EFSA Sets Delta-8-THC as Equally Potent to Delta-9-THC, Establishes Group Safety Limit for Food
The European Food Safety Authority determined delta-8-THC has equivalent potency to delta-9-THC and set a combined acute reference dose of 1 microgram per kilogram body weight, finding many food samples exceed natural delta-8 levels.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
EFSA set a relative potency factor of 1 for delta-8-THC (equivalent to delta-9-THC) based on clinical data showing a potency ratio between 1 and 1.4. The existing acute reference dose of 1 microgram/kg body weight was extended as a group ARfD for combined delta-8 and delta-9-THC. Many food products showed delta-8-to-delta-9 ratios above 1, indicating addition of semi-synthetic delta-8-THC or enrichment beyond natural levels.
Key Numbers
Relative potency factor: 1 (range 1-1.4); group ARfD: 1 microgram/kg body weight; 1,145 food samples analyzed; 96-99% of hemp seeds/oils below detection; highest levels in supplements and confectionery; only 96 of 1,145 samples had both compounds detected.
How They Did This
EFSA CONTAM Panel scientific opinion using clinical study data on relative potency, occurrence data from 1,145 food samples, and risk assessment methodology to derive health-based guidance values.
Why This Research Matters
Delta-8-THC has exploded as a legal alternative in many markets by exploiting hemp farm bill loopholes. EFSA treating it as equally potent to delta-9-THC and finding evidence of semi-synthetic production in food products has major regulatory implications.
The Bigger Picture
This EFSA opinion could influence global food safety standards for cannabinoids. The finding that many delta-8-THC-positive products appear to contain semi-synthetic material challenges the "natural hemp product" marketing of many delta-8 products.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Limited clinical data on relative potency (confidence interval 0.97-1.63 includes slightly lower potency). Most food samples were below detection limits, limiting occurrence analysis. European food supply may differ from U.S. market where delta-8 products are more prevalent.
Questions This Raises
- ?Will other food safety agencies adopt the same potency equivalence for delta-8 and delta-9-THC?
- ?How much semi-synthetic delta-8-THC is entering the food supply through hemp products?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Delta-8-THC rated as equally potent to delta-9-THC
- Evidence Grade:
- Formal regulatory scientific opinion from EFSA based on clinical data and comprehensive food occurrence analysis.
- Study Age:
- 2025 EFSA opinion
- Original Title:
- Derivation of a health-based guidance value for Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC) and its occurrence in food.
- Published In:
- EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority, 23(11), e9735 (2025)
- Authors:
- Knutsen, Helle Katrine, Åkesson, Agneta, Bampidis, Vasileios, Bignami, Margherita, Chipman, James Kevin, Degen, Gisela, Hernández-Jerez, Antonio, Hofer, Tim, Hogstrand, Christer, Landi, Stefano, Leblanc, Jean-Charles, Machera, Kyriaki, Ntzani, Evangelia, Oswald, Isabelle P, Rychen, Guido, Sand, Salomon, Vejdovszky, Katharina, Viviani, Barbara, Dusemund, Birgit, Nebbia, Carlo, Weigel, Stefan, Cascio, Claudia, Christodoulidou, Anna, Abrahantes, José Cortiñas, Dujardin, Bruno, Gissi, Andrea, Asensio, Lydia Alarcón, Gkimprixi, Eleni, Tauriainen, Tuuli, Bodin, Laurent
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06846
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
Is delta-8-THC as strong as regular THC?
According to EFSA, yes. Clinical data showed delta-8-THC has a potency ratio between 1.0 and 1.4 compared to delta-9-THC. EFSA conservatively set them as equivalent for safety purposes.
Is delta-8-THC natural or synthetic?
EFSA found that many food samples with detectable delta-8-THC had ratios suggesting the addition of semi-synthetic delta-8-THC or enrichment beyond what occurs naturally in cannabis plants.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06846APA
Knutsen, Helle Katrine; Åkesson, Agneta; Bampidis, Vasileios; Bignami, Margherita; Chipman, James Kevin; Degen, Gisela; Hernández-Jerez, Antonio; Hofer, Tim; Hogstrand, Christer; Landi, Stefano; Leblanc, Jean-Charles; Machera, Kyriaki; Ntzani, Evangelia; Oswald, Isabelle P; Rychen, Guido; Sand, Salomon; Vejdovszky, Katharina; Viviani, Barbara; Dusemund, Birgit; Nebbia, Carlo; Weigel, Stefan; Cascio, Claudia; Christodoulidou, Anna; Abrahantes, José Cortiñas; Dujardin, Bruno; Gissi, Andrea; Asensio, Lydia Alarcón; Gkimprixi, Eleni; Tauriainen, Tuuli; Bodin, Laurent. (2025). Derivation of a health-based guidance value for Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC) and its occurrence in food.. EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority, 23(11), e9735. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9735
MLA
Knutsen, Helle Katrine, et al. "Derivation of a health-based guidance value for Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC) and its occurrence in food.." EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority, 2025. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9735
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Derivation of a health-based guidance value for Δ8-tetrahydr..." RTHC-06846. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/knutsen-2025-derivation-of-a-healthbased
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.