You may know of Delta 9 THC, but have you heard of Delta 8 THC?
Delta 9 THC is quite well-known as the cannabinoid that gets people “high”, but it’s not the only type of THC. Delta 8 THC is another type that has quite some beneficial properties.
As time goes on, research on cannabinoids is advancing. We’re learning more about the properties of cannabis and the impact it has on our health.
In this post, we’ll discuss in detail Delta 8 THC. What is Delta 8? Is it beneficial for you? And what are the different ways to take it?We’ll answer all your questions in this post. From the benefits to the legal aspects, you’ll find everything here.
What is Delta 8?
So, let’s start with the basics. What exactly is Delta 8?
Found within cannabis plants, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are some of the most researched cannabinoids.
However, do keep in mind that many different kinds of cannabinoids are still being researched.
A good portion of the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) found in cannabis plants is Delta 9 THC. People often use Delta 9 and THC interchangeably as it comprises most of the THC in the cannabis plant.
THC has psychoactive properties. This is to say that THC is responsible for the high that you feel when you take cannabis.
Similar to Delta 9 THC, Delta 8 THC also gives you a high but less intense one. Studies show that both Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC have therapeutic properties. Only the former doesn’t have any unwanted side effects.
Delta 8 THC becomes more beneficial thanks to the lack of psychoactive properties. For instance, during particular research for cancer, researchers gave children Delta 8 THC to prevent vomiting.
According to one study, Delta 8 THC helped increased appetite in mice without any negative side effects. Another study on mice, conducted in 2018, showed that Delta 8 could decrease pain and inflammation.
Does Delta 8 Get You High? Effects of Delta 8
Given the limited information on THC Delta 8, it’s difficult to gauge the compound’s full impact. The similarities of Delta 8 THC with Delta 9 THC suggest that it should be the same as ordinary THC.
However, as the research on Delta 8 is limited, we don’t know the full extent of its effects.
Does Delta 8 get you High?
Yes, it does. However, the effect is not as intense as Delta 9 THC. The Delta 8 THC gives you a sense of euphoria and stimulates your appetite.
An early study done in 1976 showed that Delta 9 and Delta 8 increased blood pressure in rats.
A more recent study in 2018 determined that while Delta8 raised blood pressure and heart rate in animals, the same effects were not seen in humans.
Although the above 2018 mice study showed that Delta 8 helped relieve pain, the mice grew tolerant of the compound over time.
Generally speaking, the research conducted so far proves that the effects of Delta8 are similar to other THC. However, more research is necessary to understand the effects of Delta 8 on humans.
Ways to Take Delta 8
Now, let’s discuss the different ways to take Delta 8. There are many ways to get your dose: Delta 8 THC flower, edibles, delta-8 concentrates, and more.
Here we explain the most common ways.
Delta 8 THC Oils and Topicals
One great way to take Delta 8 is through topicals and oils, especially if you have chronic pain.
In a 2018 study, researchers used Delta 8 CBD oil on participants. There was an increase in endocannabinoids in the brain and spine regions. As a result, participants noticed relief from back pain, neuropathic pain, and migraines.
Another 2013 study showed that Delta 8 CBD oils reduced pain and helped decrease the growth of cancerous cells.
The effects of Delta 8 THC oils stay for up to 12 hours; this can vary depending on your metabolism and absorption rate.
Delta 8 THC Edibles
Another way to get Delta 8 is by consuming them as edibles. You can get edible Delta 8 THC in the form of:
- Moon rocks
- Capsules
- Gummies
Usually, when you eat Delta 8 edibles, your liver breaks them down during the digestion process into 11 Hydroxy THC metabolites. This increases the psychoactive effects.
Essentially, as your body breaks the THC down to the Hydroxy metabolites, the effect of the cannabinoid increases by ten times.
The research was conducted to test the effects of edible hydroxy. Researchers tested blood samples of people who had taken edible to see how long Hydroxy metabolites lasted in their bodies.
The results showed that after six hours of the dosage, around 50 to 75 percent of the Hydroxy compound was found.
Further, the researchers estimated that people could retain THC edibles for around 10 hours or more.
Delta 8 Carts and Vapes
Consuming Delta 8 THC through vapes may not be as long-lasting as through edibles, but you’ll feel the effects a lot sooner.
It takes around 10 to 15 minutes for the effects to kick in when you consume Delta 8 THC through vapes.
If you want to use THC to help you focus or reduce anxiety, vapes are a good option. However, if you want the effects to last longer, edibles are a better choice. You can also get Delta 8 gummies or capsules.
Delta 8 Concentrates
Delta 8 THC is one of the most common forms of cannabis concentrate, which you can either smoke or ingest orally.
If you wonder which products are suitable for you, you must read this guide about the best delta 8 concentrate, dabs, wax, distillate, and more.
Delta 8 Concentrates are essentially extracted from the cannabis plant, thus more potent than the flower. It depends on you to opt for solvent-based, or solventless cannabis concentrates.
You can also use Delta 8 dabs, which require an oil rig or a dab rig to smoke it. All you need is to burn the hemp concentrate or extract in a bong. The most common effects of Delta 8 THC are calmness, motivation, and happiness.
During the process of hydrocarbon extraction, the manufacturer separates the THCA glands’ heads from the plant material to create different concentrates such as wax, resin, hash oil, or shatter.
Is Delta 8 THC Legal?
While discussing all the properties of Delta 8 THC, it’s also important to discuss the compound’s legality.
So, is Delta 8 THC legal?
If you look it up, you may find some confusing answers regarding the matter. As THC Delta 8 is a minor strain of cannabinoid, it isn’t legal in all US states.
The 2018 Farm contains information regarding the legal status of cannabis plants. It states that cannabis products are legal only if they contain less than 0.3 percent of THC.
However, the Bill specifically mentions 0.3 percent of Delta 9 THC. Due to the lack of clarification regarding THC Delta 8, it was assumed that all concentrations were legal.
Amendments were made to the Bill later on to state that it is illegal to produce THC Delta 8 or Delta 9 synthetically.
People argue that Delta 8 should be treated similarly to other THC types. However, some also believe that Delta 8 is legal as long as it’s extracted from a plant or Delta 8 flower with less than 0.3 percent THC.
Benefits of Delta 8
As discussed earlier, there are quite a lot of benefits of Delta 8. Let’s briefly take a look at some of them:
- It helps relieve pain and has anti-inflammatory effects.
- It also helps reduce anxiety, giving you a calming effect and good focus.
- Lastly, Delta 8 THC helps stimulate your appetite and fight nausea.
Wrapping Up with THC Delta 8
The existing research deems Delta 8 quite beneficial. While THC Delta 8 shares certain properties with Delta 9 THC, the former’s effects are less intense.
However, more research is needed to assess the full impact of the compound.
