What's Actually on Delta-8 THC Product Labels? A Packaging Analysis | Research

The takeaway

Most delta-8 THC products lack health warnings, and many fail to clearly state cannabinoid content, raising safety concerns in a loosely regulated market.

Cannabis consumers, harm reduction advocates, and anyone following cannabis regulation debates.

Only 32.9% of products displayed any health warning

What the researchers found

Analysis of 140 delta-8 THC products from the US and Canada found that only 32.9% displayed any health warning, and warnings appeared on the front of packaging just 11.7% of the time. Nearly half (43.6%) used 'hemp' descriptors, and 21.4% featured cartoons on packaging. Among vapes, only 17% stated concentration levels.

Why it matters

Delta-8 THC products proliferated after the 2018 Farm Bill created a legal gray area. Without standardized labeling requirements, consumers often have no way to know exactly what they're ingesting or how potent a product is.

The numbers in context

140 products analyzed. Product types: ingestibles (43.6%), vapes (37.9%), dried flower (7.9%), oral liquids (6.4%). 6.4% listed other intoxicating cannabinoids (delta-9 THC, delta-10, HHC). Warnings present on 32.9% of products. Marketing appeals: 'hemp' descriptors (43.6%), cannabis symbols (28.6%), legality references (25.7%), cartoons (21.4%).

How the study worked

Content analysis of delta-8 THC product packaging photos collected from US and Canadian respondents in the 2021 and 2022 International Cannabis Policy Study. 140 products were double-coded for cannabinoid content labels, warning presence and placement, and marketing appeals.

What this study cannot tell us

Sample collected from survey respondents, not a systematic market sample. Photos from 2021-2022 may not reflect current packaging. Limited to exterior packaging only. Cannot assess whether labeled content matches actual content.

How to read the evidence

Moderate: rigorous content analysis with double-coding, but sample from survey respondents rather than systematic market survey.

When this study was published

Published in 2025, using packaging data from 2021-2022.

The bigger picture

The delta-8 market represents a broader challenge in cannabis regulation: products that are technically legal but lack the safety standards applied to regulated cannabis markets. The prevalence of cartoons and 'hemp' branding raises questions about who these products are being marketed to.

Questions still open

How does delta-8 THC packaging compare to regulated cannabis product packaging?
Do cartoon-heavy and hemp-branded products attract younger users?
What is the actual cannabinoid content compared to what's listed?

Common questions

Are delta-8 THC products labeled clearly?

Often not. Only 17% of vapes and 27% of dried flower products stated concentration levels. Over half of products either omitted or had incomplete cannabinoid content information.

Do delta-8 products have health warnings?

Only about a third of products (32.9%) displayed any health warning, and just 11.7% placed warnings on the front of the package.

Read the original research

Product Characteristics, Warnings, and Marketing Appeals Conveyed on Delta-8 THC Product Packaging in the US and Canada.

Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Robichaud, Meagan O; Spillane, Torra E; Kennedy, Ryan David; Hammond, David. (2025). Product Characteristics, Warnings, and Marketing Appeals Conveyed on Delta-8 THC Product Packaging in the US and Canada.. Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.25-00034