There has been a lot of noise and press in the cannabis industry of late, most of it relating to ‘Delta 8’. What is Delta 8, and what is the controversy surrounding it? To understand this properly we need to look at cannabis itself, and the properties it contains. Let’s start by talking about what can be extracted from cannabis, as Delta 8 is one of these compounds.
What is the Fuss About Delta 8?
Cannabis is a plant that is grown in various strains, each of which have different components. For example, the standard cannabis sativa – which is what we usually know as weed – contains high levels of a substance known as THC. Another strain – the hemp plant – contains lower levels of THC. Why is this important, and how does it relate to Delta 8?
THC – tetrahydrocannabinol – is just one of 100 or more compounds in the cannabis plant that can be extracted by various methods. Another is cannabidiol or CBD. For CBD products to be legally sold in the USA they must contain less than 0.3% THC. This is because THC is the compound that produces the ‘high’ we enjoy when smoking cannabis. CBD products are produced using the hemp strain for this reason.
Now, this is where it gets complicated as there is more than one THC compound in hemp. Delta 8 is one, and Delta 9 another, and that’s where the problems start.
Why Is Delta 8 Notable?
It’s interesting that in a recent interview the staff from Vape4Ever said, more and more customers have purchased 510 thread batteries and vaporizers that can be used for Delta 8 on their website. As Vape4Ever is one of the established online retailers they are well placed to notice changes in the market.
To explain: when we talked about THC before we were referring to the Delta 9 variant, which is that we know from smoking a joint or vaping cannabis. However, the recognition of Delta 8 – which produces a high that is milder than its cousin – has unearthed a loophole in the law. The reason is that Delta 8 is found in the hemp plant. Yet, the THC that is regulated to 0.3% is specifically Delta 9. Therefore, products with higher levels of Delta 8 THC than the regulation amount can in fact be legally sold in many states as it is not specifically excluded.
This is why people are switching to CBD products with higher levels of Delta 8 for a more potent hit. What is the problem with this? Let’s talk about some of the concerns surrounding Delta 8 THC.
What are the Risks with Delta 8?
As we have pretty much given you Delta 8 explained in a nutshell above we have only limited space to talk about the controversies. The following is a brief summary of the concerns and we recommend you do further research before you choose which type to use for your enjoyment:
- There are concerns that Delta 8 products may contain impurities and high levels of THC which can be harmful.
- There is a lack of research into Delta 8 and its effect on health due to it being in a legal gray area.
- It is easy to confuse CBD products which do not cause a high with Delta 8 products which do.
- Quality control for Delta 8 products may be less stringent as it is not regulated by law.
We should finish by saying that if you want to try Delta 8 there have been no horror stories of serious side-effects but check the latest cannabis news as some states have already outlawed its use.