Nearly Half of Cannabis Users in This Survey Had Tried Semi-Synthetic Cannabinoids
Among 229 cannabis consumers, 44.5% reported using at least one hemp-derived semi-synthetic cannabinoid in the past year, with adverse effects reported across all product types.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Delta-8 THC (21.8%), THCP (24.4%), and Delta-10 THC (14.0%) were the most commonly used semi-synthetic cannabinoids. Younger users and those with more lifetime cannabis experience were more likely to use them. Adverse effects were reported across all semi-synthetic types.
Key Numbers
N=229 cannabis users. Past-year semi-synthetic use: 44.5%. By type: THCP 24.4%, Delta-8 THC 21.8%, Delta-10 THC 14.0%, Delta-7 THC 10.0%, THC-O-acetate 5.2%, HHC 3.5%. Older age reduced odds of use (aOR=0.96, p=0.004). Non-inhaled cannabis users had higher odds (aOR=2.98, p=0.021).
How They Did This
Online survey of 229 U.S. adults who reported past-year cannabis use, examining patterns and associations of semi-synthetic cannabinoid use with demographics and adverse effects.
Why This Research Matters
Hemp-derived semi-synthetic cannabinoids exist in a regulatory gray area, sold legally without the safety testing or labeling requirements applied to regulated cannabis products. This study provides some of the first data on how widely these products are actually being used.
The Bigger Picture
The proliferation of semi-synthetic cannabinoids represents one of the fastest-growing segments of the hemp market, yet these products remain almost entirely unregulated at federal and state levels. Understanding who uses them and what side effects they report is the first step toward evidence-based policy.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Convenience sample recruited online, likely overrepresenting experienced cannabis users. Self-reported data with no biochemical verification. Cross-sectional design cannot establish causation for adverse effects.
Questions This Raises
- ?What specific adverse effects are most common with each semi-synthetic cannabinoid?
- ?How do the pharmacological profiles of these compounds compare to Delta-9 THC?
- ?Would regulation of these products reduce adverse events?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 44.5% of cannabis users reported past-year semi-synthetic cannabinoid use
- Evidence Grade:
- Preliminary evidence from a small convenience sample with self-reported outcomes and no control group.
- Study Age:
- 2025 study reflecting current patterns of semi-synthetic cannabinoid use in the U.S.
- Original Title:
- Emerging Hemp-Derived Semi-Synthetic Cannabinoids, Absent Regulations: Patterns of Use and Adverse Effects Among a Sample of U.S. Cannabis Consumers.
- Published In:
- Cannabis and cannabinoid research (2025)
- Authors:
- Pabon, Elisa(2), Lake, Stephanie(16), Murray, Conor H(5), Cooper, Ziva D
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07292
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What are semi-synthetic cannabinoids?
They are chemically modified compounds derived from hemp CBD, including Delta-8 THC, Delta-10 THC, THCP, THC-O-acetate, and HHC. They are marketed as legal alternatives to traditional cannabis because they are derived from hemp containing less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC.
Which semi-synthetic cannabinoid was most commonly used?
THCP (tetrahydrocannabiphorol) was the most commonly reported at 24.4%, followed closely by Delta-8 THC at 21.8%.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07292APA
Pabon, Elisa; Lake, Stephanie; Murray, Conor H; Cooper, Ziva D. (2025). Emerging Hemp-Derived Semi-Synthetic Cannabinoids, Absent Regulations: Patterns of Use and Adverse Effects Among a Sample of U.S. Cannabis Consumers.. Cannabis and cannabinoid research. https://doi.org/10.1177/25785125251391987
MLA
Pabon, Elisa, et al. "Emerging Hemp-Derived Semi-Synthetic Cannabinoids, Absent Regulations: Patterns of Use and Adverse Effects Among a Sample of U.S. Cannabis Consumers.." Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1177/25785125251391987
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Emerging Hemp-Derived Semi-Synthetic Cannabinoids, Absent Re..." RTHC-07292. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/pabon-2025-emerging-hempderived-semisynthetic-cannabinoids
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.