What is Delta 8 THC?

A Different Kind of THC

Everyone knows about Delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the stuff that gets you high when smoking cannabis. But now there is another THC that has become very popular over the past year called Delta 8 THC.

What is Delta 8 THC?

Like delta 9 THC, delta 8 (D8 or Δ8) is one of over 100 different cannabinoids that can be found in cannabis plants and hemp plants. Delta 8 THC is an analog of delta 9 THC, which means that it shares a similar molecular structure.

It also has similar effects and therapeutic properties, binding itself to the CB1 cannabinoid receptors found in your central nervous system.

Because of this, D8 happens to produces some of the same psychoactive effects that cannabis does, only less potent.

How is Delta 8 THC Different from Delta 9 THC?

Delta 8 THC is often referred to as simply “delta 8” or even “delta 8 weed” to help differentiate it from the more commonly known form of THC (delta 9). And it’s important that the differentiation is made because these compounds, although similar, do differ hugely in two areas; potency and legality.

Potency

The effects of both of these forms of THC are fairly similar, but delta 8 is nowhere near as potent as its highly intoxicating sister cannabinoid. You can read more about how delta 8 makes you feel below and how the delta 8 vs delta 9 high is different.

Legality

Unlike delta 9, you can buy delta 8 THC online and you may also find it for sale in your local head shop or even gas stations. However, the legality surrounding delta 8 THC is somewhat murky, to say the least, and depends on whether you’re looking at it from a state or federal level. Here in Texas, a bill set to make D8 illegal was struck down at the very last minute, allowing it to remain legal.

Thanks to the 2018 Hemp Farming Act, Delta 8 is technically legal at the federal level, as long as it’s been extracted from hemp and not cannabis. This Act explicitly excludes any tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) found in hemp from Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act.

However, 11 states have banned it outright by declaring that all forms of THC are considered schedule 1 substances. These 11 states include Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, Rhode Island, and Utah (updated April 2021).

However, despite the somewhat hazy legality and lower potency, the demand for delta-8 products is exploding, especially in states where cannabis products remain illegal.

Does delta 8 THC make you feel high?

At the end of the day, D8 is a form of THC and it can make you feel high.

But if you’re wondering if delta 8 is going to make YOU feel high, then the answer will ultimately depend upon how much of it you’re going to take, as well as your current tolerance level to delta 9 THC.

Some people actually prefer delta 8 over delta 9 because of its milder and smoother high while others (often big marijuana consumers) claim that D8 has no effect on them at all.

Delta 8 THC is pretty much 50% as potent as delta 9 THC. This means that you would need to consume twice as much D8 as you would D9 to experience the same high.

So does delta 8 THC get you high? Yes, it can give you a very real and intoxicating high so you should never operate heavy machinery or drive while on D8. However, the actual potency of the high will vary from person to person depending on their previous THC experience.

So what does delta 8 feel like?

If you smoke or take THC (delta 9) with some regularity, then delta 8 isn’t going to make you feel as high as you’re used to. Regular cannabis users report feeling a slight head buzz after vaping it or eating D8 edibles, but there is a general consensus that it doesn’t really hit the spot. They would, however, buy delta 8 if they couldn’t get hold of any delta 9 THC. Matched gram for gram, you’ll be lucky to feel half as high as usual.

However, for new and infrequent users, well, that’s a different story. With zero tolerance to THC and unfamiliar with the euphoria and buzz that comes with it, these users report feeling much higher after taking D8.

Reports are that people feel “buzzed”, uplifted, and relaxed with some pain relief. They were more chatty and animated than usual, and sometimes experienced an increase in appetite. You are not likely to experience fits of giggles or being overcome with paranoia or anxiety, so there does seem to be a distinct difference between the delta 8 and delta 9 high, with delta 8 offering a milder and more manageable psychotropic effects.

Side-effects of D8 THC

Apart from having giving a mellow high, D8 products have some side-effects in common with marijuana. You may find that you experience a pretty significant dry-mouth and red eyes. Like with any new substance, we recommend that you start low and increase your dose to get a feeling for how your body reacts with the compound. You are also advised to start with gummies and tinctures because vape carts and flower hit hard and fast and have known issues with testing “hot” (over .3% D9 THC).

D8 Options

Here at Radix Remedies, you can find a variety of D8 products. Those products include D8 gummies, D8 disposable vape, and D8 sprayed flower & pre rolls. The sprayed flower is our normal flower, but it has been sprayed with D8 to give you more of the high feeling when smoking as opposed to the feeling of smoking the flower.