Your Master Guide to Delta 8 THC

Marked as the next big hype in the cannabis and cannabidiol industries, Delta-8 has received a lot of attention lately for both its medicinal and recreational potential. We decided to put together a comprehensive, yet easy-to-digest guide for anyone looking for some information on just what Delta-8 THC is, what it can do, and how you can use it. 

Keep Reading: HHC Cannabinoid Effects: What to Expect

What is Delta 8?

As many authorities in the CBD and cannabis industry will point out, you’re already quite familiar with its mainstream counterpart, Delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol; the most well-known psychoactive component found in the cannabis plant.

For the purposes of this guide, you can consider Delta 8 to be mainstream THCs little brother. Like Delta 9, it’s a cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant, but with a few very important differences.

What’s the Difference Between Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC extract?

The most talked-about distinction in Delta 8 is that, while it contains all of the beneficial qualities of its older brother, it carries little or none of the unwanted psychoactive effects. Let’s explore that a bit. 

Cannabis is known as a healing plant mostly because it has multiple applications in health and well-being such as easing pain, calming the body and the mind, stimulating appetite, and much more. But with those benefits often come some fairly potent consequences in the form of inhibiting the sense, paranoia, and a host of other negative outcomes, depending on the strain and on the individual.

What Delta 8 boasts is a multi-beneficial phytocannabinoid that produces a fraction of the “high-feeling” that you get from mainstream THC, without losing the potency of its underlying well-being benefits.

How do you Extract Delta-8?

Although you can find it in cannabis plants, there is a problem. While Delta 9 is the main cannabinoid found in the plant, only trace amounts of the Delta 8 compound are available in any strain of cannabis. So it’s not currently possible to purchase plants that have high yields of the Delta 8 compound. 

It gets technical, so let’s just state that for the time being, the only Delta 8 products you’ll find are from plant extraction in a lab, and use to create products like vapes, oils, concentrates, tinctures and edibles. 

Why am I Only Hearing About Delta-8 THC Now?

Scientists have been testing Delta 8, Delta 9, and CBD since the 70s and in cancer care testing in the mid-90s. We’ve known about THC and cannabis for a very long time, of course, there was no reason we shouldn’t 

Why are we only learning more about it now? With the surge in popularity of CBD products in the past few years and the legalization of THC products in North America, we’ve seen renewed vigor in researching and discussing the benefits of Cannabis and hemp products for a number of different applications. 

The Benefits and Applications of Delta-8

As a plant with widely known benefits, the research into cannabis compounds and their practical applications in and out of the recreational space has seen a spike in the past few years. With Delta 8, uses are almost as vast as with Delta 9 THC without the negative side effects, making 2021 a very interesting time in the health and well-being space. 

Delta-8 for Recreational Use

The buzz around Delta 8 is that it’s a smoother psychoactive that promises the medicinal effects of THC without paranoia or anxiety. This has made quite a splash with recreational users of THC as well as the CBD crowd; so much so that some unique Delta-8 infused products have hit the market. Although it’s a very niche market, it’s a growing one. 

Delta-8 for Medicinal Use

The clinical applications of Delta 8 have also been explored, mostly in its application for anxiety disorders, cancer care and pain relief. Although there are still a lot of restrictions and red tape, the U.S does hold a patent in the antiemetic uses of Delta 8, so that’s encouraging. As the use of THC becomes normalized, we should see more and more research being done on Delta 8 which should result in widespread production and use. 

Is Delta-8 Legal?

Now the fun part. Is Delta 8 considered to be the same as mainstream Delta 9 in terms of legality? 

Basically, yes it’s the same. Delta 8 is considered to be a controlled substance and is currently illegal in the United States. However, like CBD products, Delta 8 is perfectly legal if it’s derived from hemp.

So if you’re looking for CBD or Delta 8 products, then look to hemp-derived products with the proper certifications. Basically, all of the restrictions and legal red tape mostly apply to the cannabis plant. By using USA organic hemp-extracted cannabinoids, you’re ensuring that you’re getting legal, high-quality products.

The Effects of Delta-8 THC

THC is psychoactive, but it should be noted that it’s well-known to produce a different kind of high. As Delta 9 is the common psychoactive found in cannabis, Delta 8 has many similarities, but with a much less intense effect.

Delta 8 is playfully called “weed light” because while it still can bring feelings of euphoria and relaxation, it doesn’t come with the stronger effects that you can get with Delta 9 compounds. Think of it as a cannabinoid that has all the restorative benefits of cannabis’ Delta 9,  without the sometimes overwhelming high. 

Delta 8 is a great bridge for people to understand and learn more about the benefits of CBD and cannabis products. 

Some Parting Thoughts on Delta-8 THC

As advocates for wellbeing, CBD products and hemp, we’re pretty excited to see what will become of Delta 8 in the next few years. While CBD has lots of potential to become the next big thing in the wellness industry, Delta 8 has seen quite a boon and many companies are hoping to cash in on it. 

As always, we’ll do our part to keep you informed, and we encourage you to find out what you can to help you make the best decisions possible for your wellbeing.

Disclaimer: 

The information in this article, including but not limited to text, images, graphics, and other material contained herein, is for informational and educational purposes only and is solely intended to be used as a self-help tool. The information in this article and website does not substitute for professional medical advice, treatment, or diagnosis. Always seek guidance and advice from a qualified healthcare provider before undertaking a new healthcare regimen.