS, and ICP-MS were used to analyze major components of 27 products from 10 brands, and it was determined none of these had accurate Δ 8 -THC labeling, 11 had unlabeled cutting agents, and all contained reaction side-products including olivetol, Δ 4(8) - iso -tetrahydrocannabinol, 9-ethoxyhexahydrocannabinol, Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9 -THC), heavy metals, and a novel previously undescribed cannabinoid, iso -tetrahydrocannabifuran.