What is Delta 8 THC?
Delta-8 THC is a naturally occurring minor cannabinoid in the cannabis plant that is about half as potent as Delta-9 THC in marijuana. It is one of over 100 cannabinoids produced naturally by the cannabis plant but is not found in significant amounts.
Delta-8 THC (Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabidiol) is a naturally-occurring cannabinoid in the cannabis sativa plant that has become popular because of its similarity to Delta-9. Delta-8 causes effects for users similar to regular delta-9.
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What is Delta 8 THC?
Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as delta-8 THC, is a psychoactive substance found in the Cannabis sativa plant, of which marijuana and hemp are two varieties. Delta-8 THC is one of over 100 cannabinoids produced naturally by the cannabis plant but is not found in significant amounts in the cannabis plant.
Delta-8 is a cannabis compound that has become popular because of its similarity to delta-9. Both delta-8 and delta-9 are cannabinoids and are similar in both their names and their chemical structures. However, delta-8 typically occurs in relatively low quantities in the plant, the delta-8 found in retail CBD or cannabis products is often synthetically developed through a process of chemically converting CBD into delta-8.
Delta-8 occurs naturally in small quantities in cannabis, however most of the commercially available delta-8 has been synthesized through a conversion process that uses a variety of chemicals to convert hemp-derived CBD into delta-8.
Properties of Delta 8 THC
Psychoactive Effects: Delta-8 THC is less abundant and found in smaller quantities in cannabis.
Occurrence: Delta-8 THC is less abundant and found in smaller quantities in cannabis
Natural vs. Synthetic: Delta-8 THC can be extracted from cannabis plants or created in a lab.
Legality: Delta-8 THC is legal at the federal level under the 2018 Farm Bill
Other THC Isomers: the most prominent other forms of THC are delta-9 and delta-10 THC
Potency: Delta-8 THC is generally considered less potent than other THC isomers like delta-9 THC
Chemical structure: Delta-8 THC has a double bond on the 8th carbon chain, while Delta-9 THC has it on the 9th, which is thought to be the reason for the difference in potency.
Is Delta 8 THC the same as THC?
THC is the part of the marijuana plant that produces the “high” associated with marijuana; the scientific name for THC is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or delta-9 THC, or just delta-9. Delta-8 is short for delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol, or delta-8 THC. Delta-8 causes effects for users similar to regular delta-9.
Is Delta 8 THC federally legal?
Delta-8 is often derived from hemp, which contains low levels of Delta-9 THC, and is legal at the federal level under the 2018 Farm Bill. However, some states have banned it due to concerns about its psychoactive effects.
Under federal law, delta-8 THC is:
- illegal if it is derived from marijuana
- legal if it is derived from hemp and does not exceed 0.3% delta-8 THC by dry weight
The legality of delta-8 depends on its method of extraction. When delta-8 is extracted from a hemp plant containing less than 0.3% THC by dry weight, it doesn’t qualify as a federally controlled substance. However, if extracted from marijuana, delta-8 is a federally controlled substance and not legal, as marijuana is still categorized as a Schedule I Controlled Substance under the federal government.
What is the Delta 8 THC dry weight legal loophole?
The Delta-8 dry weight legal loophole is a result of the 2018 Farm Bill, which created a federal distinction between marijuana and hemp. This distinction is based on the concentration of delta-9 THC, the primary psychoactive component of cannabis.
The 2018 Farm Bill defined hemp as a cannabis plant or any of its derivatives that contain less than 0.3% delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis. Any cannabis plant with a higher concentration is legally classified as marijuana, a Schedule I controlled substance.
Will Delta 8 Get You Stoned?
Yes, Delta-8 THC can get you high, but the experience is generally considered milder compared to Delta-9 THC, the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis. Some people describe it as “marijuana lite”. While Delta-8 products may produce feelings of relaxation, euphoria, and even some cognitive effects, the intensity and duration of the high can vary based on factors like dosage, individual tolerance, and consumption method.
Delta-8 THC has psychoactive and intoxicating effects, similar to delta-9 THC (i.e., the component responsible for the “high” people may experience from using cannabis). The FDA is aware of media reports of delta-8 THC products getting consumers “high.” The FDA is also concerned that delta-8 THC products likely expose consumers to much higher levels of the substance than are naturally occurring in hemp cannabis raw extracts. Thus, historical use of cannabis cannot be relied upon in establishing a level of safety for these products in humans.
Which Delta is the Strongest?
Among the common THC isomers, delta-9 THC is the strongest. It produces the most potent psychoactive effects and is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis. Delta-8 THC and Delta-10 THC are generally considered less potent than Delta-9 THC.
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