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THC-O is a new hemp-derived cannabinoid that stands out from the crowd thanks to its highly potent psychoactive effects. In fact, experts have found THC-O to be about three times more potent than traditional THC products, and cannabis consumers are feeling a mix of excitement and curiosity as they prepare to try it out.
Of course, hemp laws vary by state, and it can be difficult for consumers to navigate THC-O legality. One important question stands between every consumer and their first THC-O dose–Where is THC-O legal? In other words, what states is THC-O legal in?
We'll clear up any questions about THC-O's legality below, and give you some pointers on how to make sure that the THC-O products you buy are both legally and safely made.
Looking for legal THC-O? Check out our Elev8 Collection.
Table of Contents
Technically, THC-O is a legal hemp derivative according to federal law, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's legal everywhere. The Hemp Farming Act of 2018, or the bill that officially legalized hemp in the US, includes a clause in section 12619b that specifically addresses tetrahydrocannabinols in hemp.
This portion of the bill suggests that any THC that can be naturally derived from legal hemp material, which includes hemp and all of its cannabinoids, isomers, salts, extracts, and other derivatives, is considered to be a legal hemp product, so long as it contains less than 0.3% Delta-9-THC.
Some states, however, disagree with this federal ruling and have created their own laws to address these new THC products. Just like some states have banned Delta-8-THC derived from hemp, many of the same states do not allow THC-O to be manufactured and sold within the state.
Still, hemp-derived THC products may be accessible to consumers across the country who are shopping online.
THC-O is not necessarily legal in every state, but it is currently legal in most states. If the THC-O products are made from legal hemp material, then they are legal by federal law thanks to the Hemp Farming Act of 2018, but you still need to verify legality at the state level.
Every state has the right to create their own hemp laws, and some have specifically banned hemp-derived THC products, including Delta-8 and THC-O. Here is the current THC-O status in each US state:
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It's important to note that hemp laws are ever changing, and any of the laws above can change at any time. Always check your current state laws before purchasing THC-O near you. You need to be sure that the THC-O is legally made and sold, and that you only carry it through states where THC-O is legal.
No, THC-O is not classified as a controlled substance by federal law thanks to updated hemp laws. According to Section 12619b of the 2018 Hemp Farming Act, tetrahydrocannabinols in hemp are specifically exempt from scheduling.
That means that THC-O that is made from legal hemp material is not a controlled substance by federal law, but keep in mind that some states may categorize it differently.
There are several factors that come into play when determining whether THC-O is legal in one state or another. In order for THC-O to be legal in any state, the state’s laws must:
Local hemp laws may also regulate the way that THC-O is made and sold, even if it defaults to federal law to determine overall legality. Some ways that state laws may differ from federal laws include:
To date, the FDA has not implemented regulations for federally legal hemp products. That means that although THC-O is currently legal with no regulation, its legal status could change abruptly once the FDA implements regulations. It's unlikely that the FDA will make any cannabinoid derived from hemp illegal as a whole, but it could change regulations regarding how hemp products are made, labelled, or sold, which could make any specific formulas illegal.
This lack of regulation currently allows a wide range of hemp formulas to be made and sold, and also poses some potential safety risks for consumers who don't know how to verify the safety of THC-O products (which we will touch on more below).
In other words, just because a product is legal doesn't mean that it's safe, and you should carefully research the quality of hemp products before you buy them.
The United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is technically in charge of regulating cannabinoids, but they haven’t had much to say since the hemp laws were updated in 2018. Some people saw the recent DEA Interim Final Rule as clarification that hemp-derived THC was classified as synthetic cannabinoid and was therefore illegal, but this is a misunderstanding.
It’s true that the Interim Final Rule states that all synthetically derived cannabinoids are illegal, regardless of classification or source. But THC-O isn’t synthetically derived, rather it’s derived by “isomerization.”
The rule also states that:
“This interim final rule merely conforms DEA’s regulations to the statutory amendments to the CSA that have already taken effect, and it does not add additional requirements to the regulations.”
In other words, the only purpose of these new rules is to help align the Controlled Substances Act with the rules that were already carved out by the 2018 Farm Bill. The DEA did not place any new restrictions on THC-O and it is still legal in the U.S.
Many experts believe that although THC-O is different from the more common THC products made from hemp, it may still turn into 11-hydroxy-THC in the body. Most common drug tests don't look for THC itself, rather they look for this THC metabolite.
That means that although THC-O is technically legal, it will likely trigger the same positive drug test result as other THC products. In other words, even though THC-O may be legal in your area, it will appear on a drug test just like traditional THC products, and it can be difficult to prove which form of THC you've consumed.
To understand more about how this works, read “Will THC-O Show Up On a Drug Test?”
Technically, THC-O can be extracted directly from the hemp plant similarly to the method used to extract CBD material. Of course, THC-O is usually present in quantities below 1%, which can make for an expensive and wasteful extraction process.
To remedy this issue and make THC-O more affordable and accessible, most manufacturers use a process called isomerization. This process involves exposing cannabinoids to an acid in order to force the molecules to rearrange. "Isomers" are molecules that have all of the same molecular components, just arranged in a different order. That means that the isomerization process doesn't add or subtract anything, it merely shifts one cannabinoid into another.
To make THC-O, manufacturers must first make Delta-8-THC from hemp-derived CBD extract through an isomerization process. Then, Delta-8 can be transformed into THC-O by introducing acetic anhydride.
Afterwards, the solution is refined to remove any unwanted materials or leftover chemicals. After a proper refinement period, the result is a potent THC-O extract that's clean and safe to consume.
It's important that this process is only carried out by experienced cannabinoid manufacturers. Acetic anhydride is incredibly corrosive and dangerous to handle without the proper equipment, so you should never try to make THC-O at home. This is also why it's important to only buy THC-O products from a reputable, trustworthy source.
So, THC-O is legal, but how can you prove that you have legal cannabinoids if your products are seized by law enforcement? Law enforcement officers may have products sent off to a lab to be tested, and the lab will be able to differentiate between different types of cannabinoids.
This is why it’s so important to choose products that have been lab tested and to view those final lab tests for yourself. Then, you can be confident that your products will present as legal cannabinoids even when tested by law enforcement officers.
After learning more about THC-O’s legality, you may be ready to try a dose for yourself. Before you get started, check out the following tips for buying high-quality, safe, legal THC-O products online.
Before you buy THC-O products, whether you’re shopping online or in stores, familiarize yourself with state laws.
You need to make sure that THC-O is legal, that all of the ingredients and formula style is legal (for instance, if edible/smokables are legal), and that its legal to transport them (either across towns or states). Hemp laws are subject to change, so check frequently to avoid any issues.
In order for THC-O to be legal, it needs to be made from industrial hemp. That means that the original hemp material must contain less than 0.3% Delta-9-THC and must be grown under one of the states’ hemp pilot programs.
In order for THC-O to be safe, it needs to be made from high-quality (preferably organic) hemp that is grown without the use of pesticides or other harsh chemicals. The hemp quality has everything to do with the quality of the extract, so don’t skip this step.
Before you choose a hemp brand, dig a little deeper into their manufacturing process. Some things that matter include the extraction techniques used to pull the original hemp extract from the plant material and how experienced the manufacturer is with the isomerization process used to make hemp THC products.
Just keep in mind that THC-O is not regulated by the FDA, so you need to make sure that the brand you choose to buy from is legit.
Finally, look for the third party lab tests for the product you intend to buy. A good hemp brand will always provide third party lab tests for every product batch.
Take the time to review these tests. They should verify the information given on the label, like the cannabinoid content and potency, as well as the absence of contaminants, like heavy metals, pesticides, mold, and more.
Although THC-O may be legal, it still looks, smells, and act a lot like traditional THC products.
Plus, many places have restrictions on substance use or smoking in public areas. Since it may be difficult for law enforcement to tell the difference in THC-O and traditional cannabis products, you should use consideration when choosing where you dose.
You also should not use THC-O before driving, operating machinery, or any other task that would be unsafe to do while not sober.
Local laws may impact THC-O availability in your area, and hemp regulations are still inconsistent across the country. There are, of course, some hemp-friendly, well-regulated states where THC-O can be found in local stores.
Luckily, you aren’t limited to the THC-O products near you. The USPS has declared that hemp products are legal to ship through the mail, so you may be able to find better quality products when you buy them online. At Vida Optima, our hemp-derived THC products comply with all parameters of the Hemp Farming Act of 2018. We can also help answer questions about THC-O before you buy, or you can read “What is THC-O? to learn more.
Check out our Elev8 Collection to find hemp-derived THC products that ship to any area where THC-O is legal.
THC-O is not explicitly banned at the federal level in the US, but its legality can vary by state. Some states have enacted their own regulations or bans on THC-O due to its psychoactive effects and legal ambiguities.
Yes, THC-O is generally considered stronger than Delta-9 THC. It is known for its more intense psychoactive effects, which can be more potent than those of Delta-9 THC, leading to a stronger high.
A dose of 25 mg of THC-O can be quite potent, especially for those who are new to it or have a lower tolerance. It is advisable to start with a lower dose and assess your tolerance before consuming higher amounts.
In Texas, THC-O is illegal due to its classification as a synthetic cannabinoid, which falls under the state’s controlled substances regulations. Texas has specific laws that restrict or ban various synthetic cannabinoids, including THC-O.
The THCA loophole refers to the legal ambiguity surrounding THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) and its derivatives. While THCA itself is non-psychoactive, its conversion to THC through decarboxylation raises questions about legality. In 2024, some states have used this loophole to regulate THCA differently from THC.
As of now, THC-O is illegal in Tennessee. The state has included THC-O under its controlled substances regulations, making it prohibited for sale and use.
In Wisconsin, THC-O is not explicitly addressed in state law but is generally considered illegal under the state’s broader controlled substances regulations. Users should be cautious and consult local laws for the most current information.
THC-O legality varies by state. As of now, THC-O is legal in some states where it is not specifically banned or regulated, including certain states with more lenient cannabis laws. Always check local regulations for the most current status.
THC-O is illegal in Iowa. The state has regulations that restrict synthetic cannabinoids, including THC-O, under its controlled substances laws.
As of 2024, THC-O is illegal in Florida. The state has regulations that prohibit the sale and use of synthetic cannabinoids like THC-O.
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