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By: Theresa Yarbrough
Founder/Director Georgia Cannabis Industry Alliance

How Chemical Conversions Are Reshaping Hemp, Cannabis, and Consumer Safety

For years, hemp was celebrated as a non‑intoxicating alternative to marijuana, offering CBD products that promised wellness without the high. But behind the scenes, a growing number of labs and manufacturers have been converting surplus CBD into synthetic THC analogs — a process often referred to as acid‑washing. This practice is now at the center of a national controversy, raising questions about safety, transparency, and the future of the hemp industry.

What Is Acid‑Washing CBD?

Acid‑washing CBD refers to the chemical conversion of cannabidiol (CBD) into synthetic THC analogs such as delta‑8, delta‑10, and other hemp‑derived intoxicants.

The conversion of CBD into “acid‑washed” synthetic THC was not an accident — it was a deliberate design choice by manufacturers exploiting the 2018 Farm Bill’s hemp loophole. That loophole legalized hemp with <0.3% delta‑9 THC but did not anticipate chemical conversions of CBD into other psychoactive cannabinoids.

The rapid proliferation of these “fake THC” products triggered state‑level crackdowns and, most recently, a federal ban on intoxicating hemp.

• The process: Cannabidiol (CBD) can be chemically altered through acid‑catalyzed reactions into psychoactive cannabinoids such as Delta‑8‑THC, Delta‑9‑THC, and Delta‑10‑THC.
• By‑products: Chemists warn that these reactions often produce unidentified impurities, residual solvents, and trace metals.
• Risks: Little is known about the health effects of these by‑products, but early studies suggest they may be unstable or harmful.

The conversion of CBD into “acid‑washed” synthetic THC (like delta‑8, delta‑10, and other hemp‑derived intoxicants) was not an accident — it was a deliberate design choice by manufacturers exploiting the 2018 Farm Bill’s hemp loophole. That loophole legalized hemp with <0.3% delta‑9 THC but did not anticipate chemical conversions of CBD into other psychoactive cannabinoids. The rapid proliferation of these “fake THC” products triggered state‑level crackdowns and, most recently, a federal ban on intoxicating hemp.

Why Companies Do It

The purpose of acid‑washing CBD into “fake THC” is essentially economic and political — it’s about creating synthetic intoxicating cannabinoids that can be marketed as “hemp‑derived” while bypassing traditional marijuana regulations.

Core Purposes

• Profit motive: CBD is abundant and inexpensive. Converting cheap, abundant CBD into Delta‑8, Delta‑9, or other THC analogs creates a new revenue stream. Hemp farmers often have surplus CBD isolate, and acid‑washing allows them to sell it as a psychoactive product.
• Market positioning: These synthetic cannabinoids are marketed as legal alternatives to marijuana in states where cannabis remains restricted. This lets companies capture the “intoxicating hemp” market without going through medical marijuana licensing.
• Legislative Leverage: By flooding the market with chemically altered cannabinoids, lobbyists and operators can argue that all THC analogs (including natural THCa) are dangerous. This narrative helps justify bans and consolidates power for licensed medical marijuana operators.
• Control of narrative: Acid‑washing blurs the line between natural and synthetic cannabinoids. Regulators then lump them together, which benefits medical marijuana operators who want hemp competition eliminated.
  In short: the purpose of acid‑washing CBD is to turn surplus hemp into profitable intoxicants, influence legislation by conflating natural and synthetic cannabinoids, and consolidate market control.

What We Know About Acid‑Washed CBD → “Fake THC”

• The acid‑wash conversion of CBD into delta‑8, delta‑10, and other synthetic THC analogs was pioneered by independent hemp processors, not the large, state‑licensed cannabis companies (MSOs).
• These products exploded in gas stations, vape shops, and convenience stores — channels outside the MSO ecosystem.
• MSOs (multi‑state operators) actually lobbied against intoxicating hemp because it undercut their regulated marijuana markets. They argued hemp‑derived THC was unsafe, untested, and unfair competition. And while the acid‑washed synthetics like delta‑8 and delta‑10 did nibble at their profits, it was the real thing — THCa flower, the natural precursor to THC — that posed the greatest threat. THCa flower was indistinguishable from marijuana once heated, and its rise in hemp markets cut directly into the MSOs’ core business, making it the true driver of their aggressive push for bans.
• There is no single public list of companies openly admitting to “acid‑washing” CBD into synthetic THC analogs. What we do know is that white‑label manufacturers and bulk cannabinoid suppliers are the primary players offering these conversions, often marketing Delta‑8, Delta‑9, and other THC analogs as “hemp‑derived.” These processes typically involve chemically altering CBD with acids or solvents to mimic THC, and they are controversial because they can produce impurities and unstable compounds.

Key Point

The acid‑wash loophole was created and scaled by independent hemp processors, not MSOs. But MSOs capitalized on the backlash — using the chaos to push for bans that eliminated hemp competition and strengthened their monopoly in regulated cannabis markets.

THCa Flower vs. Acid‑Washed CBD

THCa was real – not a lab trick. It was FLOWER and Flower is the Key.

THCa flower was real — the natural expression of cannabis, not a chemical trick. Acid‑washed CBD created synthetic intoxicants like delta‑8 and delta‑10, but those were distractions. The true threat to MSOs was THCa flower, because once heated it became delta‑9 THC — indistinguishable from marijuana and a direct competitor to their regulated markets.

MSOs understood this. They seized upon the chaos created by synthetic compounds, pointing to them as unsafe, untested, and illegitimate. But in reality, they used that narrative as cover. By amplifying the dangers of acid‑washed CBD, they convinced lawmakers to act broadly against “intoxicating hemp.” In doing so, they eliminated their real competition: THCa flower, the natural THC that could have collapsed the medical marijuana monopoly.

As I’ve said before: “The flower is the Holy Grail.” Its removal was not about public safety — it was about market control. He has the flower on the shelf is King.

THCa flower:

• Comes directly from the hemp plant.
• THCa (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) is the natural precursor to THC.
• When smoked or heated, THCa decarboxylates into delta‑9 THC, producing the same intoxicating effect as marijuana.
• This was a true agricultural product, grown and harvested like any other hemp flower.
• Acid‑washed CBD → “fake THC”:
• A chemical conversion process where CBD isolate is treated with acids/solvents to create delta‑8, delta‑10, and other synthetic THC analogs.
• These are not naturally occurring in hemp in meaningful amounts — they are manufactured.
• Residual solvents and byproducts often remain, raising safety concerns.

What A Search Reveals

• White‑label labs and bulk suppliers: Companies like CanniLabs advertise CBD, Delta‑8, and Delta‑9 gummies and ingredients for private branding. These are the kinds of businesses that perform or contract chemical conversions.
• Synthetic cannabinoid producers: Firms such as Veranova focus on ultra‑pure synthetic cannabinoids for pharmaceutical use [1]. While their work is regulated, it shows how chemical conversion of CBD into THC analogs is a known practice in the industry.
• CBD brand ecosystem: Major retail CBD brands (Charlotte’s Web, cbdMD, CBDfx, etc.) [2] generally emphasize natural hemp extracts, but the rapid growth of the market has created space for less transparent operators who push chemically converted cannabinoids into retail channels.

Policy Context

• Georgia bans THCa: In 2025, Georgia lawmakers passed restrictions that effectively banned THCa flower, the state’s largest retail hemp product, leading to store closures and financial losses.
• Federal hemp ban: Congress recently redefined hemp in a government funding bill, effectively banning most hemp‑derived THC products nationwide within a year. Industry leaders warn this could wipe out 95% of the hemp market and threaten over 300,000 jobsCNBC.
• Winners and losers: Georgia’s medical marijuana operators stand to gain, consolidating control of the intoxicating cannabis market while hemp retailers collapse.

https://gacannabisindustryalliance.com/acid-washed-cbd-and-the-rise-of-fake-thc/