Delta 8! We haven’t seen this much hype for a cannabis derivative since the invention of vapes. Settle down, folks. It’s not going to run away. Let’s dive into some common questions you all have about delta 8, starting with…
What is Delta 8?
Delta 8 THC is a cannabinoid found in marijuana. The regular THC that we all know and love is officially known as delta 9 THC. If you see in the diagram above, the two molecules are nearly identical save for a small structural variation in the bond between a couple carbon atoms. Like all cannabinoids, the difference in how they hit you depends on how they interact with your body’s natural cannabinoid receptors.
The regular THC binds to one kind of receptor and CBD binds to another. Halfway between the two, delta 8 THC binds to both the THC and CBD receptors. The effects are mostly like THC, but with a much milder and shorter-lasting high. We should also note that while THC must come from marijuana proper, CBD and delta 8 THC can be derived from hemp.
Because of the US Farm Bills launched by then-president Obama, derivatives of the hemp plant have a greater legal status in the United States and are Federally legal while individual states can set their legality. THC and marijuana are illegal on the federal level, while delta 8 and CBD are legal, with restrictions.
Is Delta 8 Legal?
For the most part, yes, but some restrictions apply. Even though delta 8 is legal at the Federal level, individual state have banned either delta 8 or hemp-derived products in general. Those states are:
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Colorado
Delaware
Idaho
Iowa
Mississippi
Montana
Rhode Island
Utah
The hype in the media is around this “new” way of getting “legally high.” The lack of federal prohibition for delta 8 means that you can manufacture it, sell it, ship it across state lines, tax it, insure it, etc. Everything you can’t do with marijuana but wish you could.
While we’re on the subject of legality: YES, delta 8 will definitely show up in a drug test! Any screening used for regular marijuana can also detect delta 8 in your system.
Does Delta 8 Get You High?
That’s the big question! YES IT DOES! But this sensation is not at all like THC. It feels more like a half-way buzz, lighter and also less disorienting, and lasting for a shorter time. It’s like Marijuana Lite, less filling, tastes great! As shown in the video above, delta 8 is typically marketed to people who suffer side effects from full-on THC, like anxiety and paranoia.
However, the “paranoia” might be due to the fact that you can enjoy it without worrying about police strormtroopers kicking down your door!
Just so you know, delta 8 has always been present in cannabis and hemp. It’s just there in minute quantities. Same with CBD, until we isolated hemp strains and started selectively breeding for it.
Let’s also not forget the magic power of industrial production and concentration. Companies have been working on delta 8 with their top lab techs to concentrate and distill delta 8 to its maximum potency. So you definitely feel something, but you’re also not baked into the couch like with regular marijuana.
Does Delta 8 Have Health Benefits?
There are lots of claims of delta 8 health benefits, and so far some health claims are the subject of promising research. Here’s a few:
Study of Delta 8 on pain and inflammation relief
Study of Delta 8 finds it relieves pain, but tolerance builds up quickly
Study of Delta 8 finds anxiety reduction qualities
Study of Delta 8 finds that it helps fight nausea in cancer patients
As we always advise here at DabConnection: Ask your doctor! Or conduct research with established medical findings. As with all cannabis-related chemicals, you will find some quackery going on in the fringes. Don’t rely on it to cure COVID or something.
Currently we don’t have conclusive research on delta 8 being beneficial in the treatment of some ailments. However, given that it binds to both THC and CBD receptors, and THC and CBD do have some medical applications, it stands to reason that delta 8 could have potential along the same vein.
What Are the Best Delta 8 Brands?
We’re so glad you asked! Our DabConnection staff reviewers have been puffing away on every delta 8 vape cartridge brand we can find, and our findings are right in our delta 8 review category. We have also assembled a list of the top delta 8 cartridge brands we have discovered so far. That list is subject to change, but currently we like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdP_WdfDIjI
Does Delta 8 Come in Anything But a Distillate or Concentrate Cartridge?
There is no delta 8 flower, if that’s what you’re asking. Smoking regular industrial-grade hemp won’t get you much of anything. However, we’re still at the beginning of delta 8 hype, and cultivators are striving to breed strains of the plant with maxed-out delta 8 concentration, so stay tuned!
Delta 8, just like any cannabinoid, is extracted from the plant and then concentrated for consumption. It is also possible to blend it with other cannabis derivatives like terpenes and CBD. Besides just vaping cartridges, delta 8 concentrate is available in dabs and edible gummies. There’s also delta 8 concentrate in tincture form.
Readers, Tell Us More About Delta 8!
We like delta 8 here ourselves, judging from the contented grins on our reviewers’ faces. But we never expected delta 8 to blow up like it has. Does anybody out there actually prefer delta 8 to regular THC? Is it better to you than CBD? Have you tried it with terpenes? Do you experience an Entourage Effect from delta 8? We’re still in the pioneering days of this newly available cannabinoid market, so hang on and we’ll see where this ride goes, in the comments or in our forum.