The safety of lookalikes: a new THC beverage enhancer and a non-THC counterpart

Abstract

A new tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) beverage enhancer is available to medical and recreational cannabis consumers across the US. Beverage enhancers that do not contain THC, but instead contain flavored concentrates and/or other additives such as caffeine, are used by squirting the contents of a bottle into water, or other beverage of choice, ad libitum and can be used in a titratable manner according to the user's preference or taste. The THC beverage enhancer described herein has an important safety feature: a mechanism that allows users to measure out a 5-mg dose of THC before they add it to their beverage. This mechanism, however, can be easily bypassed if a user attempts to use the product exactly the same way that its non-THC counterparts are used, by turning the bottle upside down and squirting the contents of the bottle into a beverage ad libitum. The THC beverage enhancer described herein would benefit from additional safety features such as a mechanism that prevents the contents of the bottle from leaving the device when turned upside down and a THC warning label.

Keywords: Accidental cannabis consumption; Accidental cannabis overconsumption; Accidental cannabis overdose; Cannabis product safety; Public health; Tetrahydrocannabinol; Toxicology.

Fig. 1

This image displays a front view of the select squeeze bottle and forward-facing product label including the name of the device, flavor of the beverage additive “Hint of Sweet”, total THC, and volume per container. The device uses a child-resistant safety cap

Fig. 2

This image displays the back view of the select squeeze bottle and backward-facing product label including the select website, social media information, product instructions, and recycling insignia

Fig. 3

This image displays a top view of the select squeeze bottle with child-resistant safety cap removed. The dosage reservoir contained within the bottleneck of the device can be seen here as well as the overflow drain and conduit

Fig. 4

This image displays a front view of the select squeeze bottle with the child-resistant safety cap removed, revealing the bottleneck of the device which contains the dosage reservoir

Fig. 5

This diagram illustrates the details of the select squeeze device and how the easy dose fill and pour mechanism works. A 1-mL dosage reservoir is contained within the bottleneck of the device. When the safety cap is removed and while the device is being held upward, the user squeezes the outside of the bottle which increases pressure inside the main reservoir. This forces the liquid beverage enhancer up the conduit into the dosage reservoir. The conduit has drainage holes placed at a precise height as to serve as an overflow drain. This ensures that no more than 1 mL of liquid beverage enhancer or 5 mg of THC is contained within the dosage reservoir

Fig. 6

This image displays a front view of a bottle of MiO®, a popular beverage enhancer product that commonly includes food-grade ingredients such as vitamins, natural flavors, and/or caffeine. The image is provided to show the potential resemblance and similarities to the squeeze device