What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: THC.

Where was this research published?

Published in Cannabis and cannabinoid research on October 7, 2026.

National surveys found rising Delta-8 awareness and higher ever-use where…

Q: What did this research study find?

Reported awareness of *Delta-8-THC* products increased from **14.5% in 2021 to 21.8% in 2022**.

Awareness and Use of Delta-8-THC Cannabis Products in the United States: Findings from National Surveys in 2021 and 2022.

Cannabis and cannabinoid research • October 7, 2026 • Highly Relevant

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AI Summary

This abstract-based summary covers a study asking how awareness and use of Delta-8-THC products changed in the United States and how use related to state cannabis laws. Researchers analyzed survey responses from 69,564 people aged 16–65 in the 2021–2022 International Cannabis Policy Study. This was an observational survey, not a trial, so its findings show reported patterns and associations rather than cause and effect.

Reported awareness rose from 14.5% in 2021 to 21.8% in 2022. Ever-use was more common in states where conventional Delta-9-THC cannabis was illegal than in states where medical or adult-use cannabis was legal. The abstract concludes that the cannabinoid market is diversifying and calls for better monitoring and consumer education about novel hemp-derived products and potential health risks. Because this is an abstract-based summary of survey data, it cannot establish why people used these products or their health effects.

💡 Key Findings

Reported awareness of Delta-8-THC products increased from 14.5% in 2021 to 21.8% in 2022.

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95%

Ever-use was higher in states where conventional Delta-9-THC cannabis was illegal than in states where medical or adult-use cannabis was legal.

High

90%

The survey found associations between state cannabis-law status and reported use; it does not establish that laws caused those differences or show the products’ health effects.

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95%

📄 Original Abstract

INTRODUCTION: While recreational marijuana remains illegal under federal law in the United States, "hemp-derived" products that contain less than ≤ 0.3% Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) were legalized in 2018. New classes of intoxicating products have proliferated, such as Delta-8 products, with few regulatory restrictions. The current study sought to assess awareness and prevalence of use of Delta-8-THC products in the United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data are from 69,564 U.S. 16-65-year-old respondents to the 2021-2022 International Cannabis Policy Study (ICPS). Participants were asked about awareness, ever use, and past-month use of specific THC isomers. Logistic regression models examined correlates in the awareness and use of Delta-8-THC, including state cannabis laws. RESULTS: In 2021, 14.5% of respondents reported 'hearing' about Delta-8 products, which increased to 21.8% in 2022 (AOR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.59-1.95, p < 0.001). Ever use of Delta-8 was higher in states where 'conventional' Delta-9 cannabis was illegal (11.2%), compared with states where medical cannabis (8.5% vs. 11.2%, AOR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.58-0.79, p < 0.001) and adult-use recreational cannabis is legal (6.5% vs. 11.2%, AOR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.36-0.55, p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: The cannabinoid market is rapidly diversifying with increased use of hemp-derived cannabinoid products, particularly in states where Delta-9-THC cannabis remains illegal. CONCLUSIONS: There is an urgent need for enhanced monitoring of the diversifying cannabinoid market. Education is warranted to inform consumers about the type and potential health risks of novel hemp-derived products.