WHEREAS, Unregulated substances have flooded our communities, putting public health and safety at risk; and
WHEREAS, Hemp-derived substances, such as Delta-8 and Delta-9, exist in a gray legal area following the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. These substances are sold in many forms, including food items, but the lack of regulation makes the potency of the product and its safety unknowable to the consumer; and
WHEREAS, Recent reporting by
The Philadelphia Inquirer
found that hemp-derived products often have toxic chemicals, and due to a lack of safe production, can have mold and other contaminants. They also found that the products potency was hundreds to thousands of times above the legal limit for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), making these products dangerously strong; and
WHEREAS, Many of these hemp-derived products are sold as food products, including chips and candy, and are deliberately designed to mirror common snacks and geared toward children. Since hemp-derived products and legal marijuana have expanded,
The New York Times
reported that according to America’s Poison Centers, there were more than 22,000 cannabis-related poisonings in 2024 and 75% involved children or teenagers. The article details a story of a parent who accidentally purchased a snack laced with hemp-derived product for their child; and
WHEREAS, Kratom, or
Mitragyna speciosa
, is a plant native to Asia that is said to have stimulant properties. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns consumers not to use Kratom as it can have serious side effects, including addiction, seizures, and liver toxicity.
The Philadelphia Inquirer
reported on the addictive nature of Kratom, leading to a rise in rehab visits for the substance; and
WHEREAS, Similar to the issues with production and potency, Kratom is fully unregulated, leading to dangerous levels of toxicity. Pressed pills and shot beverages sold at gas stations and corner stores are ubiquitous and are advertised as having hundreds of milligrams of kratom; and
WHEREAS, These unregulated substances are causing harm in our communities, endangering public health and safety. Many local business owners do not even know the dangerous nature of these products, and it is incumbent upon the City to understand their full impact on our communities; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby authorizes the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development
to hold hearings concerning the sale of unregulated substances, such as Delta-8 and Kratom, in the City of Philadelphia.
End