House health panel hears mother’s account of son’s psychosis as lawmakers consider banning altered hemp products

The Health Committee of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives held a public hearing on June 17, 2025, on Proyecto de la Cámara 223 and heard testimony from a mother who said her 19‑year‑old son developed psychosis after using Delta‑8/chemically altered hemp products widely sold at gas stations and neighborhood shops.

The committee chair said the panel received memorials and lab samples and that preliminary testing by the Instituto de Ciencias Forenses found THC in several products. "En 1 de ellos se detectó que tiene el delta 9 THC... en 1 de ellos dice que se detectó marihuana y también se detectó el delta 9 THC con un 5.3 por 100," the presiding representative said, noting the federal THC limit of 0.3 percent as a point of comparison. The chair added that the measure would be amended toward prohibition rather than regulation: "como de costumbre en la comisión vamos a enmendar este proyecto. Eso de regularlo no es lo que vamos a buscar, vamos a buscar prohibirlo, ¿verdad?"

The hearing centered on the accessibility of chemically altered hemp products—sold under names and brands including Delta‑8—that committee members and multiple witnesses described as marketed to young people with flavored forms and candy‑like packaging. Witness Zulema Vázquez testified that her son, then 19, "Con 1 de estos productos Delta 8 tuvo un una psicosis y no durmió por 5 días. Luego de ahí estuvo hospitalizado." She said the episode led to ongoing health problems, including short‑term memory loss, insomnia, anxiety and the loss of a college scholarship, and that two of his friends required hospitalization after similar use.

Committee members and other speakers described the problem as distinct from the regulated medical cannabis system. Representative Lizzie Burgos, a member of the committee, said market forces have driven broad access and noted concerns about weak regulatory controls: "Esto es un mercado," she said, arguing that licensing and enforcement have failed to prevent misuse and that promotional practices had normalized use among youth.

Officials and members at the hearing described gaps in enforcement capacity. The presiding representative said the Office of Hemp (OLIC), created under Puerto Rico’s agriculture remit after federal changes allowing hemp cultivation, currently "tiene solamente 4 inspectores," and that OLIC’s limited staff made widespread enforcement impractical. The chair also described technical limits to laboratory testing: forensic analysts told the committee their initial methods were preliminary and that some Delta‑8 products require additional processing (heating/analysis) to detect THC derivatives reliably.

Committee discussion emphasized education, enforcement and legislation. Witnesses and members repeatedly called for public education efforts for parents and schools, noting that teachers and school administrators sometimes do not have protocols for handling suspected use by minors. Several speakers also flagged reports—based on testimony and received memorials—that some products contain contaminants beyond THC, including pesticides or heavy metals, though committee members said further, certified laboratory testing would be necessary to verify those claims.

No formal vote was recorded at the hearing. Committee members said they will pursue amendments to Proyecto de la Cámara 223 with the intent to prohibit chemically altered hemp products that exceed federal THC limits or that are marketed to minors. The presiding representative said the measure is likely to be presented in the next legislative session so the committee can compile evidence and respond to anticipated industry opposition.

The record for the hearing includes the witness testimony, the forensic lab’s preliminary results on five sampled products, and multiple memorials submitted to the committee. Committee members said next steps will involve drafting amended language, coordinating with the Department of Agriculture and consumer‑protection authorities for enforcement options, and seeking more comprehensive laboratory testing to support any prohibition.

For the public record at the hearing, the presiding representative emphasized the committee’s intent to act on protection of youth and said the testimony provided "una gran contribución al pueblo de Puerto Rico, sobre todo a nuestros jóvenes."