In this article, we are going to address the latest exciting trend in the world of legal Cannabis. We are talking, of course, about Delta 8 Hydrocannabinol. In case you don’t know what this is, it’s a different form of THC. THC (better known as Delta-9 Hydrocannabinol is the main active ingredient of the Cannabis plant. It produces the euphoric high that is often associated with this plant, and it is also responsible for some of the medicinal benefits as well.

Delta-8 is very, very similar to Delta-9 in terms of effects, except for one thing…It is still perfectly legal. For those living in states where Cannabis is completely illegal, this stuff presents an especially exciting prospect. Let’s look a little more into this subject and try to determine where this trend may go in the future.

How Much Delta-8 Does Cannabis Actually Contain?

According to mr hemp flower, the amount of Delta-8 in most strains of Cannabis is very low. In fact, most sources seem to indicate that it’s less than 1% in most cases. Because of this, it is usually classified as a “minor Cannabinoid.” This same problem exists with CBG (Cannabigerol), but there is one important difference.

There are quite a few CBG-dominant strains that have been created in the last few years. This allows extracts to be created with less plant material and increases the effectiveness of each dose. We believe that the same thing is bound to happen with Delta-8. Once they develop strains that contain more of this compound, it will probably become a lot more commercially viable.

Advantages Of Delta-8 Over Delta-9

Delta-8 has a more subtle effect that some users will find preferable. It is less likely to impair your basic motor functions (as THC has sometimes been known to do). That makes it far less likely that Delta-8 will cause car accidents or other mishaps. At the same time, most people also seem to agree that Delta-8 produces less anxiety than its psychedelic cousin.

As much as many people enjoy the “high” of Marijuana, it is sometimes accompanied by paranoia and anxiety. Taking the Delta-9 THC out of the picture will remove most of that problem, but that means they have also removed some of the medicinal benefits. For instance, the anti-nausea properties of Cannabis have allowed it to be widely used as an antiemetic (anti-vomiting drug). Without THC of some kind, this property is greatly dulled. Delta-8 offers a way to have the best of both worlds.

According to a Delta-8 THC shop, of course, there are a few disadvantages to Delta-8, most of which are economic in nature. As we already mentioned, it takes a lot of plant material to obtain even a small amount of Delta-8, and that’s why extracts like these tend to be more expensive. Some people might think that its’ high price is the result of greedy people trying to exploit a new trend, but it’s actually a lot simpler than that.

It is also true that Delta-8 requires a larger dose than Delta-9 in order to be effective. That also makes the price go up when combined with the processing costs. The bottom line is that Delta-8 is not economically viable yet. It is very much an “experiment” that the Hemp industry is trying.

Will Delta-8 Become Illegal?

Because this stuff is so similar to a banned narcotic, there is always the chance that overzealous lawmakers will step in and declare Delta-8 THC to be illegal. At present, this substance has not been specifically made legal. It would be more accurate to state that the law says nothing on this matter. Some would say that the lawmakers simply forgot to make it illegal because they didn’t know anything about its existence. It’s equally possible that its status as a “minor Cannabinoid” protected it from scrutiny.

Whatever the case, this is an instance in which the government could potentially step in and issue a ban. We can already see instances in which the DEA attempted to issue bans on this substance. However, those bans are being challenged in court and are unlikely to stand.

In order for Delta-8 THC to be made illegal, they would almost certainly have to overturn (or change) the 2018 farm bill. This law makes it legal to cultivate, use, and distribute Cannabis…as long as it does not contain more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC. As far as we know, this is the only qualifier. Thus, the law would make it very hard to ban Delta-8, which is not mentioned anywhere in the bill.

Conclusion

Though it is somewhat unlikely for Delta-8 to overtake the massive market share CBD has carved out for itself in the past decade, Delta-8 is a unique choice product for users seeking an alternative THC-rich product. Its high cost, combined with the fact that it exists in a regulatory gray area, will keep many businesses from investing in these products. Further, the high cost will also be prohibitive for many potential customers.

Then, we come to the real heart of the issue: This is just an analog for normal THC. With Cannabis legalization coming to so many states, it is likely that Delta-8 will never be more than a bridge between the legal and the barely-legal. Of course, we could be wrong, but that’s why you should stay informed. To that end, we hope you will feel free to come back and visit us again.