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Hemp has been grown naturally for thousands of years. It’s full of chemical components–some of which are known as cannabinoids–that bond with different receptors in our body, creating a spectrum of various effects. THC or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol is by far the most well-known of these cannabinoids, but certainly isn’t the only powerful chemical compound native to the hemp plant. Delta 8-THC, one of the four most common cannabinoids, with key differences from the more popular Delta 9.
There are more than 100 cannabinoids present in the hemp plant. While we have some foundational knowledge about the primary cannabinoids, delta-9-THC and cannabidiol (CBD), we know less about the secondary, or minor, cannabinoids.
D8-THC in delta 8 carts and other d8 products is a minor cannabinoid, occurring in the plant in very small concentrations. Delta-8-THC is also known to be a degraded form of THC, and is not directly produced by cannabinoid-synthesizing enzymes within the plant. When THC is stored for a period of time, it degrades into D8-THC. Commercial growers and extractors use selective breeding and molecular isolation to access greater quantities of delta-8-THC.
Is Delta 8 THC Legal?
Delta 8 THC was made legal by H.R. 2: The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, commonly referred to as the 2018 Farm Bill. It was specifically made legal when hemp allowed for all derivatives, isomers, and cannabinoids of hemp that were not Delta 9 THC.
Up to that point, D8 THC had been illegal and was specifically named in the Controlled Substances Act. However, in addition to making all hemp cannabinoids, isomers, and derivatives legal, H.R. 2 specifically includes text to remove all confusion between laws by amending the Controlled Substances Act to exclude Delta 8 THC from hemp.
Where does D8-THC Come From?
D8 exists naturally in cannabis (hemp & marijuana), but in such small quantities that it cannot be extracted and put into products at prices many people can afford. Luckily, one of the great things about cannabinoids is how closely many of them are structurally.
These structural similarities allow cannabinoids to be changed from one to another fairly simply via chemical reactions. While many people want to call these cannabinoids “synthetics” that’s not an appropriate name for them. “Conversions” or “derivatives” is the more appropriate name, as not only do these compounds exist naturally, but many of these cannabinoids will change into each other naturally with the application of heat, time, and light. In fact, all cannabinoids start as CBGA and naturally synthesize into other cannabinoids during the maturation of the cannabis plant. And a conversion of THCA to Delta 9 THC with the application of heat is a conversion performed at home by anyone who smokes marijuana.
Are Delta 8 THC Carts Safe?
This is an open question that really depends on the manufacturer or retailer you’re buying from. Most of the more popular retailers have good quality delta 8 carts and gummies and have a reputation to uphold when it comes to their products and avoiding additives.
It’s good to be on the look out for carts that are too dark colored, though. Most carts darken a little bit when exposed to heat from your vape battery, but if you receive a cart that’s dark from the get-go. It’s probably a good idea that it’s not a “clean” cartridge and. The most popular colors that D8-THC comes from are clear, light pink, and a light golden color. The color doesn’t indicate how strong it is and only comes from the different methods used to extract the D8 from cannabis.
Also, the more reputable vendors always have COA’s (Certificates of Analysis) on their site of their current D8 batch to ensure transparency and that their latest products are unadulterated and safe.
Are Delta 8 Carts Good?
Like the prevous answer, this really depends on the shop you’re buying it from, and also the effects you yourself feel from delta 8 in general. Everyone’s body is different.
If you buy a delta 8 cart and you don’t feel anything from it, but you know that delta 8 affects you from previous experiences with the cannabinoid, then you most likely bought a cartridge that has been mixed too much with either terpenes or other diluting agents such as Propyl Glycol, Vegetable Glycerin, or MCT (Medium-Chain Triglyceride, which is basically coconute oil). If you suspect a cart has been mixed with anything other than terpenes than the D8 in that cart shouldn’t be consumed.
What’s the difference between D8 and CBD?
Delta 8 is new and has major differences in it’s chemical structure than CBD. CBD has also been studied much longer than delta 8 as D8-THC is a fairly new compound that has just been recently hit the cannabis market.
CBD is known for it’s benefits when it’s consumed, but that doesn’t mean Delta 8 doesn’t have benefits to it as well, especially when combined with other cannabinoids like CBD. D8-THC is known for it’s less potent and less severe psychoactive side effects than Delta 9, and can also be combined with CBD.
Are Delta 8 Carts Pure?
Most Delta 8 Carts that are sold online are usually mixed with terpenes. Terpenes provide a way to dilute the cart as needed to actually be practical for vaping, as Delta 8 itself is very thick on it’s own in a cartridge. The added benefit of terpenes is to increase the “entourage effect” that is provided when mixing cannabinoids with different types of terpenes and gives it that distinct aroma we all know and love.
There are over 100 terpenes in the cannabis plant, and many of these have different effects on the mood and contain many unique and beneficial properties.