Everything You Need To Know About Delta 8

In this article, we’ll talk about what exactly Delta 8 is, its similarities and its differences from other cannabinoids like CBD and Delta 9 THC,

and some of your most frequently asked questions about this substance.

What is Delta 8?

Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol or more commonly referred to as just Delta 8, is one of the chemical compounds found in Hemp or other types of the Cannabis Sativa plant family.

Delta 8 is a psychoactive compound similar to Delta 9 but with much less potency. Naturally, it can get you high but not as intense as Delta 9 THC does.

On consumer products, Delta 8 is mostly lab-produced due to the scarcity of its presence from the hemp plant.

Delta 8 vs Delta 9

Delta 8 and Delta 9 are both a type of THC.

Although this is the case,  when people talk about THC, they usually refer to Delta 9.

Delta 9 THC is the main psychoactive substance found in the Marijuana plant.

It causes you to feel high or intoxicated; depending on the person, it may also cause reactions such as fainting, hallucination, or paranoia.

Needless to say, it can cause dependency, making it dangerous for regular consumption.

Not to mention, it is heavily regulated across the United States.

And although it has some medical purposes, consumer products that contain more than 0.3% THC are illegal.

Delta 8 THC, however,  has a chemical structure somewhat similar to Delta 9.

However, the slight differences in their structure greatly affect potency and adverse effects.

Delta 8 is significantly less potent in terms of its euphoric effects and has fewer adverse effects compared to Delta 9 THC.

Delta 8 vs CBD

Both Delta 8 and CBD are among the 100+ cannabinoids found in the Cannabis Sativa plant family.

But unlike Delta 8, CBD is a non-psychoactive component and does not cause euphoric effects.

CBD also has a considerable amount of studies and research to back up its claims of potential health benefits.

Delta 8, on the other hand, is fairly new and due to its synthetic nature, there may be some unknown risks.

Delta 8 on Consumer Products

The concentration of Delta 8 on either Hemp or Cannabis is scarce.

This is why it is often produced synthetically as a byproduct of either CBD or THC.

However, concentrated amounts of Delta 8 are often produced through hemp-derived CBD.

And there’s a reason for this.

The Farm Bill states that plants with more than 0.3% THC concentration are NOT considered hemp and therefore illegal on a federal level.

This is why it is imperative you get them from reputable brands that get their products tested by a third-party lab when trying Delta 8 products.

Lastly, it is also worth noting that the research pertaining to Delta 8 is few compared to Delta 9 THC or CBD.

Therefore there may be some unknown risks when using Delta 8, especially due to its synthetic nature.

Potential Benefits of Delta8

Let’s be real here.

The biggest benefit of Delta 8 is the euphoric feeling it can give without the possible intense and crippling effects that plain old Delta 9 THC can give.

On top of that, Delta 8 can also potentially provide a relaxing feeling and may be able to alleviate some of your day-to-day discomforts.

Admittedly, experts know a lot more about Delta 9 than Delta 8.

So much more research is needed before anyone can provide definitive benefits that Delta 8 can bring.

Much less if the benefits outweigh the potential risk the substance can bring.

That being said, here are some of the benefits that many users claim they experienced when trying products with Delta 8:

• Bolster appetite
  
• Help ease discomfort
  
• Help improve the quality of sleep.
  
• Improve immune system activation or help calm it if it’s overreacting.
  
• May help lessen nausea
  
• Inhibit sensory overstimulation

Lastly, Delta 8 can work with CBD for the Entourage Effect just like other cannabinoids.

Potential Risks and Side Effects of Delta 8

By now, you may be seeing Delta 8 as a milder younger brother of Delta 9.

And you may be right.

But that’s exactly the reason why we can’t deny some of the potential risks and unknowns this compound can bring, especially if you overconsume it.

And here are some of the risks:

• May either slow down or increase the heart rate.
  
• May cause low blood pressure.
  
• May cause numbness.
  
• May cause dry mouth or eyes
  
• May impair coordination or reaction time.
  
• May cause disorientation.
  
• May cause drowsiness.

Products With Delta 8

There are a plethora of products that may contain Delta 8.

Some of them are the following:

Delta 8 Edibles

Delta 8 can be injected into some consumable products and beverages. And these products rely on your digestion before the Delta 8 can take effect.

Therefore its duration and how fast it takes effect depends on how fast your body can break down the compounds ingested into your body.

On average, the Delta 8 consumables usually kick in within 30 to 90 minutes and last 4 to 5 hours.

Also, our body can more easily absorb liquid. Therefore, you may experience beverages affecting you faster than other consumable forms.

Here are some examples of Delta 8 edibles products:

• Gummies
• Rice Crispies
• Chocolate Bars
• Brownies
• Candies
• Canned Drinks
• Syrups

Delta 8 Tinctures

Delta 8 tinctures usually contain high concentrations of D8 made through dissolving it through a solvent such as alcohol.

You can consume it either sublingually or mix it with your food or beverage.

Like edibles, the effect usually kicks in within 30 to 90 minutes and lasts for about 4 to 5 hours.

Delta 8 Vape Cartridges

Inhaling vapor through vaping is the fastest way to experience the effects of Delta 8.

It can kick it within just about 5 to 6 minutes and last for about up 5 hours.

Moreover, its effect peaks between 30 to 70 minutes after inhaling it.

Again, as a reminder, when choosing products with Delta 8, you want to get them from reputable brands that are third-party tested to ensure that the product you’re buying contains less than 0.3% THC.

Will Delta 8 Get You High?

Delta 8 can get you high but a lot milder than the high Delta 9 THC gives.

But remember that we have different tolerance when it comes to whatever substance we ingest.

Not to mention, Delta 8 products also come with different potency.

Therefore we advise that you start off with a lower dosage than you think is necessary.

In fact, we suggest starting with the lowest dosage and then amping it up from there.

Is Delta 8 Addictive?

Even though Delta 8 is not as potent and as dangerous as other substances like Delta 9 found in Marijuana, there is still a risk of dependency due to its psychoactive nature.

Therefore if you have a history of substance abuse, we would highly discourage you from trying Delta 8.

Though it is legal and is less risky than other addictive substances, the fact of the matter is that it is still a form of THC.

Are Delta 8 Products Legal?

As per the Farm Bill, hemp, as well as its derivatives, are legal on a federal level but it may not be legal in some specific states.

So as long as the product is hemp-derived, meaning the THC concentration is less than 0.3%, it is federally legal. This, of course, includes Delta 8.

I think it is also worth noting that there was a debate whether synthetic substances such as hemp-derived Delta 8 should qualify as legal hemp products.

You’d be happy to know that the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Delta 8 is federally legal under the Farm Bill’s definition.

Again, this ruling only applies to Federal Law and your specific state might have a different rule regarding this topic.

At the time of this writing, 12 states banned delta-8.

These are:

• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Delaware
• Idaho
• Iowa
• Mississippi
• Montana
• New York
• Rhode Island
• Utah

Are Delta 8 Products Safe?

Delta 8 is generally safe. However, this is where buying from reputable companies that have their product tested by a third party comes into play.

One of the reasons for this is mislabeling.

Back in 2021  CBD Oracle, a cannabis consumer research company, commissioned FESA Labs to analyze a total of 51 different delta-8 products for cannabinoid levels.

They found that about 77% of the products had less Delta 8 than advertised.

But the worse part is that some products even had THC concentrations greater than 0.3%.

This is not only illegal but also potentially dangerous.

Nevertheless, Delta 8 products should be safe as long as the company you’re buying from is not mislabeling their products and follows the regulations pertaining to hemp-derived products.

Can delta 8 make you fail a drug test?

Unfortunately, most drug tests can’t distinguish Delta 8 from Delta 9 THC.

So even if you didn’t smoke weed or consume products with high levels of THC, you may still get a false-positive report.

Thus, we recommend avoiding Delta 8 products if you have a drug test coming up.

How Long Does Delta 8 Stay Within Your System?

Delta 8’s effect usually lasts for about 5 hours. But this doesn’t mean that the compound is completely out of your system within that time frame.

In reality, the THC metabolites can still be detected within your system for up to 90 days depending on the type of drug test.

Here are some of our estimates:

Saliva Test

A saliva test may be able to detect THC from within your system within 1 to 29 days depending on your daily intake.

If you’re an occasional user of Delta 8, the Saliva Test may be able to detect THC within 1 to 3 days.

But if you use it regularly, the test can detect THC for up to 29 days.

Due to the covid outbreak, saliva test is fairly common nowadays, especially for employment.

Blood Test

If you regularly in-take Delta 8 products, blood tests may detect the presence of THC within your system by up to 25 days.

Although a blood test is not as common as the saliva test, it is fair to assume that you will undergo a blood test if you’re newly employed.

Urine Test

A urine test may also be able to detect the presence of THC within your system for up to 30 days or more depending on your daily intake.

If you take in Delta 8 occasionally like around 1-3 times a week, the urine test may be able to detect THC for up to 3 days.

If you take it daily, this is extended by 10 to 15 days.

And if you take Delta 8 multiple times a day, then it may take around 30 days or more for the metabolites to completely leave your system.

A urine test is the most common way to detect THC and is used in various ways from employment to random tests.

Hair Follicle Test

A hair follicle test can detect THC for up to 3 months or more.

During its circulation, Delta 8 can sometimes get to your hair. And as you know, hair grows slowly, making it difficult for the trace amount of Delta 8 to leave your body.

A hair follicle test is not usually required but is also difficult to pass.

Ways to Detoxify Delta 8 Within Your Body Faster

As mentioned earlier, drug tests cannot distinguish Delta 8 from Delta 9 THC.

If you have an upcoming test, you may be interested in finding ways to reduce the traces of detectable THC within your body as much as possible.

This is only possible if you allow your body to get rid of bodily toxins much more frequently and efficiently.

Here are some of the things you can do to flush out Delta 8 metabolites from your system faster:

Abstain From Consuming Products With Delta 8 Temporarily

The most commonly required drug test is the urine or saliva test.

In most cases, you should be fine just by avoiding the intake of products containing Delta 8 or THC, at least 10 days prior to your test.

However, if you use Delta 8 products multiple times daily, you may want to abstain longer or do additional detoxification methods.

Also, remember that our body has different speeds at which it detoxifies naturally.

So 10 days may not be enough for a person if you’re solely relying on abstinence.

Eat Foods Rich in Fiber

Foods rich in fiber improve your bowel movement and help you excrete toxins much easier.

And eating foods rich in fiber allows you to detox Delta 8 out of your system a little faster through regular urination and excretion.

You can also improve your body’s efficiency in eliminating waste through a balanced diet.

Here are some foods that are rich in fiber:

• Wheat
• Barley
• Strawberry
• Pears
• Banana
• Apples
• Raspberry
• Carrots
• Brocolli
• Chickpeas
• Artichokes
• Oats
• Almonds
• Sweet Potatoes
• Dark chocolates

Drink Plenty of Water

Water is very important for our bodily functions. It affects many things such as delivering oxygen throughout the body, regulating our body temperature, lubricating our joints, etc.

When it comes to detoxification, water plays a big role in helping flush out toxins in our kidney system.

Drinking plenty of water helps our body to excrete waste more efficiently through the process of sweating, urination and excretion of feces.

It functions similarly to fiber but in a more fundamental way. And it is the most natural way to help you flush out Delta 8 in your system faster.

Do Regular Exercise

When you exercise, you sweat and sweating is one of the ways our body excretes toxins.

Doing regular exercise for about 30 to 60 minutes a day will help your body get rid of THC metabolites much faster than just relying on urination or pooping.

Combine this with proper hydration, abstinence and a healthy diet, and you give yourself a high chance of passing your drug test.

Use Detox Products

So far most of the methods we suggested are natural remedies that you can easily employ to flush toxins, including THC, within your system.

However, there are also Detox products that can help you detoxify a little faster.

Some examples of these are detox pills, juice, teas and other forms of drinks.

A quick note: Detox products may contain some laxatives or substances that can cause potential side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and other gastrointestinal issues.

Furthermore, this method is yet rigorously tested, making its actual effectiveness anecdotal.

Therefore, we recommend that you do the natural ways to detoxify until more studies arise regarding these products.

How Many Should I Take?

Delta 8 products are generally safe as long as you purchase them from a brand that strictly follows the regulations pertaining to hemp-derived products.

That said, each one of us has different tolerances for different substances.

If you’re starting out, we would recommend starting with the lowest dosage and increasing it from there.

Can You Take Delta 8 Every Day?

Taking Delta 8 products, especially when combined with CBD can give excellent benefits. So yes, you can take it daily.

However, there are some exceptions where taking it is not a good idea.

Here are circumstances where we don’t recommend taking in Delta 8 products:

• If you are using prescribed medications such as Diuretics, blood pressure or heart medications, anti-epileptic medications or something similar.
  
  If you’re unsure, you should ask a doctor to see if one or more of your medications can conflict with THC.
  
• If you’re planning to go for a drive.
  
  Due to the psychoactive effects of Delta 8, it may affect your driving ability and increase road risk.
  
• During pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
  
  There are still a lot of unknowns when it comes to the possible side effects of Delta 8.
  
  And since Delta is still a form of THC, it is safe to assume that it may pose the same risk, albeit lesser.
  
  According to the FDA, THC may affect fetal brain development during pregnancy and may cause premature birth or stillbirth.
  
  And for breastfeeding, the FDA warns that breast milk may contain THC up to 6 days after intake.

Does Delta-8 Help You Get Better Sleep?

First, let us iterate that the scientific studies on Delta 8 are still in the early stages.

At this point, Delta 8’s benefits on sleep are still anecdotal and not yet proven by the scientific communities.

We will say though, that many users reportedly get better sleep after taking in Delta 8 products.

We believe that this can be attributed to the relaxing sensation you can get after taking the substance.

Does Delta 8 Give You Energy?

Delta 8 affects your endocannabinoid system, similar to how CBD works.

If you’re not familiar, the ECS provides harmony from within your body and this includes the regulation of energy from within your body.

In other words, it may help your body speed up the process of converting food into energy.

So unfortunately, Delta 8 does not quite give the same energy boost as say, a shot of espresso.

Instead, it boosts your energy through a combination of energy-giving food such as carbohydrates and water.

Plus, some people experience an uplifted mood after taking it, making them mentally energized.

Does Delta 8 Make You Hungry?

Yes, Delta 8 can boost your appetite and make you feel hungry due to how it can affect your endocannabinoid system.

Similar to how it can affect the energy in your body, the CB1 receptors from the ECS can send signals related to affecting your appetite.

Conclusion

Delta 8 has many similarities with Delta 9 THC. But its psychoactive effects are less intense and its usage is much less risky.

It is generally safe as long as you’re getting it from reputable sources that follow the standards of hemp derivatives and get their products tested by a third-party lab.

However, since it is still a form of THC, drug testing might give you a false-positive result.

Lastly, the research behind Delta is still in the early stages.

Therefore, many unknown benefits or risks may come with the substance in the future.

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