You have probably heard about Delta 8 and Delta 9, but it is confusing to understand what they are about and even more so to know what their benefits and differences are. That is why we want to give you all the information you should know about Delta 8 and Delta 9 to help you understand what they are and the fundamental issues around these two acclaimed elements of cannabis.
First of all, Delta 8 and Delta 9 are cannabinoids that are found both in marijuana plants and also in hemp specimens. Despite that, each type of plant has different levels or concentrations of these cannabinoids.
What is Delta 8?
Delta 8 is a cannabinoid found in marijuana plants as well as industrial hemp plants which is why most industrial hemp products today contain high levels of Delta 8 and are absolutely legal. In addition, it can be found in CBD-rich products that can be used in treatments for medicinal cannabis users.
Effects of Delta 8
Now, if we talk about the effects that Delta 8 can cause in users, it is often noted that it generates states of mental relaxation with soft euphoric rises and body relaxation. Despite those psychoactive effects, it does not produce intense and powerful sensations like Delta 9 THC. It is believed that this happens because Delta 8 does not remain bound for long with CB receptors. Today, not much is known about Delta 8 with certainty because not many studies and less extensive analyses have been done on this cannabinoid. The information that has been compiled in great majority is based on the experience of the users who in many cases use Delta 8 to stimulate sensations such as euphoria and physical and mental relaxation.
If you are looking to feel good about yourself on a spectrum of personal fulfillment, then Delta 8 can help you because it is said to stimulate states of relaxation, feelings of satisfaction, clearer thoughts, and a more positive outlook on life. The sensations caused by this cannabinoid allow you to carry out the tasks of the day because it does not hit you too hard. On the contrary, it is a sweet and creamy trip. If we talk about the difference between Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC, the most noticeable is its effect because the first cannabinoid listed does not seem to last very long. We also highlight the legal point of view since products based on Delta 8 are not illegal in the USA, therefore there are few prohibitions that allow the commercialization of products with cannabinoid Delta 8.
5 important things you should know about Delta 8
1- Regulation of Delta-8 and its products by the FDA.
Medicinal values are attributed to Delta 8, however, the FDA still does not recognize these therapeutic values, therefore they have not been approved. Due to the above, the FDA is concerned about the proliferation of the commercialization of this type of product because selling medicinal products without being certified violates federal laws.
2- Problems that have been reported to the FDA from users of Delta 8 THC
The FDA has received reports of negative events from consumers of Delta 8 THC from December 2020 to July 2021. Reports indicate that 14 of 22 patients who consumed products with this cannabinoid went to a hospital or emergency room for treatment after ingestion of this substance.
Some of the symptoms reported by problem Delta 8 THC users were vomiting, hallucinations, difficulty standing, and loss of consciousness. For their part, the national poison control centers received 661 cases between 2018 and 2021, of which 41% were caused by involuntary exposure to delta 8 THC and 77% of these cases affected pediatric patients under the age of 18. A good number of these patients, about 20%, had to be hospitalized in the intensive care unit after being exposed to Delta-8 THC.
3- The psychoactive and intoxicating effects of the cannabinoid
When consuming products with Delta-8 THC, you should exercise caution and responsibility because the derivatives produced from this cannabinoid have psychoactive and intoxicating effects very similar to those of Delta 9 THC. Institutions such as the FDA are aware of this because they have received various reports and even reports from the press of events that have occurred due to the ingestion of products with Delta – 8 THC that have affected consumers.
4- Use of chemicals to enhance the effect of DELTA – 8 THC in commercial products
First of all, we tell you that additional chemicals are needed to convert other cannabinoids in hemp, such as CBD, into delta-8 THC because it requires a synthetic conversion. For example, additional chemical products can be used to change the color of the final product which can be combined with contaminating elements that the raw material of the product may have. This combination can end up affecting cannabinoid users like Delta – 8 THC.
5- Keep products with Delta 8 – THC away from children and pets
As we have pointed out earlier in this article, poison centers have been alerted of cases where underage children have been poisoned by consuming products with Delta 8 – THC. Therefore, it is required that this type of products be kept away from both children and pets to avoid possible poisoning, even more so when pet care centers have also shown an increase in cases of poisoning by derived products of this cannabinoid.
What is DELTA – 9 THC?
It is the main psychoactive ingredient, that is, the substance that causes people who use marijuana to feel dope. Delta – 9 THC is one of the many compounds or cannabinoids in cannabis and it is the most studied of them all. The other compound of high popularity that cannabis has is CBD which has great medicinal value, therefore thousands of users worldwide use it to treat their diseases. Now, we would like to point out that Delta – 9 THC can be consumed in different ways. Inhalation through joints is the most common, but we can also count the use of vaporizers which have evolved the way of inhaling weed. In addition, oral intake of capsules, edibles, tinctures or oils has become very popular in recent times. Last but not least is topical because Delta- 9 THC can be included in lotions, balms, ointments, oils, and bath salts that are then applied to the skin.
It is good to remember that over the years, Delta – 9 THC has been increasing its concentrations in marijuana plants so we can say that in the 90’s, marijuana generally had a THC level of around 4%. Today, cannabis contains at least four times more THC. In other words, it is stronger and contains approximately 15% THC. These levels and the exposure of users to products derived from cannabis can be much stronger and therefore delivers much more powerful effects.
What can Delta – 9 THC be used for?
Delta – 9 THC can be used in different ways, be it recreational or medicinal. We know that the medicinal use of cannabis is ancient, but there is very little research showing the full range of diseases that it can help treat.
These diseases include Glaucoma, anxiety, inflammatory bowel disease, nausea, pain, multiple sclerosis, seizures, symptoms related to HIV / AIDS, among others. Some substitutes known as dronabinol, a synthetic drug with THC and a drug that contains a synthetic substance similar to TCH known as nabilone, have also been used. Dronabinol is used to treat vomiting and nausea caused by chemotherapy and poor appetite and weight loss caused by HIV / AIDS.
5 differences between Delta – 9 THC vs Delta – 8
- As we have already shared, Delta – 8 is softer than Delta – 9 and has a much lower risk of producing a “cannabis psychosis”. Therefore, we can conclude that the effects of Delta – 8 THC are lighter and more bearable than those of Delta – 9. From this point of view, it is more favorable for users who are not tolerant of Delta – 9.
- We emphasize that Delta – 8 is present in lower quantities in weed plants than Delta – 9. Because of that, Delta-8 requires much more effort to extract naturally than Delta-9 and its extraction cost is much higher.
- As Delta – 9 is in greater abundance, it is not necessary to apply the processes of Delta – 8. Here, we tell you that this last cannabinoid can be produced naturally and safely through the use of solvents to treat CBD extracted from hemp
- Delta – 8 is legal at the federal level in the USA even though some states in particular declare it illegal, unlike Delta – 9 which is completely illegal at the Federal level. This can be seen with the classification of list 1 of THC or Delta – 9 because the Federal government estimates that there are problems of abuse with this substance.
- A point that we talked about previously and that we are going to dive into here is the secondary effects of cannabinoids. We can affirm that Delta – 8 produces an effect of bearable relaxation and also sensations of well-being. For its part, the more powerful Delta – 9 THC, can cause overwhelming sensations that make you feel bad or uncomfortable because its potency can overwhelm you more than help you.
How to dose Delta – 8 and Delta – 9
First, with marijuana, you will not overdose as with other drugs, however, the sensations and experiences can be unpleasant if you do not dose the amounts of cannabinoids you want to consume correctly. We have already noted that because Delta-8 THC has a lower potency, you can take it in medium to high doses. The dose of Delta-8 can be around 10 mg to 60 mg per dose. Regarding the doses of Delta – 9 THC, it should be taken in moderation and in much smaller doses. The recommended dose of Delta-9 is 5 mg to 30 mg.
The previous experiences with cannabis of each user are of great value because users with greater tolerance may need higher doses to achieve any effect. On the other hand, more inexperienced users will most likely only need small doses because with larger doses, they can suffer side effects that lead to a bad trip. You already know the details and information about these two cannabinoids. Do not forget to follow the tips that we have shared so that you do not have problems or suffer from collateral effects.
