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Delta 8 THC is a form of THC that if derived from hemp, is considered federally legal as opposed to its counterpart, Delta 9 THC, which is still categorized as a “controlled substance”, effectively making it illegal on a federal level.
Other than legality, what’s the difference?
In this article, you’re going to discover the differences between Delta 8 and Delta 9.
How Delta 8 Feels Compared To Delta 9 THC
With hundreds of compounds found in the cannabis plant, things aren’t as simple as people like to generalize. Lots of people say “THC gets you stoned, and CBD does nothing.”, however each cannabinoid has a different molecular structure and each compound interacts with our body differently. To understand how Delta 8 interacts in the body, let’s do an overview of Delta 9 to properly understand its effects.
In 1964, the Delta 9 THC compound was discovered from isolating it from lebanese hashish. Israeli chemist Raphael Mechoulam discovered the compound contributed to effects of relaxation, sedation, short-term memory loss, hunger, mental elevation and other commonly-known cannabis effects.
After trying to figure out how Delta 9 works in the body, scientists eventually discovered the Endocannabinoid System (ECS), a unique system of cell receptors throughout the body. These receptors are designed to instruct cells to carry out different behaviors depending on different compounds that bind to and activate the receptors. They theorized that the ECS is designed to respond to different biological stimuli to maintain optimal bodily functions, also known as homeostasis.
Obviously Delta 9 THC is one of the many psychoactive cannabinoids present in cannabis. Delta 8 THC is considered to have a slightly less psychotropic effect due to its slightly different chemical structure, causing Delta 8 to behave differently within the ECS as opposed to Delta 9. Delta 8 is known to endure a “creeper” high with a gradual come up rather than an instant blast of intoxication.
Some recreational users may not entirely see the benefits of using a cannabinoid with around half the psychoactive potency. However, users that are prone to anxiety report a more enjoyable experience with Delta 8 over Delta 9 due to its gradual increase in effects. Users of Delta 8 tend to report a strong body high, or “stoned” feeling, yet no mental confusion or paranoia that one would experience from Delta 9. This physical effect is actually quite comparable to a 1:1 ratio of CBD to Delta 9 THC dosage. It induces intoxication in a very manageable way that allows for day-time usage, thanks to its clear-headed properties.
However, not all is good and dandy with Delta 8. Delta 8 actually stimulates your appetite even more than Delta 9! So if you thought you had a problem with the munchies on Delta 9, you definitely will get the munchies on Delta 8! So make sure you have some healthy options available to be devoured when you get intense feelings of hunger.
From a scientific standpoint, researchers found Delta 8 to reduce feelings of nausea and vomiting, also known as an antiemetic effect. When Dr. Mechoulam gave about 18mg/m2 of edible Delta 8 oil to children with cancer in a 1995 study, 480 patients were able to suppress vomiting after being treated with chemotherapy.
Despite the apparent benefits of Delta 8, it is actually quite rare to be found naturally in high amounts within the cannabis plant. One of the more popular ways of producing the compound is by using chemistry to convert CBD into Delta 8. The two cannabinoids are only a couple electrons apart, so with a bit of science, Delta 8 can be created from CBD! Thanks to the overabundance of CBD due to the hemp boom, there are hundreds of different Delta 8 products on the market in the form of Vape Cartridges, Edibles, Dabs, Concentrates, and many more.
Is Delta 8 Legal?
Yes, but only if it’s derived from Hemp and not Marijuana! To understand the difference between Hemp and Marijuana, you must look at the wording in the 2018 farm bill:
- Hemp is defined as cannabis that contains less than 0.3% Delta 9 THC.
- Marijuana is defined as cannabis that contains more than 0.3% Delta 9 THC.
As long as Delta 8 is derived from cannabis that originally contained less 0.3% Delta 9, it’s 100% federally legal!
Delta 9 THC however, which most people just call THC, is the mainstream version of THC that is present in high amounts in Marijuana. This form of THC is illegal on a federal level and heavily regulated on a state level. Unlike vendors of hemp-derived THC, sellers of Marijuana are required to have dispensary licenses and must adhere to strict regulations and costly taxes, which result in extremely high consumer prices.
While Delta 8 is considered milder in psychoactivity than Delta 9, about half as strong, it can typically be purchased for around 50% to 80% the price of retail Delta 9 products.
Other than Delta 8, there are also hundreds of other federally legal cannabinoids that are derived from hemp like Delta-10 THC, CBN, and CBG which makes Hemp much more versatile than Marijuana.
Is Delta 8 Legal Federally?
Yes. The 2018 Farm Bill federally legalized all isomers of hemp. As long as the Delta 9 THC content is below 0.3%, it’s legal. Here’s the exact wording:
“The term ‘hemp’ means the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.”
Is Delta 8 Legal in my State?
Delta 8 is legal in states that define hemp under the same wording as the 2018 Farmbill, however some states operate on what’s called a total THC law. Which means the total THC content of the product must be below 0.3%. Since Delta 8, Delta 9, and THCa, are natural forms of THC, they are all calculated together into total THC. So in states that have a total THC law, Delta 8 would be illegal. Those states include:
- Alaska
- Arkansaw
- Delaware
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Mississippi
- Montana
Where To Buy Delta 8 THC
If you’re looking to get started with Delta 8 THC, sourcing from a vendor you can trust can be quite the challenge. While some vendors get away with cutting corners to lower costs and even using bleach. One company Hempire Direct takes pride in full panel lab testing and some of the highest percentage delta 8 thc distillate on the market. All of their products display the absence of solvents, heavy metals, and pesticides from a 3rd party lab. And their prices are about half the price of everyone else.
If you’re still skeptical about delta 8 thc you can grab a free 2 pack (50mg) of delta 8 THC Vegan softgels by clicking here.
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