Delta 8 THC What The Heck Is It

 

When buying cannabis products, you might come across the term Delta-8 THC, which is an ingredient in cannabis plants. But what exactly is it? And what can it do for you? Read on to learn more.

Delta-8 THC  is becoming popular in the cannabis world, and it can be found in a range of products, such as soft drinks, gummies, vape cartridges, and tinctures. But what the heck is Delta 8 THC and what can it do for you? These are just two of the questions you might be asking yourself, but you might also be concerned about the legality of the product and whether or not it will show up in a drug test.

In this article, we are going to take a closer look at Delta-8 THC. We will answer some of the frequently asked questions about this cannabis compound. And we will compare it to Delta-9 THC, which is another cannabinoid you may be familiar with when buying cannabis-related products.

What Exactly Is Delta 8 THC?

Due to the increasing usage of cannabis, many consumers are becoming familiar with the range of cannabinoids that grow on cannabis. THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis that people will be familiar with, as this is the compound that produces the high sensation. People might also know that the name of the THC that causes the highest sensation is Delta-9. 

However, there is another variation that possesses psychoactive effects, and one of these is Delta-8. This is an emerging cannabinoid in the cannabis landscape, and it possesses its own interesting effects on the user. 

Hemp and cannabis plants only grow very small amounts of Delta-8 THC, so this makes it rarer than Delta-9. This could be one reason why it’s only just starting to become popular, as the effects of the cannabinoid are only just becoming more well-known. It is derived from cannabis plants using special extraction and processing methods and is used in many of the cannabis-based products you will be familiar with.

But why should you care? Well, Delta-8 THC is known as ‘weed-light.’ It can still energize or relax the user, and it can cause feelings of euphoria. However, it is less intense than Delta-9, so for those not wanting to lose clarity when getting high, Delta-8 THC offers a more stable and more comfortable experience. 

 

What Does Hemp-Derived THC Mean?

Hemp plants are any cannabis plant that has 0.3 percent (or less) THC. When buying CBD products then, you might notice ‘hemp-derived THC’ on some packaging, as it will have been extracted from the plant. The products you buy will vary the way you feel and as discussed above, the variant of THC, but you can expect to feel more relaxed, with relief from pain if taken for medicinal purposes. 

Does Delta 8 THC Show Up In A Drug Test?

When cannabis products are consumed, our bodies break down THC into smaller molecules known as THC metabolites. These are the chemical signals that will be picked up in drug tests, so no matter what variant of THC you have consumed, there will be evidence that you have taken some kind of cannabis-infused product. Therefore, you might fail the drug test.

However, if you are worried about an upcoming drug test, be that at your place of employment or when applying for jobs where you might be tested during the screening process, you should ease off cannabis-related products. By taking time out to let your body process and eliminate the THC from your system, you will be less likely to fail a drug test. Generally speaking, 3-4 weeks will be enough time for your body to process the THC, although this depends on your metabolic rate and your consumption habits.

Is Delta 8 THC Legal In All 50 States?

You don’t want to break the law, of course, so you do need to check up on what is federally legal within your state. If it is illegal, we won’t be able to ship products containing Delta 8 THC to you. Thankfully, due to the 2018 Farm Bill, Delta 8 THC is now federally legal in most states.

As laws currently stand, Delta-8 THC is legal in:

Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan (maybe, there are conflicting laws), Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska (considered likely legal), Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

As laws currently stand, Delta-8 THC is not legal in:

 

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, Rhode Island (likely, not legal), Utah. 

 

Check with your state laws

Before buying, use your due diligence and check with your state laws. There is a gray area within some of the states listed, as can be seen in the bracketed comments, so double-check to ensure you’re operating legally.  

Does Delta 8 Get You High?

The short answer here is yes!

Consuming Delta-8 THC will get you high, but as we suggested earlier, it is far less psychoactive than Delta-9 THC. You will still experience similar effects, but as it is a lot milder than Delta-9, you will feel less anxious and sedated when high. 

What Are The Health Benefits Of Delta 8 THC?

According to HealthMJ, there are a number of health benefits attributed to Delta-8 THC. It has been linked to anti-nausea, anti-anxiety, and pain relief. There are also suggestions that it could protect your brain cells due to its neuroprotective effects.

Researchers are still getting to grips with Delta-8 THC and its health benefits, but to summarise current findings, it is said to:

• Stimulate appetite
• Eliminate nausea in cancer patients
• Relieve pain symptoms and inflammation
• Reduce feelings of anxiety
• Have memory-boosting effects

Products containing Delta-8 THC can be applied topically (to the skin) or orally.

Benefits of Delta 8 THC Gummies

Gummies are endlessly enjoyable, as you will know if you have bought any of our gummy products from our store. Gummies can relieve feelings of discomfort, help reduce feelings of anxiety and stress, and improve your mood. They are a delicious way to get your daily dose of CBD, though the CBD gummies we sell are THC-free.

Delta-8 THC gummies have similar effects, though it takes time for the cannabinoids to work their way through the body before they are absorbed into the bloodstream. The effects from a Delta-8 gummy can last for upwards of six hours or more, which is longer than a Delta-8 THC e-liquid or tincture, as the effects of these products typically last for around 2-3 hours. This is just one of the benefits of a gummy.

Another benefit is akin to any product with Delta-8 THC, by which we mean the more balanced psychoactive effects, that aren’t as pronounced as the Delta-9 THC alternatives. The good news here is that users won’t feel as anxious or paranoid, and this is compounded by the fact that some gummy products contain less THC than certain other edibles.

 

Summary of benefits:

A sustained high

You won’t need to keep topping up with Delta-8 THC gummies, as a high from an edible lasts for several hours. 

Money-saving

Gummies are generally more economical than other THC products. The cost is often less, and because you can experience a sustained high, you don’t need to buy more than you need.

More accurate dosing

When consuming any psychoactive product, it is vital that you know how much you are taking. In the right dosage, you can experience all of the pain-relieving and mood-enhancing benefits of the product in question but if you take too much, there could be health consequences. These include feelings of extreme lethargy, increased panic, incoordination, and even a seizure if you have a particular seizure disorder.

The risk of serious intoxication is minimized with THC gummies. They all contain a standardized amount of Delta-8 THC, so you will be able to monitor how much you are taking. 

More Discretion

If you’re inviting family members or friends around, you might want to be discrete about the THC products you are taking. Gummies are excellent in this regard, as unlike hemp or marijuana flowers, they don’t have any aroma. As such, they are a brilliant way of keeping your daily dose under the radar. Of course, they also look like normal candy so nobody will be none the wiser. Still, you should keep your gummies away from anybody who may be tempted to help themselves to one, especially if they don’t know what they are taking.

Are there any downsides to taking gummies? Not really, although you do need to be careful. As the effects take a while to kick in, there is a risk with gummies and any other types of edible, that you might take more than you should. Should you do this, you might get a stronger experience than you expected. At the worse end of the scale, you might be prone to the health risks we suggested, but at the very least, you might feel higher than you want to be. To be safe, wait for at least 2-3 hours before dosages, as you will then know if the gummies are working, and whether or not you need a top-up.

If you do take too much, CBD oil can help, as this is a non-psychoactive supplement that can alleviate the headrush and feelings of anxiety you might experience from a high dose of THC. Of course, if you have any other health concerns, you should also speak to a medical professional.

How Does Delta 8 THC Compare To Delta 9 THC?

In some respects, the two are quite similar. According to research, Delta-8 THC and Delta-9 THC are the only compounds found in the marijuana plant that produce the psychoactive effects associated with cannabis, and they are both effective relaxants. However, as we mentioned earlier, Delta-9 THC has always been more abundant, which is why it has often been the most sought after THC by many cannabis users.

In recent times, Delta-8 has been discovered as the preferred alternative to Delta-9 for some, because it produces a less intense and more manageable high. Not everybody wants to experience the dazed and sometimes far out euphoria that is instigated by Delta-9, but they can still experience a high sensation without losing control over their mental faculties. 

Health benefits

Delta-8 has long been studied for its health benefits, even as far back as1974. Way back then, research showed that the cannabinoid possessed cancer-killing abilities. It was also discovered that Delta-8 could eliminate nausea in cancer patients during chemotherapy. An additional study in 1995 indicated that Delta-8 was also capable of shrinking tumors. 

There are the other health benefits that we suggested earlier too, including pain and anxiety relief.

Delta-9 THC also has a number of health benefits. It can offer pain relief, act as a powerful antioxidant, and help combat seizures.

Side Effects

Another thing we have to discuss is the side-effects of both. Neither is free from side-effects, but Delta-8 THC is less problematic.

Side-Effects of Delta-8 THC

There are two main side-effects associated with Delta-8. The first is the most common, and this is the problem of red eyes. This is a side-effect that any cannabis user will be familiar with, and it can become a problem when Delta-8 is consumed in larger doses. The other issue is an increased heart rate after taking a Delta-8 derived product.

Side-Effects of Delta-9 THC

Delta-9 THC is certainly not for everyone, and this partly because of the side-effects that are associated with it.

These include dry red and itchy eyes, a dry mouth, exacerbated feelings of anxiety, increased depression systems, feelings of paranoia, lethargy, lightheadedness, and dizziness. It’s little wonder that other cannabinoids, such as CBN, CBD, and delta-8 THC are taking over in the popularity stakes from Delta-9 THC. They can still experience the benefits of hemp, but without the mind-altering effects that Delta-9 can instigate.

Chemical structure

There is a reason why Delta-9 THC is more potent than Delta-8 THC and that is because of the chemical structure.

Delta-8 is a double bond analog of Delta-9. For those who don’t know, an analog is a chemical compound with a structure similar to that of another chemical compound structure. 

There are minor differences, including the location of the double bond. Delta-8 lies on the 8th carbon chain while Delta-9 is located on the 9th. You might assume this is only a minor distinction, but it’s the reason why the cognitive effects of Delta-9 are stronger. 

What Are The Benefits Of CBD Combined With Delta 8 THC?

Before mentioning the benefits, it’s worth noting that there are differences between CBD and Delta 8 THC, although how many differences there are hasn’t yet been quantified. This is because Delta 8 is an upcoming compound that hasn’t yet been studied as thoroughly as CBD. Still, we do know that the main difference is the fact that CBD contains no psychoactive properties, so it is primarily used by people who don’t want the feeling of being high. It’s also the reason why CBD is used more commonly to alleviate symptoms related to certain health issues, such as depression, anxiety, skin conditions, and certain heart conditions.

As we have already suggested, Delta-8 also has health benefit potential, but it can also be used by those people who do want to get high, albeit in a way that doesn’t cause them to experience paranoia and confusion.

But can they be combined? Yes. We already alluded to this earlier in the article when we suggested CBD can be used to mitigate the headrush that can come from taking THC, including Delta-8. CBD might be more common to users of Delta-9  because of the more extreme mental effects, although a person who consumes one too many Delta-8 infused gummies, for example, might choose to reach for their bottle of CBD oil. Taken together, there is also the increased possibility of health benefits, although research still needs to be done on this matter, and you should always check with a medical professional. 

Is Delta-8 THC Right For You?

Cannabinoids share similarities but there are many differences too. It’s worth understanding this, as you might prefer one cannabinoid over another.

If you are somebody who doesn’t want the psychoactive effects of THC, then you will understandably opt for CBD. This can be consumed through edibles, tinctures, vapes, and more, and you can find many of these products in our store. 

On the other hand, if you do want to get high, then a variant on THC will be suitable for you. However, it will be clear to you by now which should be your preferred choice. If you don’t want the maximum headrush that is instigated by Delta-9 THC, you should opt for Delta-8 THC, which is still relaxing and euphoric, but far more gentle than the Delta-9 alternative.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@naturesarcorganics.com.