Consumers are Curious: Is Delta 8 as Good as Marijuana?
In 2017, West Virginia lawmakers recognized medical marijuana as a legitimate treatment for a wide variety of physical and mental conditions, but the path to legalization has been long. As a result, savvy entrepreneurs have thought of other ways to bring cannabis to people in need. One of these is the introduction of products made with delta 8 THC.
One of the main issues with delta 8 THC, is that there are currently no regulations surrounding its production. Similar to the situation with CBD, you have no real way of knowing or confirming exactly what you are getting in most products.
When you have a marijuana card, you can shop at West Virginia dispensaries, where all products are highly regulated and monitored for purity, quality, and labeling accuracy.
West Virginia Marijuana Card can help you through every step of the process of qualifying for your official medical marijuana card in West Virginia.
Meanwhile, we’re also a top source of information on the state’s latest cannabis news, including the rising popularity of the controversial cannabinoid delta 8 THC. Read on to learn 8 facts about delta 8.
Delta 8 THC can get you “high.”
Usually, the term THC refers to the cannabinoid delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol. While delta 9 THC is infamous for creating a psychoactive “high,” it can also provide relief from a variety of serious medical conditions, and more in-depth research continues to produce promising results.
Meanwhile, delta 8 THC differs from delta 9 THC only in the placement of a single double bond. Whether or not delta 8 has medical value remains uncertain; however, it definitely produces a high comparable to that of delta 9 THC.
Delta 8 THC may not be milder than delta 9 THC.
Cannabis enthusiasts theorize that the delta 8 THC high is somewhat milder than the delta 9 THC high. However, it’s possible to increase the impact of delta 8 THC by consuming higher quantities of the cannabinoid. Likewise, it’s possible that individual people may be more or less sensitive to one form of THC than the other.
If you’re going to try delta 8 THC, it’s important to start with a low dose and gradually increase it based on the effects.
Consuming high quantities of delta 8 THC is associated with panic attacks and hospitalizations. Adults should use it with caution and be sure to keep it carefully stored away from children’s reach.
Delta 8 THC is currently illegal in some states, including Colorado.
People seeking a classic delta 9 THC “high” can get closer with delta 8 THC than with anything else.
This may come as a relief for people who live in states that have not yet legalized medical or recreational cannabis. However, the odd truth is that some states with notable medical and recreational marijuana programs have outlawed products that feature concentrated delta 8 THC.
These states include:
Colorado
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Delaware
Idaho
Iowa
Mississippi
Montana
Rhode Island
Utah
Even though West Virginia has no current laws limiting the use of delta 8 THC, it’s possible that this will change in the future.
Delta 8 THC naturally occurs in very low quantities.
Even though delta 8 THC is naturally present within all cannabis varieties, the quantities of this particular cannabinoid are very low.
As a result, it’s considerably more difficult to extract delta 8 THC than the more plentifully occurring cannabinoids delta 9 THC and CBD.
Most delta 8 THC is synthesized from hemp-derived CBD.
Since extracting enough delta 8 THC to create popular tinctures, edibles, and vape cartridges is both difficult and wasteful, this cannabinoid is usually synthesized from other cannabinoids within a laboratory environment.
The most popular cannabinoid used for synthesizing delta 8 THC is CBD. Not only is this process relatively simple, it’s a legal work-around in many states due to the Farm Bill of 2018.
The Farm Bill officially defined hemp as cannabis that contains less than 0.3 percent delta 9 THC. It also made hemp and hemp-derived products legal throughout the USA. This led to the rising popularity of hemp-derived CBD. Since most delta 8 THC manufacturers synthesize the cannabinoid from legally hemp-derived CBD, they argue that delta 8 THC should be legal as well.
The legal status of delta 8 THC will remain unclear at the federal level until October 2021.
The Farm Bill offers a loophole through which delta 8 THC production can thrive. However, the Interim Final Rule (IFR) has the potential to reverse whatever level of federal protection the Farm Bill offers.
Developed by the DEA in August 2020, the IFR states that all synthetically derived forms of THC will remain schedule 1 substances. Since most delta 8 THC is synthesized from other cannabinoids, it will likely be outlawed by the IFR.
Since August, the IFR has existed in a provisional state and is open for review until October 2021. At this point, it is likely that a delta 8 “crackdown” will ensue.
Afterward, delta 8 THC would need to be legalized or decriminalized at the state, city, or county level just like cannabis containing greater than 0.3 percent delta 9 THC.
Delta 8 THC will show up on a drug screen.
Even though employer-mandated drug tests are becoming a thing of the past, they haven’t vanished entirely. And, as far as these tests are concerned, THC is THC.
Since drug tests will not differentiate delta 8 THC from delta 9 THC, it’s ill-advised to use delta 8 prior to seeking new employment or as an alternative to delta 9 for the purpose of passing upcoming drug screens.
The most popular forms of delta 8 THC are vape cartridges and gummies.
Trace amounts of delta 8 THC are present in all full spectrum, whole plant preparations of cannabis and hemp. However, synthesized delta 8 THC is what fills the vast majority of products that contain isolated delta 8 THC.
In this case, vape cartridges and gummies are some of the most popular delta 8 products available within today’s market.
When dosing delta 8 products, be sure to follow the best practice of starting with less and adding more. When it comes to vaping, the onset of delta 8’s effects is about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, delta 8 edibles may take up to two hours to take effect.
The Take-Away
As with all hemp and cannabis products, knowing exactly what you’re consuming is key to having a safe, positive experience. While checking lab reports of delta 8 THC products is a best practice, sticking with well-regulated products from legal medical marijuana and recreational marijuana programs is even better.
West Virginia’s long-awaited medical marijuana program is set to take full effect this year, and West Virginia Marijuana Card will guide you through every step of obtaining an official West Virginia medical marijuana card and receiving ongoing guidance about using cannabis to enhance your health.
Give the team a call at 877-303-8424, or visit our website, to schedule an appointment about qualifying for a West Virginia medical marijuana card today.
Doctors Who Care. Relief You Can Trust.
Helping everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
If you have any questions, call us at 877-303-8424, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
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