Delta 8 THC is currently legal to buy at any age in Oak Park. This means teens can buy cannabis in a form that is advertised to younger people. The delivery of the THC comes in candy bars and gummies to appeal to younger audiences. The unregulated psychoactive drug is extremely similar to the active ingredient in cannabis, but is not regulated on a federal, state, or local level — the majority of calls regarding ingestion of Delta 8 are from children, according to poison control centers. Delta 8 has also not been approved by the FDA in any way, yet it is still able to be sold to children. Therefore Oak Park must take action to keep everyone safe.
Delta 8 also has extreme effects on an individual’s ability to drive and do other daily tasks, further increasing the risk associated with the hemp byproduct. Some individual states, not including Illinois, have already placed regulations on Delta 8, and Oak Park should follow in their footsteps to maintain a safer community for everyone.
Seth Osta, Boy Scout Troop 16