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The Ultimate Guide to Delta 8 THC

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Originally Posted On: https://airehemp.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-delta-8-thc/

 

Delta 8 THC has completely blown away the cannabis market within the past year as an alternative to the well-known THC, Delta 9. The ladder is the most common form of THC, and is what people think of when they hear the word ‘marijuana.’

But what even is Delta 8? Is it still ‘weed?’ Does it get you high?

Is it even legal?

So many questions are circulating around this newly-crazed substance. While research is low around it, we do have a bit of information on the substance.

Keep reading to learn more about Delta 8 THC.

What Is Delta 8 THC?

Delta-8 is a psychoactive compound in cannabis plants such as marijuana. This compound falls under the category of psychoactive substances called cannabinoids.

If you’re wondering how these cannabinoids function, then you’ve come to the right place. Basically, there’s this one peculiar network of biological receptors and neurotransmitters located throughout your brain known as the endocannabinoid system(ECS). This system has receptors all throughout the body, including your nervous system, glands, and more.

This system promotes homeostasis by affecting almost all physiological aspects of your body such as appetite, sleep, thirst, and mood. You can thank your body’s ECS for keeping everything in your body from falling into complete chaos.

There are three main parts to the ECS: enzymes, receptors, and endocannabinoids. Your body naturally produces endocannabinoids. An example of one would be anandamide, aka the ‘bliss molecule.’

Some food for thought: endocannabinoids are the cannabinoids that our body produces naturally (hence the prefix ‘endo’ which means inside). Any cannabinoids that come from outside of the mammalian body are  exogenous cannabinoids. Let’s take a look at how everything binds together.

How It All Happens: What Binds Where?

For the sake of saving ourselves from the mouthful of a word that is endocannabinoids, we’ll refer to both endocannabinoids and exogenous cannabinoids as just cannabinoids.

Think of the receptors within your body’s ECS as locks. These locks won’t produce any effects or ‘open any doors’ to anything unless the exact key is inserted in their crevice. That’s where cannabinoids come in. Cannabinoids fit perfectly into receptors.

Once this happens, chemicals get released. Imagine a door opening up inside of your brain that releases all these chemicals once the door is unlocked.

Some cannabinoids such as anandamide are produced naturally. A great example of this is when an athlete is running a marathon. Ever heard of runner’s high?

That’s the ECS rewarding your brain via the usage of cannabinoids. Once these molecules fit into the receptors, your brain releases feelings of pleasure. Some of these feelings even extend to reduce inflammation, pain and increase creativity.

As for the enzymes, these molecules are known within the biology world as ‘helper molecules.’ Their specific function is different depending on which system they’re housed in. For your ECS, their function is to recycle any leftover or unused endocannabinoids.

Fun fact! Cannabidiol, or CBD, does not actually fit like a key to the ECS’ lock. They actually bind to a different location on your receptors, which is why CBD doesn’t produce a high after consumption.

Now that we mentioned that, let’s take a look at whether or not Delta 8 THC gets you high.

Does It Get You High?

The short answer is: yes. Delta 8 THC gets you high the same way traditional THC (delta 9) does

However, Delta 8 produces a milder high compared to its counterpart, Delta 9. This is mainly due to the slightly different chemical structure that the two compounds have. Without getting too technical, the two cannabinoids have differing double carbon placements.

That’s all you really need to know unless you’re super engrossed with science. With that being said, they bind to the exact same receptors in your body and pretty much do the exact same thing.

However, because of the difference in their chemical structure, the way that they bond with your ECS receptors differs when talking about strength. Delta 9 has a much stronger bond with the ECS receptors in your body, so naturally, you’d feel a much stronger high.

Delta 8 on the other hand, has a weaker bond with the receptors in your ECS. This has been shown to produce a more mellow high when inhaled or consumed compared to Delta 9. Some people who have actively experimented with both substances go as far as to say that Delta 8 is “half as strong” as Delta 9.

Whether or not this is scientifically true, is uncertain. In fact, so many things about Delta 8 are uncertain right now because of how ‘new’ the substance is. There’s not much research, but it’s a fresh market that’s booming very quickly.

How “High” Does It Make You?

This question obviously differs from person to person because of issues with tolerance. The more you consume a substance, your body might develop a tolerance against the substance. There are also biological and genetic factors that arise when discussing tolerance.

With that aside, we can discuss the overall effects of Delta 8 from a neutral perspective. Given the amount of research done on the substance, it’s difficult to determine the potency of Delta 8 at this point in time.

But from what we know, it does seem to be ‘weaker than Delta 9 and Delta 10 THC. Don’t mistake it for being weak though, as it will still give most people a high. This is especially true if the substance is consumed in high dosages, such as those found in edibles.

When you buy Delta 8, you might be advised to start off with a smaller dose to see how it will affect you. Many people have reported taking larger doses of Delta 8 because of its low strength compared to Delta 9. In the end, we recommend you experiment with dosages specific to you and your body type.

One thing about Delta 8 that’s really interesting is that it’s been reported to produce less paranoia than Delta 9. Users of Delta 8 claim they still feel the high from the THC, but without the extreme amounts of paranoia and worry felt from Delta 9.

Understandably, many people are looking to try the substance now that it’s been reported to have smaller psychoactive effects.

Is It Even Legal?

One of the biggest concerns about Delta 8 is whether or not the substance is legal. This is understandable because of how strict laws are in the U.S. regarding marijuana, and pretty much any hemp-related product on that note.

To much surprise, Delta 8 is actually legal in a large portion of the United States territory. This is because of what we discussed earlier, in that Delta 8 has lower psychoactive effects than traditional THC.

Some states that either banned or previously criminalized marijuana have allowed selling and recreational usage of Delta 8, such as Texas.

The legality of it all really depends on where you’re located, though. You’d be surprised where the substance is still not available for purchase or consumption.

Some states that completely allow the use of Delta 9 (both recreationally and medically), such as New York and Colorado, banned Delta 8. Most of the reasons for these bans is that Delta 8 is more often than not, a synthetic drug.

Some companies and farmers do choose to grow their plants and harvest Delta 8 organically, which is allowed in some states. However, a very common practice is synthetically making Delta 8 through particular extraction methods.

This is where many states get fuzzy about the legalization since Delta 8 would no longer be a natural drug if it’s synthetically produced.

As of now, 17 states ban or restrict Delta 8, with a few more considering heavier restrictions on the substance.

Ultimately, we highly recommend that you check with your state’s laws regarding THC and Delta 8 before purchasing any products.

If you’re concerned about what’s in your Delta 8, be sure to buy from a seller that provides lab tests results for their products.

Pricing Differences Between Delta-8 and Delta-9

Because of how ‘new’ the substance is, Delta 8 is a little bit more on the pricey end compared to Delta 9. Combine that with the fact that different companies source their products from different areas, and you get a product that’s produced in small quantities and in different methods.

Naturally, the price would then go up for Delta 8. The prices mostly go up when farmers use organic extraction and growing methods to get the best Delta 8 possible.

Some hemp flowers are grown specifically for Delta 8 extraction. Most cannabis plants really only contain less than 3% of Delta 8, so that’s why some hemp flowers are grown just for Delta 8.

In the current market, Delta 8 is a little bit more pricey than CBD, which is already more expensive than THC. The price you get Delta 8 for greatly varies on the extraction method, and who you’re getting from. Remember to always weigh different prices before making your purchase!

Does It Show Up On Drug Tests?

Yes. Delta 8 shows up on common drug tests. This is because it binds to your body’s ECS receptors the same exact way that Delta 9 does.

One common misbelief that people hold is that drug tests search for specific signs of THC in your body. While this might be true for other substances, common drug tests (such as urinalysis – the only federally approved drug testing method) look specifically for byproducts made from THC.

Since Delta 8 and Delta 9 are so insanely similar, Delta 8 will show up on drug tests. However, just with any other drug, it depends on how frequently the person consumes it.

People who only take the substance very seldomly or tried it once might be able to remove the substance from their system within a few days. Others who use it a few times a month will take around two weeks. Consistent users might not be able to rid their systems of the substance for a few months.

Whether or not you’ll be punished for Delta-8, is a different question. Even though some states allow the Delta 8 for recreational usage, your employer might not be okay with it. This is mainly because they don’t want you coming to work high and risking your job.

Always check with your employee’s policy around drug usage. Be sure to also educate yourself on the rights you have as an employee. Most employers need to give you at least some notice of a drug test beforehand, so you can use that time to sober up.

Best Ways to Take Delta-8

This one is all up to personal preferences! The good thing is, Delta 8 comes in so many shapes and sizes, that you’re free to experiment and see which one works best for you.

As with traditional THC, the psychoactive effects of the substance start kicking in at different times depending on how you take it in. Smoking, vaping, or hitting dabs will produce effects at a much faster pace. The effects will also wear off much quicker too.

When you take edibles, the effects might take anywhere from 1-3 hours to kick in. Peak highs generally occur around the 2-5 hour mark when consumed in high amounts.

Keep in mind that it might even take an extended period of time for the high to wear off. Highs from edibles can last anywhere from 3-12 hours. Some highs may even carry on overnight, and cause a weed hangover.

Getting The Right Stuff

We hope you know more about Delta 8 THC after reading about it. While research is still scarce, we’re learning more and more each day as new studies are getting conducted.

From what we know now, Delta 8 is a safe and excellent substance to try out if you’re looking for a way to relax and unwind.

At AireHemp, we sell only the finest Delta 8 that we can get our hands on. All of our products are derived from organically grown hemp, 100% vegan, GMP compliant, and COA lab tested. We have a huge selection of Delta 8 products, which extends into our CBD shop as well.

We invite you to take a look at our products list. If you’re curious about learning more about Delta 8 or have any other questions, please visit our contact page.

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