Which type of THC should you try? It all depends on the effects you want to experience. Typically, Delta 8 is less potent than Delta 9 THC and the side effects are fewer. Learn more in this article.
When people talk about tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, they often refer to it as if it is only one compound. However, there are several varieties of THC, and the one people are most familiar with is called Delta 9 THC. However, there’s also Delta 8 and Delta 10 and while they all have similarities, there are also differences. In this article, we’ll look at the difference between Delta 8 and Delta 9. If you’re already familiar with CBD products, you may want to learn more about THC.
Delta 9 Vs Delta 8: What You Need to Know
Now that you know there are multiple types of THC, you may be wondering what sets Delta 8 and Delta 9 apart. Let’s get into that.
What Is Delta 8 THC?
Delta 8 is only now increasing in popularity, but it is by no means new. It is present in small quantities in cannabis and hemp plants. While it has psychoactive effects, they are typically milder than those that result from Delta 9 THC. At the same time, Delta 8 offers many of the other benefits for which traditional THC is known.
What Is Delta 9 THC?
Delta 9 is the main psychoactive component in cannabis. It is present in much larger quantities than Delta 8 and its effects are much more potent. Delta 9 is responsible for many of the effects that people associate with cannabis use such as elation, heightened sensory awareness, and sedation. However, it can also result in unwanted effects such as anxiety, agitation, paranoia, and confusion.
What Makes Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC Different?
Delta 8 THC and Delta 9 THC differ in a number of ways.
Extraction
Since it is available in high quantities, Delta 9 THC is quite easy to extract. It is common to soak the plant in ethanol and then remove the alcohol. However, other extraction methods involve the use of CO2 or butane.
In contrast, Delta 8 THC goes through a much longer process and it is often derived from CBD. The CBD is extracted from hemp flowers or the entire hemp plant. The hemp is heated and this converts CBDa to CBD. This process is known as decarboxylation or decarbing and it is followed by the removal of CBD from the dried hemp material. Extraction can be either solvent-based, solventless, or oil-based. After the CBD is extracted, it is refined to create a CBD isolate. The latter is transformed into Delta 8 through an isomerization process.
Effects
Both Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC have psychoactive effects, plus users report a range of therapeutic benefits. However, Delta 8 is about two-thirds as potent as Delta 9. Therefore, users report a “body high” accompanied by alertness and a clear head.
Products
If you’ve used traditional THC before, you may be well aware of the wide range of products available today. You’ll find many of the same products in the form of Delta 8, including edibles, tinctures, and pre-rolls. The only exception is flower since the hemp flower doesn’t produce large amounts of Delta 8 THC. This doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to find a product to smoke if that’s your preferred method of consumption. Manufacturers infuse hemp flower with Delta 8 THC to create a “Delta 8 flower”.
Legality
The debate around the legality of cannabis products is well-known, and the answer is not clear-cut. At the federal level, the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp and its derivatives as long as they contain less than 0.3 percent Delta 9 THC. In most cases, Delta 8 THC is derived from hemp so it is federally legal.
However, states can come up with their own laws, and while some have legalized hemp products, others haven’t.
Meanwhile, Delta 9 is illegal at the federal level once the THC content is above 0.3 percent. However, some states have passed laws that allow hemp-derived products to be sold regardless of the amount of Delta 9 THC they contain. If you are considering Delta 8 vs Delta 9 THC products, you should check your state’s laws to see what is and isn’t allowed.
