Have you been hearing about delta 8 recently and wondering What it is all about?
Delta-8, also known as delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol or delta-8 THC, is a minor cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. It is similar to the more well-known delta-9 THC, but with a few key differences.
Delta-8 THC has a lower psychoactive effect compared to delta-9 THC. It is believed to have a milder “high” and is less likely to cause anxiety or paranoia. However, it is still considered to have a psychoactive effect and can produce a feeling of euphoria, relaxation, and an overall sense of well-being.
Delta-8 has been popular recently because it is currently a legal way to get “high”.
In this article, we are going to explain everything you need to know about delta-8, its effects, legalities, benefits, drawbacks, and whether you should try it or not.
Is delta-8 Legal?
Delta-8 is legal in most of the states of the U.S. and many companies are promoting it as a legal means to get high.
However, the legality of delta 8 is complex, as it is not specifically mentioned in federal law. However, the 2018 farm bill legalized hemp, including all derivatives, isomers, and cannabinoids in hemp, including delta-8, so as long as the delta-9 THC content does not exceed 0.3%, it is legal in the US.
The federally legal nature of delta-8 had made it easily available in your local gas station, stores, dispensaries, and online, but 18 states have decided to restrict the sale and production of delta-8.
The states that have restricted or banned the sale and production of delta-8 are Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New York, Nevada, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Utah, and Vermont.
Except for these states, delta 8 is currently legal in the US.
What is the difference between delta8- and delta-9 THC?
Delta-8 and delta-9 both are THCs (tetrahydrocannabinol), while the commercial delta-8 is an artificially made compound, the commercial delta-9 is a natural cannabinoid.
Both the THCs have some psychoactive properties associated with them, delta-9, which is the major psychoactive compound abundantly found in cannabis and hemp plants and is known to be very potent and can make you feel an intense high, and if overdose, it can also cause some discomforts.
While delta-8 is artificially made from hemp and CBD, it causes mild psychoactive effects but there are currently no reported discomforts associated with it.
The chemical structure of both delta-8 and delta-9 THC is nearly similar with minor differences, but this difference is what separates them.
Delta-8 takes a long time for effects to kick in, while delta-9 is comparatively quick to get you to feel high.
Is delta-8 safe?
The main concern about delta-8 is whether it is safe for consumption or not.
Delta 8 is a compound that can be found naturally in hemp, but due to limited availability, it is synthesized artificially from hemp and CBD.
Like most THC products, delta-8 is not regulated by the government which means there is no guarantee of its safety, purity, and quality.
However, many companies have found a safe way to synthesize delta-8 THC, like the C02 extraction method which is currently being used for safe cannabinoid extraction by many reputed brands, that make delta-8 safe for consumption.
Due to its being new in the market and its unregulated nature, we can’t say anything for certain but delta-8 is not safe everywhere.
Avoid purchasing delta-8 products from an illicit brand and especially exercise caution if you are considering buying a delta-8 vape cartridge because they have the most chance of being unsafe.
If you purchase delta-8 products from a genuine brand, they will safe for consumption.
Is delta-8 safe to smoke?
More studies are needed to say anything for certain, but you can safely smoke naturally grown delta-8 flowers from the best delta-8 flower brands.
You can smoke delta-8 flowers with the help of a joint, bong, or pipe, but when it comes to delta-8 vape cartridges, it is advised that you research the brand well before purchasing because low-quality vape cartilages are famous for causing some serious harm.
What are the effects of delta-8?
The effects of delta-8 are fairly different from consuming cannabis which contains delta-9, but due to its being similar, the delta-8 can have the same effects.
It can make you feel high, while providing relief in stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, pain, and inflammation. It can also give you munchies, and induce sleep but its effects are a lot milder compared to typical delta-9.
Delta-8 is the toned-down version of a typical THC.
Difference between delta 8 and cannabis high?
Delta-8 can make you feel high. However, if you are a regular cannabis smoker you might feel that the delta-8 is not your cup of coffee because it’s a lot milder.
Nevertheless, a few of my friends who occasionally consume cannabis find delta-8 more enjoyable because for them it was a clear, milder, and more relaxed way to get high.
The delta-8 is made up of hemp, which is said to have less than 0.3% of THC, A typical cannabis strain has at least 10% of THC, so you can see the difference here.
If you are someone who hasn’t tried cannabis then you will feel the high with delta-8 but it will not be as intoxicating as a typical weed.
Compared to typical weed, delta-8 takes more time for the buzz to kick in and it generally lasts longer.
What does delta-8 high feels Like?
Few of my friends have tried delta-8, some of them were regular cannabis users while others smoke occasionally. They all have mixed thoughts on delta 8’s effect.
For the people who were regularly smoking weed, delta-8 was quite a boring experience for them. However, who were occasional cannabis users actually prefer delta-8 over cannabis, moreover, they found delta 8’s effect to be lighter and more pleasant.
They also felt relaxed and even got munchies and red eyes but apart from that they didn’t experience any other bad effects, and overall found delta-8 to be a better and lighter version of delta-9 THC.
Can you order delta-8 products online?
Except for the above-mentioned states where delta-8 is restricted, you can order delta 8 products online anywhere in the US and get them delivered by mail.
However, make sure you check the sellers’ website if they ship to your delivery location, also thoroughly analyze the seller before buying any product, because delta-8 is currently not evaluated by the FDA which means there are no fixed standards that govern delta-8 products.
However, there are many companies like Binoid that are selling genuine delta-8 products online that are lab tested by a third party for their authenticity.
Does delta-8 show up on a drug test?
The chemical structure of delta-8 is very similar to delta-9, and a drug test that check for cannabis are designed to check for delta-9 THC in the body, so even if you consumed a hemp-derived delta-8 product there is a good chance that it will show up on the drug test.
Unlike cannabis, delta-8 is legal, but it can make you fail the drug test because most drug tests are not advanced yet, they generally look for THC metabolites and if they find one it will show up.
While delta-8 and cannabis are both contain similar THC metabolites, and a drug test won’t be able to distinguish between them.
Who can use delta-8 products?
Delta-8 is not for everyone, It is less potent than typical cannabis and provides you with a mild and mellow high. If you are a regular cannabis user who has high tolerance then you may not find delta-8 appealing.
If you are someone who smokes cannabis occasionally and looking for a lighter or milder buzz then delta-8 is perfect for you, or if you are someone who hasn’t smoked cannabis at all and is planning to try weed for the first time then delta-8 is a good place to start.
Additionally, delta-8 THC also has therapeutic benefits that usually come with CBD, Such as it can provide you relief from stress, anxiety, depression, pain, inflammation, and insomnia. It can also help you boost your appetite and makes you more energetic and outgoing.
Final thoughts
Delta-8 is a relatively new compound in the market, and it definitely helped boost the hemp business but there is still a lot of research needed to be done in this area. Although It is currently legal in most states but not regulated, so you need to exercise the necessary caution before purchasing any delta 8 products.
Moreover, it’s safe to say that, anyone who hasn’t tried cannabis because it is illegal, can definitely explore the world of delta-8 THC, it is just a milder version of it.
Make sure you purchase delta-8 from an authorized or known brand and especially exercise caution while purchasing delta-8 cartridges or vape pens.
Disclosure:
The information in this article is intended for general use only and may not always be appropriate for everyone’s needs. Your health and wellness are unique to you, so before acting on anything we say, seek personalized advice from a medical professional.
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