Are you curious about Delta 8 THC and if you or someone you love could benefit from using it? To learn more about this trending (yet not new) cannabinoid I spent the last several weeks reading up on Delta 8 THC and finding the answers to all the important questions our customers need to know to make educated and informed decisions. In this blog post I'll cover the history of Delta 8, what it actually is (this one may surprise you!), and the legalities that make it one of the hottest trends in the cannabis industry.
What is Delta-8 THC?
Just like the well known (yet still federally illegal) Delta 9, Delta 8 THC occurs naturally in the cannabis plant. There are many similarities between the two compounds, but there are also some defining differences in their effects and legalities.
Scientifically speaking, the only chemical difference between Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC is where one carbon molecule is located. Delta 8 has a double bond on the eighth carbon atom in its molecular structure; Delta 9 has a double bond on the ninth carbon atom. The photo below illustrates this perfectly.
As you can see in the illustration of the two molecules, there is a right to left move on one carbon bond. That is the only scientific difference between Delta 8 THC and Delta 9 THC.
Why is Delta 8 THC legal and Delta 9 THC is not?
If the two are so scientifically similar, how on earth is Delta 8 THC federally and Delta 9 THC still gets people put behind bars? To put it simply, science has outran politicians and big money interest for once.
Delta 8 THC is legal at the federal level because it is derived from the 'hemp' plant, instead of what the government has dubbed the 'marijuana' plant. Both terms have been throughly described as two separate things by US policy, although scientifically both hemp and marijuana are the same thing, the cannabis plant.
According to US law, industrial hemp plants and all of its derivatives, isomers, etc. are legal. These legal hemp plants are classified as having < .3% Delta 9 THC by dry weight, which is when the plant is harvested and in it's natural form.
Cannabis plants that contain more than .3% Delta 9 THC by dry weight, are classified as 'marijuana' by the federal government, and are a federal controlled substance.
Because Delta 8 is an isomer of the cannabis plant, it can easily be converted into it's pure form using either CBD or Delta 9 THC. Because CBD is naturally occurring in high amounts via the industrial hemp plant, it makes sense that extractors would use it over the still banned 'marijuana' plant. Thus, this is how Delta 8 is legal, and Delta 9 still... is not.
Is Delta 8 THC fake?
It's a commonly held belief that Delta 8 is fake, but it isn't. Another belief is that it was newly discovered, it wasn't. Even those in the cannabis community will disregard it as 'fake weed' (I'll have to raise my own hand on this one too), but it is actually the real thing and not man made or fake. It is an isomer of the cannabis plant that just happens to be able to be converted by moving one carbon molecule.
Is Delta 8 a new cannabinoid?
Many people believe because Delta 8 has only recently become a mainstream product that it is new and unknown. This is also not true.
In fact, Delta 8 was first discovered in 1941 and happens to be the 4th most researched cannabinoid in the entire plant. With well over 100 known cannabinoids, I'd say that makes Delta 8 pretty well known.
There's a rich history to be discovered in Delta 8, the summary of the story involves it being banned during prohibition alongside Delta 9 THC. Research was stopped and the ensuing war on drugs kept Delta 8 underground for decades. With the passing of the 2018 legislation the door was opened again for modern, and much more advanced, scientists to once again start researching Delta 8 THC.
Will Delta 8 THC products get me high?
Yes, in theory, Delta 8 THC has minor psychoactive effects that may produce a mild buzz or feel-good sensation. Delta 8 THC products will produce some effects associated with traditional cannabis consumption, but these come in a more controlled and less-potent experience.
Generally speaking, you might experience benefits to your overall state of mind and consciousness....but you should not feel any strong psychoactive or hallucination effects from pure Delta 8 products.
Where to find Delta 8 THC products you can trust
If you want quality you can trust, look no further than Kultivate Wellness. We are Virginias cannabis resource for over 20 years now. We know our Delta THC products are pure because we know the source from seed to sale.
The Delta THC brands we partner with are also local Virginia hemp companies that we know in real life. The farmers and the extraction lab, even our packaging and labeling, all happen within local distance of our stores. We support the local cannabis industry and small business community and take every possible step to ensure our reputation as Virginias trusted resource.
At Kultivate Wellness we also make sure every product we carry gets tested by an independent 3rd party lab. We provide a scannable qr code on packaging for easy access to the lab results. We are a verified business on Leafly, with both store locations on the Leafly Richmond dispensary area map.
Click here to shop our selection of D8 products now
Still have questions about Delta 8?
Here at Kultivate Wellness, it's our mission to help every customer find, understand, and use plant medicine. Our knowledgable staff offers free consultations to customize a plan using the most beneficial products & serving sizes for each individual. If you want to shop online or need us to ship but still have some questions just use the live chat for assistance.
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