Delta 8, how is it made, and how new is it?
It's not new at all! You might wonder how hemp is made with all this Delta 8 stuff. Although Delta 8 is a naturally occurring substance in cannabis, its natural levels are much lower than those of Delta-9 THC, making it impossible to meet market demand. To satisfy market demand, chemists have developed a lab-produced, more economical method of producing Delta 8.
Manufacturers have discovered a saving grace in a procedure known as cannabinoid conversion since extracting Delta 8 from raw hemp is both expensive and time-consuming.
Cannabigerol acid, the "mother cannabinoid," is the source of all cannabinoids (CBGA). It is understood that some cannabinoids are more prevalent than others because, in nature, the acid organically transforms into particular cannabinoids, such as CBD or THC, depending primarily on environmental conditions and plant genetics. In a lab setting, scientists may control these environmental factors to ensure the conversion process of CBGA yields the desired molecule.
Even though both THC and CBD plants can make Delta-8, CBD is more convenient, less expensive, and more hygienic. It just takes four procedures for chemists to obtain Delta-8 from CBD:
1. Produce a CBD Isolate - The hemp extract must be filtered to remove other cannabinoids and volatile unsaturated hydrocarbons, bringing the concentration of CBD to at least 98%.
2. Add Acid and Solvent Mixture - Depending on the formula, this step may require varying temperatures, quantities, and stirring times.
3. Clean it all up - Filtering the solution is vitally necessary for its safety and purity because producing Delta 8 can also produce byproducts and residue from the chemicals used to make it.
4. Give it a try! - The product's quality is extensively checked in this stage, arguably the most important one, by isolating each component of the combination to ensure that it doesn't include any undesirable byproducts.
Although cannabinoid conversions are relatively simple since cannabinoids have remarkably similar molecular structures, this does not mean anyone can turn hemp into a magical substance. Despite being rather straightforward, the procedure calls for mixing several potentially harmful compounds. Even though highly skilled chemists and producers can transform CBD into Delta 8 with great care and caution, low-quality "at-home" kits are nevertheless available on the market. Inexperienced consumers run a significant risk by using these hazardous formulae since they run the chance of consuming poisonous acids and residue.
It is recommended and safest to source Delta 8 from reputable, research-driven manufacturers due to the relatively recent creation of lab-produced Delta 8.
Is Delta 8 Safe For The Environment?
While Delta 8 has been dubbed "Delta 9's younger, nicer sibling," a University of Buffalo research team polled more than 500 people from 38 states and discovered that 81% of respondents reported having trouble focusing and having skewed thinking after using Delta-8 - a side effect that is frequently connected to marijuana use. However, the same study also showed that 71% of participants reported very high levels of relaxation, 68% said they felt pleasure, 74% said they didn't feel anxious, and 81% said they didn't feel paranoid, all of which are also typical after consuming marijuana. Overall, respondents concluded that Delta 8 offered all the advantages of cannabis while having fewer adverse side effects.
Delta 8 is not without risks, though. The lack of strict regulation, which makes it impossible to ensure safety and purity, is its most significant risk. It is up to individual manufacturers to ensure product quality, and the FDA does not inspect these goods before they are distributed or sold.
Delta 8's addictive potential has not yet been fully explored because of its widespread use. Scientists conclude that Delta 8 probably has all the same dangers and effects as its counterpart because of how similar it is to cannabis.
Medically speaking, Delta 8 is just as safe to use as Delta 9, but due to its lack of control, there are more concerns about its purity. You're good to go as long as the maker values your safety and the source is reliable.
THC Content of Delta 8: How Much?
Less than 0.3% THC is currently present in legally available Delta 8 goods, significantly less than the 2.1–3.5% THC levels reported in Delta 9 products. This makes sense and explains the differences in potency between the two cannabinoids, but what does it say about dosage?
As was previously said, tolerance develops in various ways depending on usage frequency. While not quite as potent as Delta 9, Delta 8 is nowhere near as powerful as CBD. Delta 8, a happy midpoint, should be enjoyed fearlessly while keeping tolerance in mind.
The levels found in legally sold goods can range from 5 mg to 150 mg per serving, and today, cannabis and hemp-derived products are assessed in milligrams rather than THC percentages.
According to estimations, the appropriate dosages vary depending on tolerance for new, infrequent, and frequent users. However, remember that these are only estimates, and the right dosage can differ from person to person.
5–15 mg per serving for new users with low tolerance, 15–45 mg for occasional users with medium tolerance, and 45–150 mg for regular users with high tolerance.
Does Delta 8 Have a Legal Status?
This one is difficult.
All hemp-derived cannabinoids, including Delta 8, became legal to produce and sell under the 2018 Farm Bill, which was signed into law by President Trump late that year. The FDA does not regulate the distribution of Delta 8, a synthetically generated cannabinoid, even though hemp products are now strictly subject to its rules and standards due to its legalization.
Even though marijuana and Delta 9 have a genetic makeup, both are still prohibited under federal law. However, since hemp has been legalized, some claim that Delta 8 falls inside a legal exception, making it entirely legal.
But that's not accurate.
Tetrahydrocannabinol of synthetic origin remains a schedule 1 banned narcotic, published two years after the initial law, according to the DEA's interim final rule. It becomes unclear at this point. Despite the Farm Bill's broad legalization of everything derived from hemp, Delta 8 is still a federally controlled substance, even if it is made using CBD from hemp.
But where is the flaw? The last clause of the Farm Bill, Section 12619(b), however, drew a clear distinction between hemp and marijuana by eliminating cannabis derivatives with less than 0.3% THC from the classification of marijuana. Delta 8 does not officially fall under the Controlled Substances Act because it contains less than 0.3% THC despite being a synthetically manufactured tetrahydrocannabinol.
As numerous government agencies frequently do, the Farm Bill and the DEA's Interim Final Rule directly conflict. Even if an accidental "loophole" makes Delta 8 nationally legal, states can make it illegal inside their borders.
Delta 8 is outlawed in 13 states, legal in 32, regulated similarly to recreational marijuana in 2, and unknown in the remaining 13 states.
Is Delta 8 Available for Travel?
You shouldn't encounter any issues if you fly Delta 8 across state lines because it is federally legal, and the conflicting legal acts surrounding it exist in a gray area. The legality of Delta 8 in the particular states you're visiting and leaving from should still be considered.
The TSA screening procedure should also be taken into account. The TSA has banned all marijuana-related items, but they have no plans to seize any Delta 8 devices. After the Farm Bill was approved, the TSA started allowing items containing less than 0.3% THC, which are no longer regarded as banned substances by federal law.
It's generally better to avoid traveling with anything that even vaguely resembles marijuana paraphernalia because Delta 9 and Delta 8 items appear so similar. That is unless you want to spend a few hours waiting for airport security to chemically establish the THC level of your Delta 8 items.
Ultimately, you should always research airline policies before purchasing any Delta 8 products. In some cases, even cartridge batteries are prohibited from flying.
In essence, Delta 8 can be brought on a plane, but you should always verify ahead of time for any limitations set by states and airlines. Maybe leaving your vape home and enjoying some perfectly innocent gummies is the best way to avoid a fuss at TSA.
The Bottom Line
Overall, Delta 8 can be a terrific method to get mildly high without the intensity that other cannabinoids, like Delta 9, generate. Without making you feel like you're melting onto your sofa, Delta 8, a naturally occurring psychoactive, will undoubtedly get you where you want to be. Delta 8 can linger in your system for up to a month, even with its low THC levels, and it will show up on a drug test.
The most important thing to keep in mind in this situation is that Delta 8 is a cannabinoid that is quite comparable to its older brother, Delta 9, and you can virtually expect all the same effects at a lower intensity.
You are now prepared to experience the highs and anticipate the lows related to the substance after reading this tell-all guide on Delta 8.
REFERENCES
https://greenunicornfarms.com/blog/what-is-delta-8-thc/
https://cen.acs.org/biological-chemistry/natural-products/Delta-8-THC-craze-concerns/99/i31
https://norml.org/marijuana/fact-sheets/normls-guide-to-delta-8-and-other-novel-cannabinoids/
https://www.cannabistech.com/articles/how-delta-8-is-made-in-the-lab/