Delta-8 THC Products Sold at 11% of Fort Worth Retail Outlets, Concentrated in Poorer Neighborhoods
In Fort Worth, Texas, 11% of surveyed alcohol, CBD, and tobacco retail outlets sold delta-8 THC products, with outlets in more socioeconomically deprived areas significantly more likely to carry them.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Of 1,223 surveyed outlets, 133 (11%) sold delta-8 THC. 96% sold vapes and/or flower (hemp coated with delta-8 distillate) and 76% sold edibles. Edibles cost $8.58 less on average than flower/vapes. Outlets in more socioeconomically deprived areas had significantly higher odds of selling delta-8. Most reported a minimum purchase age of 21, but 4% reported 18 or no minimum age.
Key Numbers
1,223 outlets surveyed; 133 (11%) sold delta-8; 96% sold vapes/flower; 76% sold edibles; edibles $8.58 cheaper; 4% reported minimum age of 18 or none; disproportionately in deprived areas (p=0.02).
How They Did This
Cross-sectional survey of 1,223 retail outlets with alcohol, CBD, and/or tobacco licenses in Fort Worth, Texas, contacted by phone in September-October 2021. Area Deprivation Index scores merged by 9-digit zip code.
Why This Research Matters
Delta-8 THC products exist in a regulatory gray area following the 2018 Farm Bill. Their concentration in socioeconomically deprived areas and inconsistent age verification raise equity and public health concerns.
The Bigger Picture
Delta-8 THC represents a growing unregulated cannabis market. Its disproportionate availability in lower-income neighborhoods mirrors patterns seen with tobacco and alcohol retail, suggesting cannabis retail equity should be part of legalization policy.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Single city (Fort Worth). Phone survey may miss some outlets. Data from 2021 may not reflect current market. Cannot determine actual sales volume or consumer demographics.
Questions This Raises
- ?Has delta-8 THC retail expanded since 2021 in Texas and other states?
- ?Would zoning and tax regulations reduce disparities in delta-8 availability?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Delta-8 THC outlets concentrated in more deprived neighborhoods
- Evidence Grade:
- Systematic survey with good response rate (69%) and area-level deprivation data, limited to one city.
- Study Age:
- 2024 publication with 2021 data
- Original Title:
- Delta-8 THC Retail Availability, Price, and Minimum Purchase Age.
- Published In:
- Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 9(1), 363-370 (2024)
- Authors:
- Rossheim, Matthew E(14), LoParco, Cassidy R(26), Walker, Andrew(2), Livingston, Melvin D, Trangenstein, Pamela J, Olsson, Sofia, McDonald, Kayla K, Yockey, Robert A, Luningham, Justin M, Kong, Amanda Y, Henry, Doug, Walters, Scott T, Thombs, Dennis L, Jernigan, David H
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05666
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is delta-8 THC sold?
In Fort Worth, 11% of alcohol, CBD, and tobacco retailers sold delta-8 products, mostly vapes and flower. These outlets were disproportionately located in more socioeconomically deprived areas.
Is there an age limit for buying delta-8 THC?
Most outlets reported a minimum age of 21, but 4% reported 18 or no minimum age, highlighting inconsistent enforcement in the absence of clear federal or state regulation.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05666APA
Rossheim, Matthew E; LoParco, Cassidy R; Walker, Andrew; Livingston, Melvin D; Trangenstein, Pamela J; Olsson, Sofia; McDonald, Kayla K; Yockey, Robert A; Luningham, Justin M; Kong, Amanda Y; Henry, Doug; Walters, Scott T; Thombs, Dennis L; Jernigan, David H. (2024). Delta-8 THC Retail Availability, Price, and Minimum Purchase Age.. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 9(1), 363-370. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2022.0079
MLA
Rossheim, Matthew E, et al. "Delta-8 THC Retail Availability, Price, and Minimum Purchase Age.." Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2022.0079
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Delta-8 THC Retail Availability, Price, and Minimum Purchase..." RTHC-05666. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/rossheim-2024-delta8-thc-retail-availability
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.