BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – While Vermont’s cannabis sales have become more regulated in recent years, online shopping remains a black hole where anyone can access nearly anything – often with little understanding of what they’re actually buying.
In the online illicit drug market, there’s no ID needed – just a way to pay and an address.
It’s a discovery no parent wants to make: your underage child is buying drugs.
A Vermonter who wished to remain anonymous shared their reaction to their child’s purchase over email with WCAX.
“I felt angry and asked all the questions at once. I mean, if you care as a parent, you would care what decision your child is making. The who, why, where, could be from anybody…Anything and anybody. The how, at certain ages, shouldn’t be so easy,” the parent said.
Experts say investigating this universal problem on the state level is nearly impossible, with many sellers located outside Vermont or the country.
James Pepper with Vermont’s Cannabis Control Board says even federal laws banning illicit sales can’t keep up with the rapidly evolving online market.
“The FDA, usually the top cop on the beat when it comes to natural or nutritional supplements, has essentially thrown up their hands when it comes to trying to stop the proliferation of these,” said Pepper.
Pepper is talking about Delta-8, Delta-10, and other synthetic cannabis variants.
While Pepper says more research is needed to understand the impacts of these products, their chemical compounds can pose a major risk.
According to America’s Poison Centers, there were over 3,300 reported exposures to Delta-8 in 2022 – an 82% increase from 2021.
“These are dangerous products. They’re not regulated. They have, in all likelihood, harmful adulterants in them, and that’s intentional. And so to think that these are safe or they’re a good alternative to regulated products is just not right,” said Pepper.
While federal law plays catch up, experts say talking with your kids about cannabis use and the danger of online variants is essential.
Kelly Dougherty with the Vermont Department of Health says that starts with regular, level-headed discussions.
“Rather than having one big talk, you want to kind of keep the conversation going with your teen and bring it up and work concerns into everyday conversations,” said Dougherty.
The start of school can also provide more opportunities to recognize whether your child is using drugs and how to help them find healthier habits.
“They should observe if their child is less engaged in their school work or extracurricular activities than they had been in the past because that can be an indicator of substance use,” said Dougherty.
“Trying to find kind of positive role models and activities for them to do in those kind of critical hours of the day where they’re unsupervised is helpful as well,” said Pepper.
Anyone looking to conquer conversations about drug use with their kids can find advice on the state website Parent Up Vermont.