Science Friday Are My THC Gummies Going Away?
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Feb 24, 2026 Joe Hong, an investigative data reporter who tested NYC snowbanks for contaminants, and Dr. Cinnamon Bidwell, a cannabis clinical psychologist at CU, discuss hemp-derived THC legal gray areas. They unpack how the 2018 Farm Bill created loopholes and the difference between hemp and marijuana. They also cover emerging cannabinoids, testing gaps between gas stations and dispensaries, and what snow reveals about urban pollution.
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Legal Hemp Definition Creates Botanical Confusion
- The Farm Bill treats hemp and higher-THC cannabis differently even though they are the same plant biologically.
- Cinnamon Bidwell explains the law draws an arbitrary THC cutoff creating regulatory split between so-called hemp and other cannabis breeding.
Hemp CBD Shelves Hide Unregulated THC
- Hemp-derived CBD products sold outside dispensaries often lack systematic testing and can contain concentrated THC.
- Cinnamon Bidwell notes sellers extract THC from hemp products to create psychoactive items sold in gas stations without dispensary-level regulation.
Don't Rely On Gas Station THC Labels
- Avoid trusting THC dose labels on gas-station CBD products because testing is patchy and inconsistent.
- Cinnamon Bidwell warns state testing regimes vary and many hemp products lack the quantification and contaminant screening of dispensary items.