What is delta-8 THC?

Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8 THC) is a minor cannabinoid found in small quantities in the cannabis plant. It’s chemically similar to delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9 THC), but milder in its effects. 

Unlike delta-9, delta-8 THC is a federally legal substance. Because of that, it’s become popular in states where cannabis remains illegal. However, how it’s made makes it potentially more dangerous, so it’s important to know its risks as well as its benefits.

Delta-8 THC vs. delta-9 THC: What’s the difference?

Delta-8 THC is found in cannabis’s buds, along with delta-9 THC, cannabidiol (CBD), and many other compounds. It makes up less than 1% of the plant’s chemical composition.

Delta-8 is created when the cannabis plant ages and takes on more oxygen. When this happens, some of the plant’s delta-9 THC changes its chemical properties, becoming a new cannabinoid known as delta-8. 

Cannabinoids like delta-8 and delta-9 interact with your endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS contains a bodywide network of receptors that keep your body’s functions in balance, including:

• Mood
• Pain
• Alertness
• Inflammation 

Delta-8 and delta-9 work on similar receptors, so they share many of the same effects.

Some cannabinoid receptors are responsible for the ‘high’ you may feel after consuming cannabis. Delta-8 THC’s high is milder than delta-9’s, because delta-8 doesn’t attach as strongly to these receptors. Because of its milder nature, you may prefer it if you have a low THC tolerance.

Is delta-8 legal?  

Delta-8 THC derived from hemp became federally legal in 2018 with the passing of the Farm Bill. This bill legalized industrial hemp, a type of cannabis plant that contains too little delta-9 THC to be intoxicating. 

Marijuana is still a federally illegal substance, as is delta-9 THC derived from either plant.

Most delta-8 THC products you encounter are made from hemp rather than marijuana, which is why you can find delta-8 products outside of licensed dispensaries, and in states where adult-use marijuana is illegal.

However, a number of states have made hemp-derived delta-8 THC products illegal — including some states that have legalized adult-use marijuana, like Colorado. 

How is delta-8 THC made?

The process used for making commonly available delta-8 products is controversial. Because there’s only a trace amount of delta-8 THC in cannabis, most companies make a semi-synthetic form of delta-8 using a method called isomerization. 

Isomerization involves rearranging a compound’s chemical structure to convert it into another compound. In this case, delta-8 THC is made out of cannabidiol (CBD), a cannabinoid found in much higher concentrations in hemp.

Isomerization may involve the use of potentially dangerous chemicals, which could end up in delta-8 products sold to consumers.

Unlike producers of marijuana products sold in licensed dispensaries, hemp producers don’t have to adhere to strict safety standards. This can lead to unsafe delta-8 products on the market.

Delta-8 health benefits and uses

Natural delta-8 THC in hemp may offer many of the same benefits as delta-9 THC. But it’s unknown if this applies to the more commonly available semi-synthesized form of delta-8.

Benefits of delta-8 THC may include:

• Pain relief
• Anxiety relief
• Appetite enhancement
• Nausea relief

Delta-8 side effects and risks

Delta-8 can produce a milder high than delta-9, so it may also produce milder side effects. You might consider delta-8 if you’re sensitive to certain side effects from delta-9.

In general, delta-8 THC’s side effects can be similar but milder to delta-9’s, and include:

• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Fatigue
• Red eyes
• Tremors

Because most delta-8 THC on the market is semi-synthesized, there may be other side effects related to the chemicals used to produce it. More studies are needed to fully understand delta-8’s safety.

How to use delta-8 THC

Delta-8 products sold outside of licensed dispensaries are made without strict quality and safety standards, so it’s best to avoid them.

That said, delta-8 comes in the same forms as other cannabis products, including:

• Edibles
• Flower (hemp flower buds infused with delta-8 extract)
• Topicals
• Tinctures
• Vapes

How to dose delta-8 

To determine the best dose for you, consider your THC tolerance, and use the “start low and go slow” approach. That means opting for the lowest dose and increasing it as tolerated.

For more personal dosing guidance, speak with your doctor.

The bottom line: Delta-8 THC sold outside of dispensaries may not be safe 

Delta-8 THC found in cannabis may be safe, but most delta-8 THC products on the market are made with a semi-synthesized form of the cannabinoid that may or may not be harmful. Ultimately, it’s best to avoid these products altogether. 

For a safer alternative, consider medical cannabis sold in dispensaries. Leafwell’s telehealth doctors are ready to guide you step-by-step through the process of getting a medical cannabis card.

Resources

• 5 things to know about delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol – delta-8 THC. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/5-things-know-about-delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol-delta-8-thc
• Cannabinoids in the management of difficult to treat pain. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2503660/
• Consumer experiences with delta-8-thc: Medical use, pharmaceutical substitution, and comparisons with delta-9-thc. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34797727/
• Delta-8, a cannabis-derived tetrahydrocannabinol isomer: Evaluating case report data in the food and drug administration adverse event reporting system (FAERS) database. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9894081/
• Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-drug/def/delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol
• H.R.5485 — 115th Congress (2017-2018). https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5485
• Role of cannabis in digestive disorders. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27792038/
• Self-reported adverse events associated with ∆8–Tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-8-THC) Use: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10204335/

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