Latest news with #THC
New York Times
12 hours ago
- Health
- New York Times
Kennedy Announces Plan to Restrict Some Kratom Products
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday announced a plan to restrict access to a derivative of the kratom plant readily available online and in vape stores and used by millions of Americans to alleviate pain. In recent years, manufacturers have isolated and amplified a compound in kratom to make a more potent product. Concerns about addiction to 7-OH, or 7-hydroxymitragynine, have mounted because it binds to opioid receptors in the brain. Dr. Marty Makary, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, said his agency would begin the process to officially 'schedule' 7-OH, classifying the drug according to its risk for abuse and accepted benefits. The final steps will be handled by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Though 7-OH is not a traditional opioid derived from the poppy plant, Mr. Kennedy pointed to the opioid epidemic and said the new effort was meant to avert a similar wave of addiction. The action comes as the F.D.A. has struggled with a growing number of dangerous and even deadly psychoactive products lining gas station and vape shop shelves, from psychedelic candy bars — linked to three deaths last summer — to THC snacks to 'gas-station heroin.' The F.D.A. has been escalating enforcement against companies that make 7-OH products in recent months. The agency sent seven warning letters to manufacturers, a precursor to stricter enforcement action, which can range from fines to product impoundment. Dr. Makary said at a news briefing on Tuesday that federal health officials were trying to reverse a record of being 'asleep at the wheel' in the face of a public health crisis, citing the example of cigarettes. 'Let's be honest,' he said. 'There's also a lot we don't know. This may be the calm before the storm. It may be the tip of the iceberg, but let's be aggressive and proactive.' People can buy 7-OH online and in smoke shops, where it's often labeled kratom and 7 or 7-OH. It comes in the form of gummies, chewables, small drinks or tablets that melt in the mouth. Dr. Makary said the agency was issuing a report on 7-OH, a letter to health care providers, and a warning to consumers about the risks associated with 7-OH products. According to the F.D.A., 7-OH is not lawful in dietary supplements or when added to foods. The agency said there are no approved drugs containing 7-OH nor any regulatory basis for companies to claim that the products relieve pain or anxiety, as some do. 'Consumers who use 7-OH products are exposing themselves to products that have not been proven safe or effective for any use,' according to the F.D.A. The announcement runs counter to a plan unveiled during the Biden administration to lower restrictions on marijuana, a process known as rescheduling. That effort has hit procedural hurdles, but it was meant to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug, akin to cocaine or heroin, to Schedule III, given its potential medical benefits. For 7-OH, federal officials are moving in the opposite direction, taking an unscheduled substance and advising the D.E.A. to place it in Schedule I. Such a process begins with federal health agencies performing an eight-factor analysis of a product's risk profile and potential for abuse, among other concerns. Kirsten Elin Smith, a Johns Hopkins University assistant professor who studies kratom, said she was initially very concerned about 7-OH when it began to show up online about two years ago. She said she braced herself for a flood of reports of harm. Those reports did not come, she said, though perhaps because there are no tests to detect 7-OH in the blood. There are routine tests for another component of kratom, but those did not yield evidence of increasing harm, either, she said. 'If you had asked me a year ago, I would have said this is evil,' Dr. Smith said. 'At this point I'm a little more equivocal.' She said she's been working to survey several hundred users and conduct in-depth interviews. Some people report benefits, such as improved mood and quality of life. Others tell her that 7-OH is habit-forming. Though most of the people she has surveyed said the product should not be prohibited, nearly 15 percent said they favored greater restrictions. Dr. Smith said she encountered similar results while studying kratom, which provides a different medley of psychoactive components. Overall, she said, more research needs to be done. 'Kratom is not a panacea without risk either,' she said. 'Both kratom products and 7-OH products have a benefit-risk profile.' Mac Haddow, a senior fellow on public policy for the American Kratom Association, which represents makers of botanical kratom, said his group has been sounding the alarm about 7-OH since it arrived on the market. Mr. Haddow applauded Tuesday's announcement. 'You can get addicted to 7-OH in a couple of days, and it's a horrible situation to get off of it,' he said. The F.D.A. has encountered a spate of problems with unauthorized products that have popped up in smoke shops and gas stations across the country in recent years. Last summer, more than 160 people fell ill and three died after eating Diamond Shruumz candy bars, which contained an array of unauthorized ingredients, some of which had psychedelic properties. People who ate the bars reported seizures, loss of consciousness and hallucinations. The agency has also scrambled to restrict tianeptine products known as 'gas-station heroin' after a number of reports of injury, addiction and death.
The Journal
13 hours ago
- Health
- The Journal
Synthetic cannabinoid HHC has now been classified as an illegal drug
THE SEMI-SYNTHETIC CANNABINOID product HHC has been banned in Ireland. Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill announced today that Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) has been classed as a Schedule 1 controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. This means that the import, export, production, possession, sale, and supply of products containing HHC is now illegal. HHC produces similar effects to THC, which is a natural cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. However, HHC is a chemically modified substance. It has been available in Ireland in vapes and edibles but until today was not subject to legal restrictions as it had not yet classified as a controlled substance. The College of Psychiatrists has previously called on the government to add HHC and any semi-synthetic cannabinoid to the list of prohibited substances for manufacture, distribution and sale. In September of last year, Consultant Specialist Addiction Psychiatrist Professor Colin O'Gara said that although it is initially seen to be a 'harmless' drug, it 'can have devastating effects on a young person's mental health; we have treated young men suffering from severe psychosis as a result of vaping HHC'. Advertisement Since HHC was first detected in Ireland in 2022, it has been linked with episodes of psychosis and hospitalisation. A recent study by researchers in University Hospital Galway found that HHC was the second most common drug used by patients presenting with psychosis over a 21-month period. HHC is one of 14 new substances that have been newly classified as controlled drugs, alongside synthetic opioids and semi-synthetic cannaboids. The drugs were identified by the EU and by the UN Commission for Narcotic Drugs as posing a serious risk to public health. The substances being classified as illegal gives gardaí added powers of enforcement in combatting the trade in illegal drugs. The addition of these substances to the Schedules of the Misuse of Drugs Acts gives added powers of enforcement to An Garda Siochana combatting the trade in illicit drugs. Carroll MacNeill said the sale of HHC as vapes in 'attractive packaging', or in edible jelly form is a 'marketing ploy' aimed at young people. Junior Minister for the National Drug Strategy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor added that HHC is responsible for hospitalisations and psychotic episodes and that there are many people struggling with addition as a result of HHC and similar drugs. She urged those seeking help for themselves or a loved one to contact the HSE Drugs and Alcohol Helpline. The HSE operates a confidential freephone Drug and Alcohol Helpline: 1800 459 459 from Monday to Friday between 9:30 am and 5:30 pm or through email at helpline@ Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Daily Mirror
15 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
HHC now added to list of illegal drugs in Ireland
Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), commonly sold as e-cigarettes or vapes, is now illegal to sell and possess in Ireland, the Government has confirmed. This means that the import, export, production, possession, sale and supply of products containing HHC is now illegal. HHC is a semi-synthetic version of a natural cannabinoid found in cannabis. Since it was first detected in Ireland in 2022, it has been linked with episodes of psychosis and hospitalisation. It can be used in vapes or in jelly edibles and emulates the effects of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the narcotic component present in cannabis plants. Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Minister for the National Drugs Strategy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor announced that Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) has been categorised as a Schedule 1 controlled drug in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. Schedule 1 controlled drugs are those which are considered to have little or no therapeutic value and which present a very high risk of abuse. The new classification means that the import, export, production, possession, sale, and supply of products containing HHC is now illegal. The addition of these substances to the Schedules of the Misuse of Drugs Acts gives added powers of enforcement to An Garda Síochána combatting the trade in illicit drugs. 'The sale of HHC as vapes, in attractive packaging, or in edible jelly form, is a marketing ploy aimed at young people, which masks the fact that this drug is harmful for youth mental health and can be addictive,' said Minister Carroll MacNeill. 'Under the successor national drugs strategy, I'm committed to reviewing legal avenues to respond faster and more effectively to emerging threats from the volatile drugs market. In line with our health-led approach to drug use, our priority is to advance measures that enable us to protect and support the health of our population.' Minister Murnane O'Connor added: 'Controlling HHC and other harmful substances is an important step that must be complemented by education and prevention programmes so that young people and parents are better informed about the risks associated with drug use. 'We know that HHC is responsible for hospitalisations and psychotic episodes, and that there are many people today struggling with addiction as a result of this and similar drugs. 'I urge people seeking help, either for themselves or for a loved one, to contact the HSE Drugs and Alcohol Helpline. Information on services in your locality can be found on the Health Research Board's interactive map.' Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Irish Examiner
16 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
HHC added to list of illegal drugs in Ireland by Health Minister
The Health Minister has announced that Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) has been classified as an illegal drug in Ireland. This means that the import, export, production, possession, sale, and supply of products containing HHC is now illegal. HHC is a semi-synthetic version of a natural cannabinoid found in cannabis. Since it was first detected in Ireland in 2022, it has been linked with episodes of psychosis and hospitalisation. It can be used in vapes or in jelly edibles and emulates the effects of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the narcotic component present in cannabis plants. Flavours range from lemon, blueberry, and pineapple to more unusual tastes such as 'Gorilla Glue' and 'amnesia'. A recent Irish Examiner investigation highlighted the ease of which people could get their hands on HHC, including children. On Tuesday, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, alongside her fellow ministers Jennifer Murnane O'Connor and Mary Butler, announced that the drug was now classified as illegal. It's one of 14 new substances, including synthetic opioids and semi-synthetic cannabinoids that have been newly classified as controlled drugs. This follows their identification by the EU and by the UN Commission for Narcotic Drugs as posing a serious risk to public health. Ms Carroll MacNeill said: "The sale of HHC as vapes, in attractive packaging, or in edible jelly form, is a marketing ploy aimed at young people, which masks the fact that this drug is harmful for youth mental health and can be addictive. 'Under the successor national drugs strategy, I'm committed to reviewing legal avenues to respond faster and more effectively to emerging threats from by the volatile drugs market. In line with our health-led approach to drug use, our priority is to advance measures that enable us to protect and support the health of our population.' Ms Murnane O'Connor added: 'HHC, like other synthetic and semi-synthetic drugs, is a grave threat to public health. Controlling HHC and other harmful substances is an important step, that must be complemented by education and prevention programmes so that young people and parents are better informed about the risks associated with drug use. 'We know that HHC is responsible for hospitalisations and psychotic episodes, and that there are many people today struggling with addiction as a result of this and similar drugs. I urge people seeking help, either for themselves or for a loved one, to contact the HSE Drugs and Alcohol Helpline."
Fast Company
19 hours ago
- Business
- Fast Company
A fight over a ban on hemp in Texas is pitting Republicans against Republicans
In recent months in Texas, hemp—and the state's $5.5 billion hemp industry—has become a flashpoint in state politics and the wider cultural war. A successful push by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick earlier this year to have the Legislature ban hemp and hemp-derived THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive ingredient in hemp and marijuana) was temporarily thwarted by Gov. Greg Abbott's veto of Senate Bill 3 on June 23. But just this week, a special 30-day legislative session was called by the governor, with THC as a top agenda item. A new bill, Senate Bill 5, nearly identical to the vetoed bill, is on the docket for legislators to consider. Texas, by dint of its size and stature among red states, can be seen as a bellwether for how Republican lawmakers are going to handle the hemp and marijuana markets. The state legalized hemp products in 2019, modeling it after the federal Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, which kick-started the contemporary hemp industry and cultivation across the country. But the Texas law concerned itself more with agriculture and regulating the growing of hemp, which led to some oversights in terms of consumer regulation, said Katharine Harris, a drug policy expert at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy. Products made with THC derived from hemp became legal, even while THC derived from marijuana plants remained banned. That's led to rapid growth and a consistent push—including from the industry itself—for more regulations. 'Texas has the potential to be the second-largest cannabis market in the country,' said Lukas Gilkey, founder of Hometown Hero CBD, a prominent advocate for the industry who previously launched ongoing legal action against state regulators to prevent them from banning hemp-derived TCH products in 2021. 'You used to be sent to jail for having a joint, but the numbers for this industry are staggering for an industry that isn't even six years old.' A sudden multibillion-dollar industry In the six years the hemp industry has existed in Texas, it's been on a speedrun toward becoming a sizable sector of the economy, according to a March 2025 Whitney Economics analysis. The industry now generates $267 million in state tax revenue, employing 53,000 workers who receive $2.1 billion in wages. Hometown Hero's revenues expanded five times over during the first six months after the law was passed. Recreational marijuana is not legal to sell in the state—although Texas does have a small medical marijuana program —but possession of small amounts is starting to be decriminalized in some cities. However, since hemp is legal, the hemp industry in Texas can conduct transactions that pot sellers cannot, such as take credit card payments and engage in interstate commerce. The growth of hemp in the state has garnered quite a constituency of small-business owners, entrepreneurs, and recreational users, as well as a sizable community of military veterans who utilize hemp goods for medicinal purposes. Many farmers have made hemp a main crop and were outraged that the industry was on the verge of closure. 'Throw the lowlifes in jail if you want to stop the bad actors,' Ann Gauger, co-owner of Caprock Family Farms in Lubbock, told The Texas Tribune. 'But don't take out the American farmers. Don't take out the ag producers.' A battle for what Texas means The battle over hemp in Texas can be cast as a battle about the personality of the frontier state itself: a no-nonsense, freedom-loving, self-made sense of pride in building a business with your bare hands versus a well-earned reputation as a right-wing policy incubator with deeply religious leaders. There have been other attempts to regulate and reform hemp laws during other legislative sessions. (Texas has biannual sessions that last six months every other year.) But over the course of the last few years, the industry has grown substantially, to the point where it's quite visible, Harris said. That has simply made some of the regulatory issues more obvious. For instance, manufacturing smokable hemp products was outlawed, but the sale of such items wasn't prohibited. The state's regulations also lacked more concrete restrictions around potency and age limits, and had few restrictions on where items could be sold: A retail license cost just $155 per location. 'One of the issues that we have right now is that there are a lot of unsafe products on the market because we don't have the oversight necessary,' Harris said. 'That's one of the things that they really need to fix.' George Medici, a spokesperson for the Texas Hemp Business Council, said the industry itself has been advocating for new regulations—childproof packaging, age limits, setbacks to keep sales away from schools—so far, to no avail. Advocates have been busy lobbying in Austin during the special session, and they feel somewhat positive about the future. 'I think we're optimistic; it's kind of hard to tell,' Medici said. 'Polling suggests, and always has, that people want these products on the market, and want them regulated. The momentum is positive. What that'll look like making the sausage, I don't know.' There are also efforts to push production of more industrial hemp, according to state Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, but that's just getting started. Miller believes that regardless of what happens with the regulation of products with THC, Texas will be a national leader in the hemp industry. The potential for a full ban It's also clear that the clash around hemp will continue. During a press conference about the issue, Lt. Gov. Patrick suggested that hemp producers might be part of a 'terrorist money-laundering scheme' and asked if the state really wanted everybody to get high. Patrick and his allies in the Texas Legislature feel that hemp products have become too common, are too hard to police, and should be banned instead of regulated. Rice University's Harris believes the current special session will likely deal with additional regulations around prohibiting access to minors and addressing additional regulations for the industry. She argues that any kind of ban would just push buyers to the illicit market, which would end up being more dangerous. Hometown Hero's Gilkey believes Senate Bill 5 will pass in the Senate but says that even if it does end up getting signed by the governor in the special session, he 'has a team of lawyers ready to sue them into oblivion.' In the long term, the Texas hemp industry will have to adapt to a changing landscape and likely face a little more regulation, akin to what's already seen in many of the legal marijuana states, Harris said. She'd like to see an effort toward self-regulation and legislation that encourages better behavior within the industry, as far as guaranteeing the safety profiles of their products (as do many in the industry). 'The problem is that there's an industry and a market for these products that exists, so it becomes a lot harder to make it all go away,' she said.
