We find that more and more companies are now producing their own lines of quality Delta 8 THC products to offer a wider selection to consumers. With a wider variety of products comes an easier time selecting formulas in a personalized manner, making sure that the milligram strength, strain, and delivery method are all compatible with personal needs and goals.
One thing that you need to keep an eye out for in this increasingly large market is fake or diluted delta-8. Sadly, yes, fake delta-8 is out there, and it can fool those who are unfamiliar with the market, and even some experienced users on an off day, or someone in a hurry. There are signs though, that can tell you whether or not the delta 8 you’re planning on buying is actually high in quality, and in this blog we’ll go over some of the signs along with some information everyone can use.
Why Would Someone Sell Fake Delta 8?
For the first portion, we need to really look at why fake Delta 8 would be allowed on the market in the first place. Delta 8 THC is a fairly new addition to the hemp market, and there is such extreme demand for it that sketchy companies are trying to cash in on its popularity by producing fake or lesser products that come with big profits.
So, how do these companies get away with it?
Currently, the FDA is not yet regulating delta 8 on the market. In turn, this means that there is no real governing body that happens to be overseeing all of the delta 8 THC being released for public consumption. As a result, companies are not at risk of major penalties for labeling something as delta-8 that contains anything but, or lying about their test numbers.
This makes it so consumers really have to educate themselves on discerning real from fake Delta-8 THC. The good news is, there are plenty of ways to know immediately whether or not what you’re looking at is actually the real deal.
5 Ways to Know if a Delta 8 Product is Fake or Not
Here some simple signs/tips that will ensure that you do not make the mistake of buying delta 8 that isn’t actually, well, delta 8.
#1: Little To No Contact Information
A company that does not have very much or any actual contact information on their product label or website is a company that should be avoided entirely. A company doesn’t have to worry about angry or dissatisfied customers if they have no one to contact.. It’s beyond standard practice for a hemp company to have some form of customer service that can answer any questions from consumers and address potential issues with orders. With no contact information, you can guess that the company is trying to hide from the public.
At minimum, a hemp company selling delta 8 should have an email that you can use to contact them. This should be visible on their website. Ideally, there should also be a phone number and the name of the town or city in which they operate. This lack of information can also indicate that the company is not actually certified, and therefore is selling delta 8, or fake delta 8, illegally. With no contact information, there is no way to really verify that they are actually licensed to make delta 8 products.
#2: Very Little Online Presence
Hemp companies that produce delta 8 take pride in their work, and would like to attract as many customers as possible to their business. Therefore, legitimate brands should have a very thorough website with plenty of information, along with social media pages, an email list and more.
If you find a delta 8 product from a company and notice that they have next to no online presence, this should raise a red flag. Why wouldn’t a company trying to make their mark in such a highly competitive marketplace not want to advertise their products as widely as possible? Could it be because this increases their chance of being found out as a fake business? Social media pages allow users to comment, and a company that sells fake products would be flooded with negative comments all over their various platforms.
Basically, only stick with companies that have a clear, open and honest sense of communication with their customers online. The more visible they are, the better.
#3: Having Zero or Fake Lab Tests
Testing is considered an industry-standard throughout the cannabis industry as a whole. It’s not exclusive to the delta 8 THC space.
However, this type of testing is especially important for delta 8 companies because of how these products are made.
There are basically three ways to make delta 8 THC (covered in more detail below). By far, the most common method is to synthesize it from CBD. The synthetization process requires solvents like heptane, hexane, or chloroform, and a strong acid like HCL. These chemicals can be removed once the process is complete, but it requires a lot of skill and high-tech equipment to do properly. Low-quality manufacturers don’t always remove 100% of these toxic chemicals from the final product.
Delta 8 companies are required to have their delta 8 products tested by a third-party laboratory. This means that they send their batches of delta 8 extract to a laboratory that is registered with the state, where it is tested for purity, delta 9 levels and contaminants. These lab reports are supposed to be easy to access by customers through the company’s website.
A lack of lab tests means that a company is not complying with industry standards and regulations, and this is probably because they have something to hide.
Making matters a little more confusing, a company can fake their lab reports. How can you see if it’s a fake test though? Simply look up the name of the lab at the top corner. If it does not check out, then you know it’s fake.
We recommend you avoid buying any products from companies that don’t provide up-to-date third-party tests for every batch.
#4: Lacking Information On The Label
Delta-8, and all companies should really strive to offer, at least, the minimal necessary information on their product labels, including the milligram strength, list of ingredients and directions for use. Now, if any of this information is lacking, this likely means that the company does not want you to know something about their formula.
Another thing we have seen in rarer instances is a company making a full-on counterfeit of a popular delta 8 product made by a real brand, with fake delta 8 inside. The best way to tell is to compare the potentially fake label with the real one – if there is some difference in content, design, or font, you know it’s a fake.
#5: Fake or No Reviews
Delta 8 THC brands tend to display reviews on their website. This is how other customers can find out from real people how the brand’s formulas hold up. If a website doesn’t have a review section after their products, this may be because the company doesn’t want you to know how customers feel. You also need to keep an eye out for fake reviews. These can be hard to discern, but some key giveaways include reviews that all have the same tone or use the same type of punctuation. Real review users have different voices when they type.
Do a quick search for the brand and check out what past customers are saying about the brand.
Some red flags to watch out for include:
- No mention of the brand at all (it could be a scam)
- An overwhelming number of negative reviews
- Exaggerated or clearly fake positive reviews & testimonials
Don’t Get Delta 8 Faked Out!
Delta 8 THC is so popular that some shady companies are trying to profit off of its success with illegitimate products, to make a quick buck. The good news is that fakes are not always as common as you may think. Even better, it is simple enough to spot a fake as long as you know what to look for when shopping for delta 8 products.
“Never buy from a delta 8 supplier that doesn’t test for both safety and potency.“