Everything You Need to Know About Delta 8 THC
If you have even a passing interest in the hemp and cannabis plants and all of the various cannabinoids they contain, you’ve more than likely heard about Delta 8 THC.
This newly harnessed cannabinoid has exploded in popularity in recent years, with products of all kinds containing the psychoactive substance coming out on what seems like a daily basis.
But what is Delta 8 THC exactly, and why has it become such a hot topic in the world of cannabinoids? To help you get a better idea of the answers to those questions, we’ve compiled this comprehensive Delta 8 guide.
In this article, we’ve detailed everything you need to know about Delta 8, from what separates it from cannabis to its effects and benefits to details about certain products such as Delta 8 THC flower, Delta 8 gummies, and much more.
It’s always best to do your research before using any psychoactive substances, and we hope that this guide will help you do just that. Enjoy!
What is Delta 8 THC?
It may sound like a code term for a covert military operation or something a long haul trucker would call in over their CB radio, but Delta 8 THC is just a simplified abbreviation for the chemical delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol. Delta 8 is the chiller, less intense cousin to Delta 9 THC, the famed psychoactive component in cannabis, a.k.a. the molecule that gets you high.
This cannabinoid cousin to Delta 9 has been known for decades, but it wasn’t until the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp cultivation in the United States that Delta 8 products became legal, and efforts to produce them as a legal alternative to Delta 9 began.
While Delta 8 THC and Delta 9 THC certainly share a lot of similarities, there are some distinctive differences between the two:
- Delta 8 offers a mellower high than Delta 9.
- Delta 8 does not induce the paranoia and anxiety sometimes associated with Delta 9.
- Delta 8 is currently legal in a much larger number of states than Delta 9.
Of course, there are other differences between the two cannabinoids, but these three are probably the most significant to anyone who lives in a state where recreational cannabis has yet to be legalized but is still looking for a safe, legal, and pretty awesome psychoactive experience.
How is Delta 8 THC Made?
Unlike Delta 9 THC, Delta 8 THC only exists in small amounts in cannabis and hemp plants. Such small amounts that you can’t simply pluck the buds from a plant, cure them and smoke them to enjoy the effects of the cannabinoid. There’s a whole process behind the creation of Delta 8 that is still being refined.
Typically, Delta 8 is synthesized from CBD that has been extracted from the hemp plant. This process isn’t excessively complicated, but it does add a bit of risk, as choosing to purchase your Delta 8 products from a disreputable company may result in your Delta 8 having residual chemicals from the extraction process. In other words, vet your brands!
How Does It Work?
Delta 8 works just like any other cannabinoid: by interacting with your endocannabinoid system. Your body produces chemicals that are similar to the cannabinoids found in the hemp and cannabis plants. You’ve got a readymade system throughout your body that’s able to receive the Delta 8 cannabinoid and provide you with its many positive effects and potential health benefits.
What are the Effects and Benefits of Delta 8 THC?
What is Delta 8 THC going to do for you if you decide to try it? There are a whole lot of answers to that question. If you’ve ever tried cannabis, then you’ve got a basic idea of what Delta 8 might be like. Picture it being about half as strong.
Delta 8 offers a sense of euphoria, calm, and relaxation. It can also make you feel more creatively inclined and thoughtful, and it can provide an alternate perspective on the things in one’s everyday life that one tends to take for granted.
It’s also known to make cartoons funnier and make bad food taste better, but that’s getting into subjective territory.
Delta 8 isn’t just popular with recreational users for the calming day-ending drowsy euphoria it can grant at the end of a hard workday. Medicinal users also enjoy it for:
- Pain relief
- Inflammation soothing properties
- Promoting healthy sleep
- Neuroprotection
- Appetite stimulation
- Nausea suppression
- Vomit control
Just like the other cannabinoids that people are buying up like crazy, Delta 8 can potentially offer great relief for patients experiencing a variety of conditions, but it’s important to note that research is still ongoing, and there’s not any conclusive evidence regarding these claims.
What is the Difference Between Delta 8 and Marijuana?
There are plenty of differences between Delta 8 and traditional pot. For starters, marijuana is a full-on plant, while Delta 8 is simply a chemical component of that plant.
While there is Delta 8 THC flower, it must be created through a relatively complex process, whereas marijuana can grow out of the ground entirely by accident and has done so for countless millennia. If you’re speaking about the two as products, then Delta 8 and marijuana are relatively similar. You can consume both of them in various ways to enjoy their similar psychoactive effects and potential health benefits.
However, marijuana’s main psychoactive component is Delta 9 THC, which is stronger than Delta 8, so experiences when using the two can vary relatively widely.
Is Delta 8 Legal?
It’s sort of hard to wrap the mind around this when you consider the long and storied history of marijuana prohibition in the United States, but yes, Delta 8 THC is legal. Well, it’s federally legal, unlike cannabis, but banned in 18 states right now. That’s still significantly fewer states than recreational cannabis is prohibited in, though.
If cannabis enthusiasts have been fighting for decades to legalize pot, why is Delta 8 THC legal instead? Well, it turns out “legal” is a funny and hard-to-pin-down term sometimes, and there’s a bit of a loophole that prevents law enforcement from handcuffing people for the sale and possession of Delta 8 products.
Delta 8 is derived from the hemp plant, which recently became legal to cultivate in the United States thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill. As long as your Delta 8 is hemp-derived and contains less than .3% Delta 9 THC, the federal government says it’s perfectly legal.
Where is it Legal to Buy Delta 8?
The following states currently allow the sale and possession of Delta 8 products:
- Alabama
- California
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas (Currently in Court System)
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Washington D.C.
It’s important to note that there are regulations in certain states that may make specific Delta 8 products illegal. For instance, smokable hemp is considered illegal in Indiana, which means that Delta 8 THC flower is also unlawful there, as it’s created using smokable hemp.
Other states prohibit the use of cannabinoids in food and beverage, so Delta 8 THC gummies would be illegal there, as well.
Can Delta 8 Get Me High?
Now we’re asking the important questions. What is Delta 8 THC for, if not for providing you with a euphoric psychoactive experience that you won’t need to break the law to enjoy? Well, it does have some other great uses, but that’s not the purpose of this section at all. Let’s get to the point.
Yes, Delta 8 THC will get you high. The high is something similar to what cannabis would invoke, only not quite as strong. There are no hard numbers to prove it currently, but some estimate Delta 8 to be about half as strong as Delta 9. That is, of course, an anecdotal determination more than anything else, and so you shouldn’t use it to inform your dosage.
Another unique aspect of the Delta 8 high is that you won’t feel the anxiety and paranoia that Delta 9 THC is sometimes known to induce.
That’s not to say that you definitely won’t have any discomfort at all; not everyone enjoys a psychoactive experience. But reports claim that the overall mental turmoil experienced with Delta 8 is lower than with Delta 9.
How Can You Tell the Difference in Quality Between Different Delta 8 Products?
Learning to identify quality Delta 8 products is important as Delta 8 products are not approved by the FDA and therefore you must do your own due diligence when it comes to vetting retailers and brands. To do that, you need to know a few different things.
Creating Delta 8 Involves Considerable Science
If you’re not careful about what Delta 8 products you use, you could be consuming harmful chemicals left over from the extraction process. You can work to determine whether a brand you’re interested in has clean Delta 8 by learning the details of both their extraction process and their formulation process.
Do they use low-quality solvents? Are they throwing in additives and fillers? Do they state that their processes are clean on their website, packaging, or anywhere else? The answers to these questions should give you a decent idea of the quality of their products.
Therapeutic Claims are Unsubstantiated and Illegal
Keep in mind that it is illegal for any company to make claims that their Delta 8 products are able to prevent, treat, or cure any illnesses. If you see that they’re doing that in any way, they are more than likely a brand to avoid. You can’t trust any company that’s willing to mislead you and break the law to sell their products.
Online Reviews are Informative
When it comes to weeding out untrustworthy Delta 8 companies, things can get a bit overwhelming if you choose to do it all on your own. That’s why it’s always best to crowdsource your research by shopping online and checking out what others have to say about the companies you’re interested in.
While you should always take each individual online review with a grain of salt, enough bad or good reviews over time should provide you with a clear enough picture about the trustworthiness of that brand.
Different Forms of Delta 8
Delta 8 enthusiasts are constantly searching for fun and interesting ways to consume their new favorite cannabinoid. It hasn’t quite reached the level of cannabis or CBD yet, with straight-up wacky items like weed cologne and CBD sports bras currently on the market, but it may very well be headed in that direction. Some of the most popular forms of Delta 8 presently available include:
Delta 8 Tinctures
When you have this cannabinoid in liquid form, your imagination is the only thing stopping you from achieving your Delta 8 dreams.
Delta 8 Smokable Flower
Delta 8 THC flower gives you the traditional cannabis experience without giving you the classic cannabis fear of the cops or anyone who looks remotely like one.
Delta 8 Gummies
Edibles offer a cannabinoid experience that’s unique from any other. Delta 8 gummies can give you that experience with the delicious taste of full transparent legality.
Delta 8 Vape Cartridges
Vapes are probably the most popular way to consume Delta 8 THC. They offer extra discretion, extra convenience, and they taste really good. However, they can’t be sold online, so you have to go to a local store.
Conclusion
There you have it. Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Delta 8 THC but were too afraid to ask. If you came here asking, “what is Delta 8 THC?” we hope we’ve answered your question. There’s certainly more to learn — there always is — but this guide should give you a strong foundation for understanding this incredible new cannabinoid.
We encourage you to continue your research, which at this point may very well include trying the stuff for yourself to see what it’s all about. Safe travels and good luck!
Interested in Delta 8?
Blue Springs CBD has the high-quality Delta 8 products you’re looking for. Check out our online store or contact us today to learn more!
