With more and more research being carried out on cannabis and its related compounds, new trace cannabinoids are being isolated and studies. One that had found a market in the United States is Delta-8 THC. Delta-8 research is growing and more and more anecdotal evidence is being collected about its possible health benefits. While it caught on as a cheaper, legal version of THC, its reported less intense psychotropic effects have brought Delta-8’s potential benefits to the forefront. Users report fewer psychotropic side-effects, such as anxiety or paranoia, from Delta-8 as compared to Delta-9 THC, which is the psychotropic compound most prevalent in natural cannabis. Since everyone is different, the exact effect of Delta-8 THC may vary from person to person. Let's take a quick look at what and what are the health benefits associated to it.
What is Delta 8 THC?
Delta-8 THC is a naturally occurring chemical variant of the popular Delta 9 THC or tetrahydrocannabinol. The difference between the two molecules is a single covalent bond. While Delta-8 can still product psychotropic effects, it has been reported to require a much higher dose than that of Delta-9 to produce a “high” while still providing certain other desirables effects.
Why the negative press?
This is the key question! 3BC has worked with medical researchers at the University of Connecticut on pre-clinical trials and found that even at incredibly high doses, Delta-8 was not fatal. Compare this to alcohol, or any of the DEA’s Schedule 1 drugs, which can be fatal, and Delta-8’s potential toxicity is further put into context.
The issue that many states are grappling with is complex. According to Popular Science, the issue with Delta-8 isn’t that it is more inherently dangerous than other active ingredients in cannabis, but that the manufacturing of Delta-8 is not regulated. This lack of oversight leads to a market flooded with products that aren’t accurately labelled or tested or manufactured safely. There are samples for sale that visibly have iodine in them!
Takeaway
Consumers interested in Delta-8 products should approach products as they would any medication. Research the company, look for testing results, and check for manufacturing processes. For instance, my company, 3BC, uses no solvents (iodine, pentane, hexane, ethanol, etc.) and utilizes internal and external testing procedures.
My experience with Delta-8 is that I appreciate that I can get better sleep or pain remediation with little to no psychotropic effects, keeping Delta-8 in my quiver of health tools.