Cannabis is a flower that grows naturally in the wild for several thousand years. Cannabis contains chemicals called cannabinoids that connect with the receptors throughout the body. They can elicit a wide range of physical and mental effects. THC or delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol is the most popular and common cannabinoid.

However, it isn’t the only cannabinoid. Its cousin, the Delta-8 THC tetrahydrocannabinol, has also become a favorite among people who want to experience immediate relaxation without the psychoactive effects. One difference is clear— Delta 8 THC doesn’t offer you a high, whereas Delta 9 THC does.

In the Showdown between These Two Relatives, Who’s the Winner?

Delta-9 THC is the primary drug found in cannabis plants and gets you high. It works as a potent medicine with the ability to increase appetite and reduce nausea. Although Delta-9 THC is a mild drug with few side effects, it has its downsides. It can cause anxiety and paranoia and trigger headaches and dizziness.

Times are changing, though. Most cannabis users are distancing themselves away from Delta-9 THC in favor of its cousin Delta-8 THC. Although both are effective and quick in providing you with fast relief from stress and pain, Delta-8 THC is less potent.
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Delta-8 THC— the Smoother Hemp
Delta-8 THC users will tell you that Delta-8 THC provides them with a smooth and less psychoactive and anxious experience than the Delta-9 THC. Compared to traditional THC, Delta-8 provides you with increased relief from pain.

With Delta-8 THC receiving rave reviews from users, it has quickly risen to Delta-8 THC level, if not higher. Cannabis manufacturers seeing the shift in trend have a wide range of cannabis products containing Delta-8 THC.

You can find Delta-8 THC in gummies, tinctures, soft drinks, and vape cartridges. Now, let’s delve deeper and look into their anatomy, thus bringing us to another difference between the two.

The Anatomy of Delta-8 THC and Delta-9 THC
Delta-8 THC’s double bond is located on the 8th carbon in the chain, whereas Delta-9 THC’s double bond is located on the 9th carbon in the chain hence the name. A single shift from one bond to another bond gives both their unique properties.

With Delta-8 THC, your focus, productivity, and clarity increase, and the best part are there’s zero sedation involved. Then there’s the matter of legality.

Delta-9 THC and Delta-8 THC:  Are They Legal?
Under the United States federal law, Delta-9 THC is illegal. How illegal? Delta-9 THC is classified as a Schedule I substance, which means that it’s in the same boat as LSD and heroin. The law, which was passed in 1970, has made it impossible and expensive to research cannabinoids, and this is one reason why information about Delta-8 THC is so scarce.

Is Delta-8 THC also Illegal?
Yes and no. When Delta-8 THC was first introduced, there wasn’t any explicit law that deemed it illegal until the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) cracked down on it. Here’s what the DEA states:

• If Delta-8 THC is sourced from Cannabis Sativa, it’s illegal.
• If Delta-8 THC is sourced from hemp, it’s legal.
• Hemp comes from the same plant, and it’s bred with non-intoxicating THC levels
• The 2018 Farm Bill legalized Delta-8 THC.
• Hemp-derived products containing 0.3% of Delta-9 THC are legal.
• Hemp-derived products contain Delta-8 THC and 0.3% Delta-9 THC.
• The Hemp Connection Only Sells 100% Legal Delta 8 Products

The Winner— Delta-8 THC
Recreational and medicinal users have taken a liking to Delta-8 THC cannabis products because it provides them with a wide range of health benefits without experiencing the impairing effects caused by Delta-9 THC.

Hemp legalization led hemp cultivation after the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill. However, it was only a matter of time when it became apparent to consumers, producers, regulators, and lawmakers that new regulatory standards need to be established and put into place.

Since hemp shares a close relationship with its controversial cousin THC marijuana or cannabis, it became clear that the stance on cannabis needs to tough and its sale and use to be strictly regulated.

The growing confusion led them to hastily propose and implement the United States Department of Agriculture's provisional guidelines to direct hemp producers while leaving regulators to examine the issue to draft permanent rules for the hemp industry in the next two years.

Now, We’re in 2020 and the States Have Been Given Two Options
The USDA interim guidelines state that states operating under their own cannabis pilot program before October 31, 2019, release of these guidelines have the option to continue doing so until October 31, 2020, following the laws established in the 2014 USDA pilot program.

If states choose to cancel their hemp pilot program and adopt the USDA provisional version or if they never had a pilot program to begin with, hemp farmers will need to abide by the interim rules.

What Have States Said?
As of March 26, 2020, twenty states reported that they’ll follow the 2014 pilot rules for the upcoming growing season. This significantly outnumbers the twelve states that have received the approval from the United States Department of Agriculture for their hemp growing plan under the final temporary rule. This division becomes important when looking for compliant hemp genetics and acquiring hemp seeds.

How Will the New Hemp Sampling and Testing Regulations Affect the Hemp Industry?
The answer depends on the number of states that decide to continue with the 2020 and 2021 hemp growing seasons. Hemp farmers growing popular and completely matured hemp will go undergo comprehensive sampling and testing methods.
The latest USDA guidelines for sampling and testing hemp are as follows:  “The cut shall be made just under the flowering material, indicating the bud or flower of a plant, situated at the top one-third of plants.”

The bad news is that the top one-third of the plant receives the most light, which means that it contains high levels of THC. Hemp farmers have found themselves in a bind, as they believe the DEA will target their hemp farms, destroying them. The USDA will report the hemp farmer to the chief law enforcement officer and the Attorney General of the state in the event they determine a violation has been committed.
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What Should Hemp Farmers?
Hemp farmers need to cultivate trusted hemp genetics that is compliant with the law. Each hemp seed needs to align with their cultivation methods, season plan, and post-production structuring. Government officials can come to test the hemp seeds at any time to ensure the hemp farmers comply with the law.

Although farmers need to stay compliant at the same time, they need to pay attention to their farm operations and stay on top of the changing market demands. Hemp farmers who can maintain this balance can surpass their competitors.

Conclusion
For now, beginning October 31, 2020, all hemp farmers regardless of the state they belong to, need to abide by the USDA interim and wait for them to release the final regulations, which are expected to be released by October 31, 2021.
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This will end all possible wiggle room for hemp farmers due to their respective state and will need to create and follow a strict plan for hemp and hemp products after the implementation of the USDA temporary rules.