THC-O, Oh, Oh, Oh

In this epiode the Happy Hempin’ duo discuss the controverial DEA decision regarding THC-O and it’s potential effects on the industry. Tune in for the big picture!

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In This Podcast

Dee Dee

502 Hemp Founder and CEO

Dee Dee started 502 Hemp to educate and support her community with Kentucky hemp products. Her high standard with compassion has been noticed by communities and organizations with various awards. She continues to grow and partners with local companies to cultivate a wellness atmosphere. Learn the full story of 502 Hemp and Dee Dee Taylor.

Matt

502 Hemp Business Director and Co-Owner

Matt became interested in CBD when his arthritis became so inhibiting it threatened to end his athletic career. After taking CBD he noticed a dramatic improvement, not only arthritic inflammation, but also muscle soreness and overall demeanor. The decreased inflammation allowed Matt to resume his athletic training and train longer than before. Observing these improvements, Matt knew that CBD was an industry to be involved in. He wanted to share this amazing product with as many people as possible. Once Dee Dee and Matt became acquainted they became the perfect match for a dream team operation.

Read the Full Transcript

INTRODUCTION

 

Matt:

Hi, I’m Matt,

 

Dee Dee:

And I’m Dee Dee. We are the hilarious outcome of opposing brains sharing a mutual desire to share knowledge and positive thinking about him and cannabis.

 

WELCOME

 

Matt:

We are here to tear down the walls built by big pharma and other big companies that seek to keep the human race and fear and divided.

 

Dee Dee:

We are here to shatter the myths about hemp and cannabis and change the stigma of this amazing plant. Welcome to Hempin Happiness with the Hemp Queen

 

Matt:

And Emperor

 

Dee Dee:

Podcast. Join us as we enter into this misunderstood and the unknown. Hey, happy hamsters. We are back with the brand new edition <laugh> <laugh>. I always do little stupid song things in my head, so there you have it. There’s my fun for the day.

 

Matt:

That’s it for the day. That’s it. You’re done. That’s all I got. No more,

THC-O, Oh, Oh, Oh

 

Dee Dee:

I don’t think I have any more funny on me today. You know, I don’t know how a lot of gonna receive this podcast. And I I, I’ll definitely be curious, um, to hear your all’s thoughts on this, because we’re gonna talk about the whole THC-O and the big letter that came out from the US Department of Justice, which is, you know, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the DEA letter. It was dated February 13th, 23. So this just happened. There’s a lot of mixed feelings out there about all this stuff and about THC-O in general. And I’m just, we’re just gonna tell you what we think and like we’ve always said, you, everybody is entitled to their own opinions. Um, so I don’t necessarily think that it’s wrong or right or any of that stuff. So you do you boo.

Now a little backstory, I guess Matt and I chose not to sell these products when they were hitting the market. And the reason behind that is, uh, is because of the chemical makeup of them and that they are not, no one could convince us that these were naturally occurring in the plant. Whereas Delta 8 is, even though CBD is used to make Delta 8, it, to me, it, it’s a little different. Um, and I’ve always believed that and I fought really, really hard to keep Delta 8 legal in Kentucky and to stop the ban that they were trying to do and we won that. So if you’ve been following this podcast, we did win that. Yeah. And even had the Ninth Circuit say that it was as well. And then also Governor Beshear also did an executive order saying that it’s that Delta 8 is legal.

So it was a huge win for the hemp industry in Kentucky. Now, I would not fault anyone for carrying these products. Uh, you know, like I’ve always said to each their own, you run your own businesses your way. I run mine a different way <laugh>, and I’m okay with that. But at the same time, this letter, um, was written to, well, Rod Kite, he is an, an attorney out in North Carolina, I guess, sent a request to the DEA back in August of 2022 asking them, you know, the drug le or the legalities of THC-O. And this letter that was sent out on February 13th, 23 pretty much says that no, it’s not legal, that it is a, um, schedule one narcotic. And it’s based on the fact that, um, Delta 9, THC-O and Delta 8 THC-O do not occur naturally in the cannabis plant and can only be obtained synthetically and therefore does not fall under the definition of hemp.

So there’s a whole bunch of stuff going on in the hemp industry on this letter, and I know people are for it, people are against it. I’ve heard different things from different vendors. I’ve heard different things from, um, different business owners. All I know is that we chose not, we chose not to carry it for many reasons, but one was the whole synthetic side to it. And the fact that I ain’t gonna lie, I felt like I got a target on my damn back anyway. Right. So I, you know, I don’t want that kind of, ah, what do you call it? Like, I don’t know. I just didn’t want any of that. The heat. Yeah, the heat, yeah. Yeah.

 

Matt:

I mean, yeah, same thing, you know, with a, a, a lot of these people are carrying prum now mm-hmm. <affirmative>, and it’s the, you know, people are looking at people carrying prum mm-hmm. <affirmative> right now. Actually, last time I spoke to our attorney, he said, do not carry cram mm-hmm. <affirmative>, because you are worse than carrying Delta 8 or THC as far as being on a list of, of of people that are on the can’t wait to raid list.

 

Dee Dee:

Right.

 

Matt:

<laugh> it, it, it cra is is the one, uh, yeah. So, I don’t know, not unfortunately speak ill about cram even though it is an opioid that No, nobody acknowledges though. It hasn’t officially been declared a addicting. I think that it’s anything that interacts with the endo opioid receptors is gonna be addicting, but this is about THCL

 

Dee Dee:

O it is, but at the same time, you make valid points too on kratom, cuz we don’t, we don’t sell that either. Yeah. And, and

 

Matt:

I even though kratom’s naturally occurring,

 

Dee Dee:

Right. And, and it is mm-hmm. <affirmative> and do I see some benefits for people that do have an opiate addiction to heroin to use kratom instead?

 

Matt:

Probably. I really, I’d rather see them use something else. I would too,

 

Dee Dee:

But at the same time, see, but at the same time, I mean, I, it, that, that

 

Matt:

One too. So I’ve never, I’ve never gotten off of heroin, thank

 

Dee Dee:

God. Right, right. So, right.

 

Matt:

Yeah. I I, I can’t, I

 

Dee Dee:

Can’t, I know, I can’t speak to that either. I think there’s other things that can help with getting past that addiction. So, we’ll, we’re getting off court off track, but yes. But, so that letter I, I think opened up a whole big old can of worms. And I’ve kind of been screaming this for a while now that, so the 2018 Farm Bill did, it opened up a lot of things in the industry, in the hemp industry in particular. And it also created some amazing, some, we’ve gotten some amazing cannabinoids out of it. Right. We, we, the Delta 8 is one of them. Right. Very beneficial to people, very beneficial to people. But it also did create this sort of gray area that we’ve fought so hard, you know, and I’m first and foremost I’m pro plant people. I am pro free the weed, right? Yeah.

I mean, there’s no question about that. Uh, all of that stuff that is found in nature, even the crao, I mean, that’s why I’m kinda like, well, but at the same time, you know, not everyone should be taking this definitely not kids and it should be the 21 and up type thing. There should be limits to things, uh, for health reasons and health purposes and things like that. But this in particular, it kind of goes back to the new farm bill that’s coming out. And I just, my fear is that a lot of these designer cannabinoids that were created through this loophole, including the THC-O, that this one is just the beginning.

 

Matt:

Yeah. I, I agree with the DEA statement and here’s why. Because THC-O is not naturally occurring mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So it’s not a cannabinoid that has ever was ever considered, uh, when the profile of cab cannabinoids that we knew about were being analyzed. Right. Um, at that point, in my opinion, it ceases to even become a cannabinoid situation and it becomes a synthetic drug situation which falls into the pack act, which is, is very clearly spelled out and already an established law. Right. So that was made to stop designer drugs from pouring into the market mm-hmm. <affirmative> as they do mostly over the internet and try to curb that for a good reason cuz people were dying mm-hmm. <affirmative> a lot, you know, that’s why I think this is what got, we’re not saying people are dying on this, uh, no. But I think this is what got the whole troll thing started up from the last <laugh>

 

Dee Dee:

Because they only

 

Matt:

Was that half of it. Right. So, so anyway, not only that, there’s no research for THC-O, so nobody knows what it does. What they do know is it binds three ti it has three triple the binding power of Delta 9 THC, which is again, without diving deep into the, the chemistry of it, which I, I, to be quite honest, don’t understand. No one knows if that’s a good thing or not. That could be a very bad thing.

 

Dee Dee:

It, it

 

Matt:

Could be. Um, and not only that, like why do you need triple the, the binding power for triple the high of THC?

 

Dee Dee:

Right? Right. To and, and for it to be that intoxicating it’s because of the acetate Right. That they put into it. Right. But, so it’s not ju you know what I mean? So it’s a chemical that, and if you need a chemical to make it even more intoxicating, that’s just where my head went

 

Matt:

With it. Like Well, and that’s where, where that’s where it enters the abuse Yeah. Uh, category. And, you know, you need to seriously analyze your life. If, if you, well your goal is to to be completely outta your mind. Right. And then you’re just stepping into something that you’ll step into the next thing.

 

Dee Dee:

Exactly. And I believe in free market, I believe in free the people, I believe in liberty, I believe that, you know, we should be able to do pretty much whatever we want, but 10 extent. I mean, some of the stuff is a little bit, it’s a little bit out there and it’s a little bit scary

 

Matt:

And Yeah. Well and clever marketing, you know, people don’t know. No, they don’t. And especially with the lack of regulation that that’s in our industry.

 

Dee Dee:

Exactly.

 

Matt:

People will see it in a gas station behind the counter and say, what’s that? Mm-hmm. <affirmative> and take it home or take it in their car. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Uh, cuz gas stations, you know, aren’t gonna tell ’em, no, don’t do this and then, you know, triple the binding power of Delta 9 THC, they’re gonna take a big old hit and then drive get out on the road. What’s that gonna do?

 

Dee Dee:

Right.

 

Matt:

I don’t know. Nothing good. Mm-hmm.

 

Dee Dee:

<affirmative>. So I’ve just, I’ve, I’ve been pretty darn reserved about this. I mean, I passed it on to the people that were in the um, Delta 8, like legalities with me and you know, there was a few that really snapped back at me and I was like, um, I mean, I don’t even know what to say. Yeah. Because I’m like, well, I’m sorry you bought the product and you have it now. I mean, I don’t know what to say about that. I just,

 

Matt:

I think any, any, any supplier worth their salt would buy that

 

Dee Dee:

Back. They sh I mean they should, but Right.

 

Matt:

Boy, I mean, but that’s the same. Are you doing business with people that are worth their salt? Yeah.

 

Dee Dee:

Yeah.

 

Matt:

So

 

Dee Dee:

I don’t know. I just think that people need to be aware that there are a lot of products out there that you, we don’t truly know if they are really safe. Yeah. If they’re not 100% naturally or occurring or cannot just be, um, converted through an isomer or derivative, but you have to use chemicals to make it more potent. That that’s the one thing that got me.

 

Matt:

Well, yeah. And the, and then these chemicals, so this report that, uh, we found on, on this website basically said that, um, there’s residual chemicals that, uh, can be left over from the conversion process. Cuz I guess the conversion process to, to create THC-O, which comes from, so first it’s converted to delta 8, and then it’s synthesized into THC-O, uh, and during that, uh, synthesis process, or delta 9 too, or delta nine, correct? Mm-hmm. <affirmative> unnatural, isomers created unintentionally during the chemical conversion process. So that’s like some alien shit. <laugh> like, oh, we don’t know. This is just a, a byproduct could cause cancer. We don’t know. Go ahead and put it into your lungs. Um, which I’ve only seent, which have, I’ve never seen th h c o on anything but a vape. Do they have it in edibles?

 

Dee Dee:

Uh, I think

 

Matt:

They’ve probably, so

 

Dee Dee:

I’ve seen it in

 

Matt:

Gummies, so Yep. Yeah, just, just go ahead and put it, just ingest it. I I’ve seen it.

 

Dee Dee:

I

 

Matt:

Mean Yep. With, with these, uh, unintentionally occurred, uh, random isomers mm-hmm. <affirmative> that were created as a side, as a side as a side effect of the conversion process.

 

Dee Dee:

Right. And, and even if they do full panels Yeah. Like if they past the full panels, but then

 

Matt:

Yeah. Bleaching clays is another one, by the way. Right. So it’s like

 

Dee Dee:

If

 

Matt:

They did bleach panels, bleach, some random unidentified, uh, mutant cannabinoid, it’s all good.

 

Dee Dee:

Come on. I I love the cannabis industry, don’t get me wrong. I do. It’s definitely my passion and the helping people and things, but some of this stuff I’m just like, whoa.

 

Matt:

Well, here’s the thing is that people will do whatever they can do to make a profit. I think that we, we’ve always stressed on this show is obviously we want you to buy from us. Well, right. Um, but even if you don’t, you have to buy from people that give a shit about your health and, and, and don’t just wanna sell you something that will get you all kind of messed up. Right. If, if you’re doing that, you, one, you’re not listening to this podcast most likely. But if you are, and I hope you are, um, you know, you need to reevaluate your life and what you’re doing. Um, because I don’t think that that’s, I I don’t think that that’s what the positive momentum of the cannabis industry is all about. Um, certainly not the positive, uh, momentum of what our wellness con, uh, concepts and, you know, certainly our, our, our mission statement of quality, integrity, and knowledge matters.

 

Dee Dee:

Right.

 

Matt:

Uh, is

 

Dee Dee:

All about. And, and honestly, and I, and some people’s arguments are that it is big canna. And big canna is just pissed off because people can buy these type of products from hemp, so they’re losing out on their revenue. And that’s why this is cracking down on it. They’re, I do truly believe there’s a lot of truth to that. I really do. And what really makes everything so fucking crazy is the fact that you’ve got marijuana still a schedule one narcotic, but is being sold in some legal states for they have recreational or they have medical, but not all states do. So other states are scrambling. And it just amazes me that we are fighting in between the marijuana industry and the hemp industry. It, it just, it’s so sad in a way, but it’s designed to to be that way too. To keep us, to keep us, you know, divided. Yeah.

 

Matt:

I mean, well, and, and I Yes, yes. But this, this is nothing new.

 

Dee Dee:

I mean No, it’s not new.

 

Matt:

Oh, you’ve got interest scrambling for profit. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, you’ve got interest losing profit. Right. I i I mean, if we haven’t proven to you now, um, that big pharma is not looking out for your health <laugh>, then, then you need to go back and listen to some more, some previous episodes.

 

Dee Dee:

We’re not even talking about

 

Matt:

Big pharma. No, but but you have, you have big pharma interest mm-hmm. Losing revenue moving now into the marijuana sector because they have choice. Yep. So do you think that they’re gonna enter the marijuana sector and change their morals and change their, their moral compass is gonna be reset? Of course. Not. Like, oh, we’re, we’re onto marijuana now. We’ve totally changed our business philosophy. No. They’re gonna practice the same bus business philosophy that they always had, which is bringing as big of pop of a bottom line to their shareholders as possible mm-hmm. <affirmative> by any means necessary.

 

Dee Dee:

Right.

 

Matt:

And that has nothing to do with your health or your safety.

 

Dee Dee:

True.

 

Matt:

So that’s, that’s it. I mean, whether it’s big pharma or not, it’s the same people moving the same money or,

 

Dee Dee:

Or even

 

Matt:

And and shifting the same weight or even even and creating the same divisions because you’re weaker. If you’re divided, you’re weaker if you’re scared. Yep.

 

Dee Dee:

And, and even, um, big hemp companies, I mean, a lot of them, some of them, they are fighting really hard to actually get the farm bill to wear. None of these extra designer cannabinoids or any intoxicating cannabinoids exist through hemp and through the Farm bill. And these are the direct players that are playing federally. And most people do not understand that, that while you may be part of the hemp industry, not everybody in the hemp industry is a part of you.

 

Matt:

Yeah. Well, and that’s, uh, but that, that’s where the awareness comes in. That’s where this podcast comes in. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, that’s where, you know, the people who I

 

Dee Dee:

Just wanna make, I, I just wanna help people feel better <laugh> with natural products as natural as can be PO products, you know. Well, I do have a conscience

 

Matt:

Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

 

Dee Dee:

I believe so too.

 

Matt:

And you know, we’re where we are about positivity at the, we are, I, I got on the show, so

 

Dee Dee:

I don’t give a shit what anyone says about me. They can call me a bitch. They can, they can say the nastiest, meanest things for me. But at the end of the day, I know why I got in this business. I got in this business to help people. It has never, ever, ever have I had rose colored glasses on. And that’s one thing that I don’t give a, I really do not care what people think of me personally. I know why I got in this business and it was to help others.

 

Matt:

Yeah. So, absolutely.

 

Dee Dee:

And sorry folks, but I just never thought THC-O was gonna help you. So I didn’t, didn’t carry it.

 

Matt:

My ee didn’t carry it. Well, and, and again, this is your, your freedom mm-hmm. <affirmative> your choices. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, I, I, I mean yeah.

 

Dee Dee:

I ain’t going to jail for nobody

 

Matt:

Needed. Not not being, you can’t be controlled by, uh, what anyone says or does. Right. And that, you know, that includes us. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, you, you have to make decisions for yourself. Um,

 

Dee Dee:

And trust me, I’ll fight for the hemp industry. I’ve done it. Yeah. It’s not like I wouldn’t do it again, but when you have players putting a chemical in it just to make it so people can get high, higher, higher from it. Right. I, that bugs me.

 

Matt:

Well, it’s a problem. And again, that’s why I think that honestly, I think that this issue mm-hmm. <affirmative> should be completely separated. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, I mean, it, it, it, this is not, again, this is not a cannabinoid issue. No.

 

Dee Dee:

I don’t,

 

Matt:

This is a synthetic drug issue. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And what needs to be determined is, is it, or is it not a synthetic drug? I’m not a politician. I’m not a scientist. From what I know and what I’ve read about, uh, the laws on synthetic drugs, this falls into that category. Uh, but again, I, I’m not Right. I’m not the person who makes that decision. Right. That’s just my opinion of a guy on a podcast. Yep.

 

Dee Dee:

<laugh>. And, and you know, it’s funny that he and I actually agreed on this one, y’all <laugh>, like we really agreed on it. Yeah. So, but yeah, I just, just buyer beware man. Look, look into things. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, be careful out there. And like I said, do you boo

 

Matt:

And the sake of wellness know what you’re putting in your body Yeah. And decide if, if that’s a acceptable risk for you or not. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And if it’s not, don’t do it. There’s plenty of other stuff out there. Totally natural that you can get your hands on. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> that will get you where you need to be.

 

Dee Dee:

Yeah, exactly. Sorry, this is a short podcast, but really this is just kind of what we wanted to talk about today, so mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Yeah. <laugh>, thanks for listening as always. And hey, feel free to chime in on this. I mean, I know we are gonna have listeners out there that do not agree with us and they love this product, and, and we get it. We do. But at the same time, this is our opinion, so mm-hmm. <affirmative>, everybody’s got opinions, right? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So, but thanks for listening as always. Take care of yourselves and each other. And my gosh. Um, make sure you follow us on all social medias, <laugh>. Yes. Have a good one, guys. Thank you for listening.

 

Matt:

Bye.

 

Speaker 3:

Wow.

 

Dee Dee:

Thanks for joining us for another episode of Hemp and Happiness with the hemp

 

Matt:

Queen and emperor.

 

Dee Dee:

Keep your mind ever open and expanding, like, subscribe, review, follow us, all the good stuff and

 

Matt:

Keep it hempy out there.