>>> MAJOR FUNDING MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS EVENING EDITION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ANDERSON PLUMBING, HEATING AND AIR PROUD TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF KPBS AND PRIVILEGED TO SERVE SAN DIEGO CLIENTS.

ANDERSON PLUMBING, HEATING AND AIR HELPING HOMEOWNERS MAINTAIN DRAIN, HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS SINCE 1978.

>>> AND BY THE CONRAD PREBYS FOUNDATION , DARLENE MARCOS SHILEY AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

>>> AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> GOOD EVENING, IT'S TUESDAY, JANUARY 4th THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

.

A SURGEON'S COVID CASES LIKE WE HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE, 8313 CASES REPORTED AND WE ARE AWAITING NEW NUMBERS AT ANY MOMENT.

MORE PEOPLE ARE ALSO ENDING UP IN THE HOSPITAL.

AS KPBS REPORT, KATY ALVARADO FOUND OUT THAT SOME SOME HOSPITALS ARE TAKING NEW ACTIONS.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS HAVING THE BIGGEST COVID SEARCH SINCE LAST SUMMER.

IN THREE DAYS THE COUNTY CONFIRMED MORE THAN 17,000 NEW CASES.

HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE, TOO.

OVER 700 PEOPLE ARE HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID.

THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF SCRIPPS HEALTH SAYS THEY ARE HOSPITALS ARE FILLING UP FAST.

>> WE ARE SEEING A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN CASES CHRISTMAS EVE AND HAVE 80 COVID CASE IS PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED.

TODAY WE HAVE 210.

THAT'S AN INCREASE OF 130 COVID PATIENTS IN JUST 11 DAYS.

>>> THIS SURGE IS DIFFERENT.

>> MY EMPLOYEE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THIS MORNING THAT THEY ARE GETTING CALLS BETWEEN SIX AND EIGHT EMPLOYEES CALLING TELLING THAT THEY TESTED POSITIVE.

>> Reporter: NOW THEY ARE CANCELING COLLECTIVE SURGERIES.

>> I HAVE 19 PATIENTS WAITING FOR BEDS JUST IN ONE OF MY HOSPITALS.

>> Reporter: THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY HOSPITALS OVERWHELMED.

ON MONDAY, SO MANY HOSPITALS ASKED TO BE PUT ON ON EMERGENCY DIVERSION, THE COUNTY MOVE THAT ALTOGETHER.

>> ALL THE AMBULANCES THAT WOULD NORMALLY BYPASSES BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE STAFF COMING OUT AND DROPPING OFF ANYWAY.

>> Reporter: THE CLINICAL DIRECTOR OF THE E.R.

AT RAINY CHILDREN HOSPITALS AS PARENTS SHOULD CALL PEDIATRICIAN OR HOTLINE TO PRESCREEN BEFORE THEY GO TO THE E.R.

>> A LOT OF THE KIDS COMING INTO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ARE HAVING MILD, MODERATE ILLNESS AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY NEEDING TO BE ADMITTED FOR ANY SIGNIFICANT CARE.

IT'S JUST THE SHEER VOLUME OF PATIENTS THAT WE ARE SEEING IS CAUSING STRAIN ON THE SYSTEM ITSELF.

>> Reporter: THAT'S A MESSAGE FOR EVERYONE.

CALL YOUR DOCTOR AND DON'T GO TO THE E.R.

FOR COVID TEST OR IF IT'S NOT AN EMERGENCY.

>> IF YOU'RE COMING FOR SOMETHING THAT'S LESS PRIORITY, YOU WILL HAVE TO WAIT A LONG TIME.

IF YOU NEED ADMISSION, YOU MAY BE WAITING IN THE E.R.

FOR POTENTIALLY HOURS TO DAYS.

>> Reporter: PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH THOSE WHO ARE CARING FOR YOU.

>> PEOPLE ARE ATTACKING AND YELLING AND SCREAMING AT THE PEOPLE TRYING TO HELP THEM.

WE HAD TO START THE ESCALATION FOR OUR DOCTORS AND NURSES TO TEACH THEM HOW TO DE-ESCALATE PEOPLE WHO ARE HOSTILE WHEN THOSE PEOPLE CAME INTO GET CARE.

IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT TIME FOR PEOPLE IN HEALTHCARE.

>>> WE JUST GOT THE NEW NUMBERS FROM THE COUNTY, ANOTHER 7786 CASES REPORTED TODAY.

COVID TESTS ARE GETTING HARDER TO COME BY AND THAT'S WHY NATIONAL CITY GIVE AWAY FREE TEST KITS TO THE COMMUNITY.

THE DEMAND WAS SO HIGH THAT MANY PEOPLE LEFT EMPTY-HANDED AS THE KIDS WERE GONE WITHIN HALF AN HOUR.

ALEXANDER HAS MORE.

>>> THEY TOLD ME THEY DON'T HAVE ANYMORE.

>> WE DID YOU NEED A TEST FOR?

>> MY DAUGHTER.

>> A MOTHER IN NEED OF A TEST FOR HER DAUGHTER CRIED IN DESPERATION AS SHE FEARED SHE WAS TOO LATE.

AS TEARS ROLLED DOWN HER FACE, NATIONAL MAYOR HINDERED HER ONE OF THE LAST KITS THEY HAD.

AND TOLD HER DON'T CRY, WE GOT YOU.

>> THIS IS LIFE OR DEATH.

FOR A PERSON TO BE WAITING HERE AT FIVE: 30 IN THE MORNING TO GET TO TESTS, FOR PER BOX.

>> IT WEIGHED HEAVILY ON HER HEART.

NATIONAL CITY HAD 1000 AT HOME COVID TESTING KITS TO GIVE TO THE COMMUNITY ON TUESDAY.

THE LINE OUTSIDE THE CITY LIBRARY MIRRORED THE MASSIVE LINES WE HAVE SEEN IN PREVIOUS DAYS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR COVID TESTING.

SHE HAD ALREADY BEEN IN TO SEVERAL LIBRARIES IN SEARCH OF A COVID TEST BUT SHE DID NOT HAVE LUCK UNTIL TODAY.

>> THE FIRST THING I DID WAS CALL A COUPLE PEOPLE.

COME ON AND JUMP IN.

MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW.

>> SHE NEEDED THE TEST TO KEEP HER FAMILY SAFE.

TESTS WERE ONLY GIVEN TO PEOPLE PRESENT ON TUESDAY.

ONE TEST KIT PER PERSON ONLY.

EACH KIT CAME WITH TWO TESTS.

MARIE CARMEN WAS GIVEN ONE OF THE LAST TEST BEFORE THEY RAN OUT.

>> SHE SAYS IT WAS A BLESSING THAT THERE WAS STILL ENOUGH FOR HER.

NATIONAL CITY HAS BEEN ONE OF THE COMMUNITIES HARDEST HIT BY COVID.

MAYOR SOLIS SAID THAT THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT TO GET MORE TESTS IS THE NEED IS CLEARLY HIGH.

THE NATIONAL CITY SCHOOL CITY DISTRICT SAYS THEY ARE WORKING ON GETTING TESTING KITS FOR STUDENTS BEFORE THEY RETURN FROM BREAK ON MONDAY.

ALEXANDRA KPBS NEWS.

>>> BACK TO SCHOOL WILL BE ALL VIRTUAL FOR AT LEAST ONE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL.

AHEAD LAKES CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL SENT A LETTER TO PARENTS TODAY TELLING THEM THEY WON'T LIKELY HAVE THE STAFF FOR PERSONAL LEARNING THIS WEEK.

OTHER SCHOOLS HAVE GONE BACK, THEY ARE STARTING BACK.

>> Reporter: THE VACCINATION VAN IS BACK IN THE SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THIS MORNING, UCSD HEALTH WORKERS WERE ON CAMPUS AT KNOX MIDDLE SCHOOL VACCINATING STUDENTS, STAFF AND ANYONE ELSE WANTS PROTECTION.

FROM COVID-19.

ADRIANA LEON IS AS SPECIAL NEEDS PARENT EDUCATOR, SHE IS HERE WITH HER SISTER WHO IS A TEACHER.

AND A RETIRED FATHER, EACH OF THEM WITH THEIR OWN REASONS FOR GETTING BOOSTER SHOTS AND PLANS FOR STAYING SAFE.

>> RIGHT NOW, JUST TELLING THE KITS TO KEEP THEIR MASKS UP.

ARE THEY LISTENING?

SOMEWHAT.

SOME YES, SOME NO.

I FEEL PROTECT IT.

EXTRA PROTECTION FOR OURSELVES AND FAMILY.

>> WE GET IN MY CAR.

YOU STAY HOME.

>> Reporter: STUDENTS HAVE BEEN BACK IN CLASS NOW FOR TWO DAYS.

ATTENDANCE DROPPED TO ABOUT 84% THAT IS DOWN 10,000 STUDENTS FROM ATTENDANCE CALCULATED THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

OFFICIALS CREDIT SOME OF THAT TO PARENTS KEEPING THEIR CHILDREN OUT OF SCHOOL AFTER TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 USING TEST KITS THAT WERE SENT HOME BEFORE BREAK.

>> THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS AND THE CONTINUATION OF THE VIRUS WHICH PUTS US ON THIS ROLLER COASTER AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR THE SCHOOLS TO CONTINUE TO DO THE JOB THAT WE NEED TO DO FOR OUR STUDENTS.

>> Reporter: AND CORONADO, THERE WERE 42 STAFF TEACHERS WHO WERE ABSENT ON THE FIRST DAY BACK.

WITH 3000 STUDENTS AND FOR SCHOOLS.

WHEN IT COMES TO FIGHTING COVID, SIZE DOES NOT MATTER.

PROACTIVE PLANS TO DO.

THE DISTRICT HAS ACED TO PILE OF 15,000 TESTS THAT THEY ARE OFFERING STUDENTS AND STAFF AT CAMPUS LOCATIONS THIS WEEK.

MANY WILL BE SENT HOME, TOO.

THE DISTRICT HAS A STRATEGY TO COMPENSATE FOR LACK OF STAFFING.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, MYSELF, DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SERVICES OF CURRICULUM, EVERYONE IS WILLING TO LEND HAND AND WE ARE IN THE CLASSROOM TEACHING.

>> Reporter: THE VACCINATION VAN CONTINUES INCREASING ITS MILEAGE.

AT THE MOMENT HAVING DELIVERED MORE THAN 7000 VACCINATIONS SINCE LAST NOVEMBER.

M.G.

PEREZ, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THERE ARE MORE CLOSURES IN THE COUNTY TO REPORT.

HOW A CITY HALL IS CLOSE TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL JANUARY 17 BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF COVID CASES.

STAFFERS STILL AVAILABLE TO HELP REMOTELY BY PHONE AND EMAIL.

RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THE CLOSURE AND CRITICAL CARE SERVICES ARE STILL OPERATING NORMALLY AND THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING SET FOR THE DAY AFTER WE OPENING ON THE 18.

>>> THE FORMER EX-CHABAD OF POWAY RABBI WAS SENTENCED TO COURT TODAY FROM HIS ROLE IN THE FRAUD SCHEME.

ALYSSA MAY HAS THE DETAILS.

>> Reporter: FORMER EX-CHABAD OF POWAY RABBI RABBI YISROEL GOLDSTEIN WAS SENTENCED TO 14 MONTHS IN PRISON IN ORDER TO PAY $2.8 MILLION IN RESTITUTION FOR ORCHESTRATING A YEARS LONG DONATION FRAUD SCHEME.

BEFORE SENTENCING, THE RABBI BEGGED FOR MERCY.

STATING I STAND HERE TODAY MY HEAD FOUND IN SHAME, REMORSEFUL AND DISAPPOINTED IN THE CRIMES I HAVE COMMITTED TO GOD AND MANKIND.

THE CHARGES INCLUDED TAX FRAUD, AND SUPPOSE IT CHARITABLE DONATIONS WERE FUNNELED BACK TO THE DONORS, WHILE GOLDSTEIN KEPT PART OF THE MONEY.

THE JUDGE SAID HE DRAGGED THOSE HONORS DONORS DOWN.

THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE COMMITTING THE OFFENSES, - - IT WAS TO BENEFIT YOU.

ADDING THAT BECAUSE OF THAT SHE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO SERVE TIME.

GOLDSTEIN WAS INJURED DURING A 2019 SHOOTING AT THE SYNAGOGUE AND DURING THE HEARING, THEY TALKED ABOUT LORI K, THE WOMAN WHO DIED.

CASE DAUGHTER SPOKE AFTER THE SENTENCING AND SAID GOLDSTEIN CLAIMED THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO UPGRADE THE SECURITY.

>> WE TOLD HIM PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MY MOTHER SMARTER AND FURTHERMORE, THE WAYS IN IT IN WHICH HE EXPLOITED MY MOTHER SMARTER AFTER THE SHOOTING USING HER AS A - - AND LYING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AND THE ENTIRE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD PROMOTING PEACE AND FORGIVENESS AND ELEVATING HIS STATUS AS A HERO ALL WHILE KNOWING HE WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE FBI AND HE WOULD PLEAD GUILTY TO CRIMES USING MY MOTHER SMARTER AND EXPLAINING HER DEATH AS A WAY TO ELEVATE HIS IMAGE.

>> RABBI YISROEL GOLDSTEIN WAS ORDERED TO SURRENDER BY FEBRUARY 23rd TO BEGIN A SENTENCE.

>>> A MARINE CORPS PANEL THIS DECIDING IF AN OFFICER SHOULD BE KICKED OUT OF THE MARINES OVER THE SINKING OF AN AAV THAT KILLED NINE SERVICEMEMBERS.

LIEUTENANT COLONEL MICHAEL REDNER WAS RELIEVED OF HIS COMMAND AFTER THE INCIDENT OF SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND IN JULY 2020, THE BOARD IS REVIEWING REPORTS THAT THE CRAFTY USED ON THAT THEY HAD A HISTORY OF MECHANICAL BREAK DOWNS.

MARINES HAD ALSO NOT PASS THERE'S WHEN TESTS.

>>> TOMORROW WILL BE LORENA GONZALEZ'S LAST DAY IN THE CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY.

JACOB AIR LOOKS AT WHAT THAT MEANS FOR HER DISTRICT.

>> Reporter: AFTER EIGHT YEARS IN OFFICE, ASSEMBLY MEMBER LORENA GONZALEZ IS RESIGNING HER DISTRICT POSITION TO RETURN TO HER ROOTS IN THE LABOR MOVEMENT.

SHE SAYS STARTING HER NEW ROLE LEADING THE LABOR ITERATION IS BITTERSWEET SPECIALLY AFTER REDISTRICTING MAPS SPLITTER HER CONSTITUENTS.

>> IT'S A DREAM JOB IN DREAM OPPORTUNITY AT A TIME WHEN I WAS BEING FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN DIFFERENT PORTION OF MY DISTRICTS AND THAT WAS A TERRIBLE CHOICE AND I WAS GRAPPLING WITH DO I RUN IN THE 79 OR THE ADS AND IT ALLOWED ME TO SAY I CAN REPRESENT ALL THESE FOLKS.

>> Reporter: PROFESSOR KOSTER SAID THAT THE MOVE COMES A FEW YEARS AFTER THE TERM LIMIT AND ARGUABLY PROVIDES HER WITH MORE POLITICAL POWER IN CALIFORNIA.

>> SHE HAS BEEN A LEADER IN LABOR LEGISLATION AT THE STATEWIDE LEVEL LIKE TAKE PAID SECRET SICK LEAVE AND MAKING THE CAKE ECONOMY WORKERS THE PART OF THE NORMAL EMPLOYMENT SYSTEM, SO THIS WAS IN SOME WAYS THE LOGICAL NEXT STEP.

>> Reporter: HER LAST DAY IN OFFICE WILL BE WEDNESDAY JANUARY 5th.

IN HER ABSENCE THAT WILL BE A SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL HER VACANCY.

FORMER SAN DIEGO COUNCIL GEORGETTE GOMEZ ALREADY SAID SHE'S RUNNING FOR THE JOB.

>> I'M DEFINITELY MORE THAN READY TO BRING THAT FIGHT, THE FIRE I HAVE INSIDE OF ME TO SACRAMENTO AND REALLY UPLIFT AND CONTINUE TO UPLIFT THE WORK THAT SHE'S LEAVING BEHIND AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE OUR LEGACY AND BUILT UPON IT.

>> Reporter: ANOTHER CONTENDER IS DAVID ALVAREZ WHO PREVIOUSLY SERVED IN THE SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL.

>> I SAW A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT WERE PROMISED TO THE COMMUNITY AND NEVER HAPPENED.

TO MAKE SURE THEY CAME TO FRUITION THE NEW PARKS AND LIBRARIES AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE CITY AND THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.

I WANT TO DO THE SAME WORK IN THE CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY.

>> Reporter: THE SPECIAL ELECTION FOR DISTRICT 80 MUST BE CALLED BY THE GOVERNOR WITHIN 14 DAYS OF HER DEPARTURE.

>>> THE LEADING REPUBLICAN IN LAST YEAR'S CALIFORNIA RECALL IS STAYING OUT OF THE SEARS RACE, LARRY ELDER SAYS HE WILL SPEND TIME BUILDING A NEW POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE.

HE SAYS HIS GOAL IS TO BACK CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES FOR THE HOUSE, SENATE AND LOCAL RACES.

HE EARNED 3 1/2 UNION VOTES IN THE RECALL WHICH BLEW OUT ALL OTHER REPLACEMENT CANDIDATES.

>>> WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING FORWARD TO WARMER DAYS AHEAD OF ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, A DRY PATTERN FOR US, A BREAK HERE FROM ALL THE RAIN WE'VE HAD RECENTLY.

THERE'S ONE SMALL CHANCE FOR A BIT OF RAIN SHOWER LATE FRIDAY NIGHT.

THAT WILL BE NEAR THE COAST, ASIDE FROM THAT, SLIM VACATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO RAIN.

IN THE FORECAST.

TONIGHT, TEMPERATURES UPPER 30s IN OCEANSIDE AND ESCONDIDO AND 30s IN RAMONA, LAGUNA,, WEDNESDAY MILD TEMPERATURES BY JANUARY STANDARDS FOR MOST OF THE INTERIOR SECTION OF THE SOUTHWEST, SAME THING FOR SAN DIEGO, WARMING UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS.

A LITTLE RAIN IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

IT WILL STAY OFF TO THE NORTH.

MOST OF THE STORM TRACKS WILL BE WELL UP INTO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND MAINLY IN THE NORTHWEST.

TEMPERATURES FOR WEDNESDAY THE HIGHS IN THE MID 60s IN SAN DIEGO, EL CAJON, CLOSE TO 70, LOW 60s IN CHULA VISTA.

THURSDAY, SAME STORY.

WE SEE A FLOW COMING OFF THE PACIFIC FOR THE NORTHWEST, IN THE WAY OF SNOW AND RAIN UP THERE AND DRY COMFORTABLE CONTINUE HERE ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

NEAR THE COAST, TEMPERATURES LOW 60s AND MID 60s AND MAYBE UPPER 60s BY THE TIME WE GET TO THE END OF THIS COMING WEEKEND.

INLAND, CLOUD COVER LATER THIS WEEKEND.

TEMPERATURES WILL STATE MILD, A BIT OF A BUMPY RIDE ROLLER COASTER, 70 THURSDAY, 60s FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, 70 NEXT SUNDAY.

MOUNTAINS, LOW 50s AND UPPER 40s.

A COOLER PATTERN ON THE WAY FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

STILL LOOKING DRY.

DANCERS, LOW 70s, A LITTLE BIT OF SUNSHINE IN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS.

>>> YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS, BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT KINDS OF THC CHEMICAL IN CANNABIS THAT MAKES YOU FEEL HIGH.

THE WELL-KNOWN ONE THAT COMES FROM THE CANNABIS PLANT IS TECHNICALLY CALLED DELTA NINE THC, CLEAR TELLS US WHAT KIND EMERGED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS CALLED DELTA EIGHT THC.

>> Reporter: WHY IS THIS NEW THC VARIETY NOW BEING HEAVILY MARKETED?

MAINLY IT'S A WAY FOR CANNABIS PRODUCERS AND DISTRIBUTORS TO GET AROUND LAWS AND'S IN STATES THAT BAN THC.

TO UNDERSTAND, YOU HAVE TO START WITH THE PLANT HAMP THAT COMES FROM THE SAME SPECIES AS CANNABIS.

HAMP IS LEGAL AND SO IS CBD.

WHICH IS USUALLY MADE FROM HEMP LEAD FROM CBD, YOU CAN MAKE DELTA EIGHT.

IN STATES THAT BAN CANNABIS, DELTA EIGHT FALLS INTO A LEGAL LOOPHOLE.

THE IDEAS FOR DELTA EIGHT TO YOU I JUST LIKE THE USUAL DELTA NINE THC.

DELTA EIGHT AND DELTA NINE HAVE DIFFERENT STRUCTURES.

WHICH CHANGES HOW THEY INTERACT WITH THE BODY.

THE TWO STRANDS ARE ISOMERS, THEY HAVE THE SAME EXACT NUMBER OF ATOMS BUT THE STRUCTURE IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.

>> THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS WE HAVE A DOUBLE BOND THAT HAS BEEN MOVED, AND DOUBLE BOND AND ONE-SIDED DELTA NIGHT AND YOU MOVE IT OVER AND IT BECOMES DELTA EIGHT.

>> HE SAYS SCIENTISTS DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT IT YET.

THERE HAVE BEEN LIMITED CLINICAL STUDIES ON DELTA EIGHT.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE DO DELTA EIGHT AS THE LIGHT, A LOT OF THE REPORTS ARE ANECDOTAL, ALL THE REPORTS ARE ANECDOTAL, NOT WELL-DESIGNED CLINICAL TRIALS.

WHAT YOU READ ABOUT PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCE ON THE INTERNET.

THIS TYPE OF THING.

THAT IS VALUABLE TO AN EXTENT, THERE'S NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR CLINICAL TRIAL.

SPECIALLY IF TREATING A SPECIFIC ILLNESS OR CONDITION.

>> Reporter: IT'S MADE BY DISSOLVING CBD OIL AND MIXING WITH ACID.

THEN USING CHROMATOGRAPHY TO ISOLATE THE THC STRAND.

BOYER SAID THE LABS THAT DO THIS CHEMICAL PROCESS ARE NOT ALWAYS WELL REGULATED.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE MAKING THE STOP, MANY ARE UNTRAINED AND DEFINITELY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE BUSINESS DOING SYNTHESIS, THEY ARE NOT TRAINED CHEMISTS.

>> Reporter: IF THE ACID IS NOT FULLY NEUTRALIZED, YOU CAN END UP INGESTING IT AND THERE MIGHT BE OTHER SUBSTANCES IN THE MIXTURE AS WELL.

>> YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING.

THERE'S A LOT OF LACK OF QUALITY CONTROL BECAUSE IT'S NOT REGULATED, THERE'S NO MANDATE SAYING IF YOU PUT A DELTA EIGHT PRODUCT IN THE SHELF, THAT YOU HAVE TO TEST IT.

BECAUSE IT'S LEGAL LOOPHOLE, >> IT'S DIFFERENT FOR EVERY STRAIGHT AND FEDERALLY, AND EVEN JUST A HUGE GRAY AREA AND THERE'S BEEN SO MANY CONTRADICTING STATEMENTS COMING OUT OF THE DEA ITSELF.

IT'S STILL ALL NEEDS TO BE HASHED OUT.

>> Reporter: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND STATES ARE STILL FIGURING OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THIS NEW DELTA EIGHT STRAIN.

>> HERE IN CALIFORNIA, THEY ARE SAYING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE TAKEN INTO THE CANNABIS REGULATORY AT SOME POINT IN BE REGULATED JUST LIKE CANNABIS, THAT HAMP WILL BE.

AND THEN THEY WILL BE SUBJECTIVE ANALYSIS AS TO YOUR PRODUCT INTOXICATING EFFECT AND HOW THAT DETERMINES THE LEGALITY.

JACKIE BRIAN IS A JOURNALIST AND AN EXPERT.

SHE SEES A LOT OF MARKETING FOR COMPANY SELLING DRINKS, SYRUPS AND GUMMY'S ALL MADE WITH DELTA EIGHT.

>> Reporter: THE FIRST I EVER TRIED WAS FROM A BRAND CALLED LEVEL WHICH MAKES THIS PRODUCT CALLED PRO TABS AND THEY ARE PRESSED PILLS AND YEAH, FEELS LIKE A WEED, BUT NOT QUITE THERE.

>> Reporter: BECAUSE SHE LIVES IN CALIFORNIA WHAT KIND OF VOICES LEGAL, SHE WOULD FOR PRODUCTS THAT HAD BEEN TESTED.

BUT SHE SAYS SHE LIKES THAT TRADITIONAL DELTA NINE COMES FROM PLANTS.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE THE PLANT YOU DON'T HAVE A FARMER YOU DON'T HAVE THE LAND AND YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THE EXPENSES AND MANPOWER THAT COME WITH THAT.

SO OUR CURRENT MEDICAL MODEL IN THE FDA MODEL OF A MEDICAL TESTING IS ONE COMPOUND, ONE EFFECT.

AND SO MEDICINE DOESN'T FIT WELL INTO THAT BECAUSE THE CANNABIS PLANT PRODUCES A NUMBER OF CANNABINOIDS AND THERE ARE MANY AND EVEN JUST ONE PLANT AND ONE BUD.

FOR US FOR ITS FUTURE, IT'S UNCLEAR.

RIGHT NOW, WITH RETAILERS ARE MAKING LOTS OF PRODUCTS WITH DELTA EIGHT BECAUSE IT'S ON TREND.

BUT WHETHER THAT WILL LAST, IT'S NOT YET KNOWN.

>>> THE STORY WAS PRODUCED IN COLLABORATION WITH NOVA.

>>> I'M JUDY WOODRUFF TONIGHT, COVID CASES SEARCH, SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN IN PERSON AND REMOTE LEARNING.

COMING UP AT 7:00 AFTER EVENING EDITION ON KPBS.

>>> TURMOIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST HAS BROUGHT HUNDREDS OF REFUGEES TO AMERICA.

SOME FAMILIES CAME TO SAN DIEGO WITH NOTHING BUT THE CLOTHES ON THEIR BACKS.

KPBS NORTH COUNTY REPORTER TONYA THORNE SHOWS US HOW A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS IS HELPING REFUGEES IN A UNIQUE WAY.

>> Reporter: THESE USED BIKES ARE ON THEIR WAY TO THEIR NEW OWNERS.

BUT FIRST, THEY NEED SOME FIXING UP.

THAT'S THAT STOLE MY OR FAMILY SPECIALTIES.

ALL THE VALVE STEMS ARE CROOKED SO I THE WHEELS OFF AND TOOK ALL THE AIR OUT AND STRAIGHTEN THEM OUT.

>> THE BROTHERS SPEND THEIR HOLIDAY BREAK FIXING USED BIKES THEY COLLECTED THROUGH DONATIONS.

>> I DO SOMETHING WHAT I LOVE DOING AND GIVE THAT TO THE COMMUNITY FIXING OLD BIKES PEOPLE THROUGH AWAY AND GIVING THEM IS TO LIVE.

IN A PLACE LIKE THIS WHERE PEOPLE ARE LESS FORTUNATE AND COMING TO THE COUNTRY WITH NOTHING AND HAVE A WAY TO JUST TRANSPORTATION.

AND FOR SOME OF THESE LIKE THE MOUNTAIN BIKES, IT'S A WAY TO HAVE FUN IN THE AREA.

>> Reporter: THE PROJECT CAME IN THE SAN MARCUS FAMILY TO GIVE BACK DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THEY USED ON A BICYCLE STORE, WHEN SHE STUMBLED IN THE FACEBOOK GROUP, HELPING REFUGEES, SHE KNEW BIKE DONATIONS WERE THEIR NICHE.

>> IS IN THIS OPPORTUNITY CAME UP, I KNEW THAT WAS GOING TO BE OUR OPPORTUNITY AND I PITCHED IT TO THE BOYS AND EVERYONE WAS GAME.

I'M PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

FOR A FAMILY COLLECTS USED BIKES AND REPAIRS THEM AND DONATE THEM TO REFUGEE FAMILIES THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO.

>> WE TAKE USED BICYCLES, PREFERABLY IN GOOD CONDITION, SO THAT EXPENSE ISN'T GREATER THAN THE VALUE OF THE BIKE.

WE ACCEPT NEW BIKES IN BOXES AND REBUILD THOSE AS WELL.

>> Reporter: THESE BIKES WENT TO A SYRIAN REFUGEE FAMILY WHO ARRIVED IN ESCONDIDO THREE MONTHS AGO.

THEY CAME WITH BASICALLY NOTHING.

FOR THEIR SAFETY, THE FAMILY DID NOT WANT TO SHOW THEIR FACES.

THE FAMILY OF SEVEN LIVES IN THE TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT.

THE FACEBOOK GROUP ALSO HELPS WITH FURNISHINGS.

>> THIS APARTMENT CAME WITH A SMALL REFRIGERATOR AND THERE ARE SEVEN PEOPLE IN THE FAMILY, TEENAGERS AND ADULTS AND THEY COULD REALLY USE ANOTHER REFRIGERATOR THE SIZE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO PUT OVER HERE.

I WILL BE LOOKING FOR DONATIONS.

>> Reporter: THEY HELP COORDINATE DONATIONS AND THE LEAD OF THE FACEBOOK GROUP.

>> WE WOULD LOVE ANY DONATIONS FOR SETTING UP HOUSEHOLDS THAT PEOPLE CAN THINK OFF FROM BED FRAMES TO TOYS TO COUCHES, ANYTHING NEEDS TO BE IN REALLY GREAT CONDITION BECAUSE WE WOULD WANT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD GIVE TO YOUR BEST FRIEND.

AND THEN JUST JOINED THE HELPING EL CAJON REFUGEES FACEBOOK GROUP AND POST THE PHOTO THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE AND WE WILL REACH OUT.

>> Reporter: REFUGEE FAMILIES ARE MOVING IN ALL OVER THE COUNTY.

NOT JUST EL CAJON.

THAT IS WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE FAMILIES HAVE SETTLED.

FAMILIES ARE ARRIVING.

>> THE BIGGEST GROUP IS COMING NEXT MONTH.

WE HAVE 56 FAMILIES COMING NEXT MONTH.

>> Reporter: DONATIONS FROM THE GROUP WILL HELP THE TRANSITION FROM MANY FAMILIES WHO ARE GRATEFUL TO MAKE AMERICA THEIR NEW HOME.

HELPING THE FAMILY WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF HIS HOLIDAY BREAK.

>> I THINK IT'S COOL, WE GOT TO HELP AND GO CARRY SOME STUFF IN THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE BROUGHT.

THE BIKE IS ANOTHER WAY TO CONTRIBUTE AND IT'S COOL.

JUST TO HAVE SPECIAL WAY TO HELP OTHER EVERYBODY.

>>> YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG.

THANK SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.. GOOD NIGHT.

>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS EVENING EDITION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ANDERSON PLUMBING, HEATING AND AIR .

PROUD TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF KPBS AND PRIVILEGED TO SERVE SAN DIEGO CLIENTS.

ANDERSON PLUMBING, HEATING AND AIR HELPING HOMEOWNERS MAINTAIN DRAIN, HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS SINCE 1978.

AND BY THE CONRAD PREBYS FOUNDATION DARLENE MARCOS SHILEY AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

>>> AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.