Cannabis industry executives are at odds over lab-made cannabinoids such as delta-8 THC, but regulating them could have wide-ranging consequences Lab-made cannabinoid delta-8 THC seemed to emerge out of nowhere to become a runaway-and unregulated-hit with consumers. The trend took regulators and marijuana businesses by surprise, often leaving them unsure how to address the phenomenon. Meanwhile, several companies are working to develop biosynthetic cannabinoids, which they hope to produce for a fraction of the cost of traditional marijuana. Cannabis executives should know: * Delta-8 is most popular in states where marijuana is largely prohibited, but it also has market share in some states with regulated cannabis sales. * Delta-8 businesses and advocates say the hemp-based isomer provides a milder intoxicating effect and doesn't cause the anxiety experienced by some delta-9 THC consumers. * Many marijuana executives want to see D-8 regulated like delta-9 THC, which would include mandated compliance standards and testing. * Some states have banned or greatly restricted the availability of D-8, while other markets have sought to regulate it. Harold Jarboe makes hemp-derived CBD and delta-8 THC products at his company, Tennessee Homegrown. * While marijuana executives expect biotech companies will eventually be able to produce biosynthetic cannabinoids at commercial scale, they don't expect it to put the traditional industry out of business. mjbizdaily.com | February 2022 33http://www.mjbizdaily.com