Diet Weed or Dangerous Gamble? The Truth About Delta-8 - Ep. 86

Summary of Episode  Delta-8 THC is being marketed as a legal, “safer” alternative to marijuana—but what’s really inside those gummies, vapes, and oils? In this episode of The Escape Pod, we pull back the curtain on Delta-8’s rise, the regulatory loopholes fueling its $10 billion market, and the human cost of untested, mislabeled products. We share heartbreaking stories like Tanner, a four-year-old who died after eating THC gummies disguised as candy, and a Texas teen facing felony charges over a vape pen that couldn’t even be tested properly. From ER visits to criminal cases, the fallout is spreading nationwide—while federal oversight is nowhere to be found. Is Delta-8 really “diet weed”…or a dangerous gamble?   Highlights Include:  What Delta-8 THC actually is and how it’s made Why it’s flooding shelves despite lacking FDA approval The tragic story of Tanner in Virginia Legal chaos in Texas, South Dakota, Indiana, and Wyoming ER visits and poison control calls skyrocketing nationwide Risks hidden behind “innocent” gummy packaging Why lack of federal regulation leaves consumers vulnerable The $10.4 billion Delta-8 industry’s future Resources & Links    Is Delta-8 Safe?  High Schoolers Jailed for Vaping ‘legal Hemp’  Virginia Mom Charged in Death of 4-year-old Son   Rapid City Policing Agencies Target ‘Diet Weed’  Citing New Test Results, Indiana Prosecutors Threaten Criminal Charges if Businesses Don’t Stop Selling Delta-8  Wyoming Lawmakers Look to Control Delta-8  The Curious Case of Delta-8  Delta-8 Legal States 2025  This Drug Gets You High, and Is Legal (Maybe) Across the Country  2025 Regulations for Delta-8 THC: What You Need to Know  Delta-8 and Similar Products Banned in South Dakota      Sign up to be a Patron today! Get access to the Patron-Only Facebook Group, Bonus Episodes, and more.    https://www.escapepod.live    Do you have a story that you want to share with EscapePod? Or do you just want to reach out to us with your comments and thoughts?   General mail: justbecause@escapepod.live   Submit listener stories: escapeartist@escapepod.live    On Social Media   Facebook: