Science Friday

Are My THC Gummies Going Away?

February 24, 2026

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The availability of over-the-counter "hemp-derived" THC products stems from a legal loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill that distinguishes hemp (low-THC cannabis) from other cannabis, leading to consumer confusion and unregulated products. 
  • Hemp and marijuana are botanically the same cannabis plant, but the law regulates them based on arbitrary cannabinoid definitions (like THC levels) rather than the chemical compounds themselves, creating regulatory gaps for various THC isomers like Delta-8 and THCV. 
  • Unregulated, hemp-derived CBD products found in non-dispensary stores often lack systematic testing, meaning consumers cannot reliably trust the dosage of THC present, and these products can even be used to create concentrated, unregulated THC products. 
  • Investigative reporter Joe Hong's testing of NYC dirty snowbanks revealed high levels of metals like lead and chromium (attributable to urban soil) and the bacteria Enterococcus (from fecal matter), demonstrating that snowbanks reflect existing environmental contaminants. 

Segments

Sponsor Messages and Introduction
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Bayer and Odoo are sponsors of Science Friday.
  • Summary: WNYC Studios is supported by Bayer, emphasizing science as a rigorous process. Odoo provides a single, connected suite of affordable enterprise software solutions.
Legal Loophole Explained
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(00:00:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Hemp-derived THC products are sold over-the-counter due to a 2018 Farm Bill loophole regulating low-THC hemp differently.
  • Summary: The 2018 Farm Bill created a regulatory umbrella for hemp with low THC content, allowing chemistry to be used to extract and sell unregulated, psychoactive THC products outside of dispensaries. State actions and a potential federal law in November aim to close this loophole, which could impact a multi-billion dollar CBD business.
Hemp vs. Cannabis Botany
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(00:02:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Botanically, hemp and marijuana are the same cannabis plant, differentiated legally by THC content thresholds.
  • Summary: All products discussed are cannabis; the Farm Bill legally defines hemp as a specific form of cannabis bred to favor high CBD and low THC. THC is the primary psychoactive component, while CBD has lower abuse liability and potential medicinal uses.
Testing Discrepancies in Products
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(00:04:39)
  • Key Takeaway: THC-focused state cannabis markets mandate testing for contaminants and clear THC labeling, unlike the patchwork regulation of hemp-derived CBD products.
  • Summary: Hemp-derived CBD products sold in gas stations may not be tested or regulated systematically, meaning THC dosage cannot be trusted. Furthermore, THC can be extracted from these technically ’legal’ hemp products to create predominantly THC-focused items without proper oversight.
Regulating Chemistry vs. Botany
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(00:07:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Regulating cannabis based on arbitrary plant definitions rather than the actual chemicals being regulated creates consumer confusion and loopholes.
  • Summary: The existence of different THC versions, such as Delta-8 and THCV, which may have psychoactive properties, highlights how current regulations fall through the cracks. Researchers are concerned that patchwork laws hinder necessary public health research into these burgeoning psychoactive forms.
Future Research Needs
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(00:10:08)
  • Key Takeaway: Clearer, science-based regulations are needed to facilitate human clinical trials on CBD’s therapeutic effects for sleep, pain, and anxiety.
  • Summary: Much more research is required to understand appropriate CBD dosing for effects like improved sleep, as current confusing regulations impede human clinical trials. Solid evidence bases are necessary to determine helpful versus harmful doses and to understand cannabinoid combinations.
Sponsor Break and Snowbank Intro
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(00:11:17)
  • Key Takeaway: The second segment of Science Friday investigates the composition of dirty urban snowbanks.
  • Summary: Window Nation sponsors the segment break, focusing on energy-efficient window replacement. Host Flora Lichtman introduces investigative reporter Joe Hong, who tested New York City’s dirty snowbanks to determine their contents.
Dirty Snow Sample Collection
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(00:12:48)
  • Key Takeaway: Snow samples were collected from Williamsburg (air pollution focus), Jackson Heights (subway lead/bird waste focus), and Washington Heights (dog waste focus).
  • Summary: Samples were collected cautiously using PPE to avoid cross-contamination, skimming an inch layer off the top of particularly gross piles. The goal was to get a representative sample of the visible grime, not just isolated pieces of debris.
Snow Sample Results Analysis
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(00:16:16)
  • Key Takeaway: NYC snow contained high levels of metals like chromium and lead, and the Jackson Heights sample showed high levels of Enterococcus bacteria from fecal matter.
  • Summary: High metal readings were initially perplexing but were explained by experts noting that NYC soil naturally contains high levels of lead and metals. Enterococcus bacteria, found in warm-blooded animal feces (dogs, birds, or potentially human), was concentrated in the subway sample due to accumulated bird waste.
Environmental Implications
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(00:18:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Dirty snowbanks act as a mirror, revealing the contaminants already present in the city’s air and environment year-round.
  • Summary: The findings regarding metals are likely transferable to other large, industrialized cities. The snowbanks are not necessarily grosser than the city on a good day, but they visually expose the existing environmental quality.
Closing Remarks and Final Sponsor
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(00:19:29)
  • Key Takeaway: Listeners are encouraged to provide feedback via call or suggestion, and Odoo is featured as the final sponsor.
  • Summary: Producer Kathleen Davis is credited for the episode. Listeners can call 877-4Sci-Fry with feedback or experiment suggestions. Odoo is promoted again as a single-platform business software solution.