Delta 8 THC vs. Delta 9 THC: How Is Delta THC Related to Hemp?

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.