Delta 8

After the 2018 Farm Bill, all eyes are on Delta 8 THC as the best way to enjoy the THC buzz without worrying about any legal implications that come with Delta 9 THC.

The new kid on the block is here to take you on a smooth and mellow ride without the hefty side effects of Delta 9. It will let you stay in charge, as Delta 8 is not as intrusive and intoxicating as its illegal counterpart.

In the past few years, Delta 8 has gained a lot of popularity. As a result, the legal hemp market is flourishing with an abundance of Delta 8 flowers and many other exciting products. That’s when things tend to get a bit challenging and overwhelming.

What product should you choose? How can you tell whether it is 100% safe for consumption? If you’re looking for the answer to these and many other Delta 8 related questions, we’re here to help you out. We’ve already compiled a detailed Delta 8 buying guide to help you shop for legal THC with better knowledge and confidence.

What Is Delta 8 THC?

Before we get to the fun part, let’s first get a better overview of Delta 8.

Delta 8 is a naturally occurring cannabinoid that’s featured in low amounts in hemp and cannabis plants. It is very similar to other types of THC, like Delta 9 and 10. The main difference between these THC isomers is the location of the double bond on the carbon atom, which is stated in the number placed between Delta and THC.

Though the chemical difference may seem insignificant, the double bond in the molecular structure is responsible for significant differences between the various THC isomers. For instance, if we compare Delta 8 to Delta 9 – the most prevalent type of THC, the first difference that pops up is regarding the cannabinoid’s potency. Delta 8 is often referred to as Delta 9’s little cousin because of this. Though it still isn’t proven, scientists believe that Delta 8 features only half of Delta 9’s potency.

With milder potency comes milder effects and a limited range of side effects. Therefore, Delta 8 may provide you with a milder and mellow high, but it may also release you from many of Delta 9’s side effects.

What’s the Best Way to Consume Delta 8?

Because of the rising popularity of Delta 8, there are dozens of different ways for you to consume it. Manufacturers are relentlessly competing against each other about who will release a more exciting way to enjoy Delta 8.

When it comes to the best way to consume the cannabinoid, only you can make the final decision. To help you find what you’re looking for, here are some of the most popular Delta 8 products that stir the curiosity of many hemp enthusiasts.

Delta 8 gummies

Delta 8 gummies are the favorite option for many people. Also, they are far safer than traditional smoking products.

The main reason why people decide on Delta 8 gummies is because of the amazing flavor they offer. If you do a quick online search, you’ll find an endless array of exciting Delta 8 gummies in various potencies, shapes, and sizes. But these aspects are often overlooked, as people focus on the incredible taste.

Delta 8 gummies are pretty much the same as regular gummies, with the only difference being the presence of Delta 8 THC. Therefore, you can look for the flavor options that you get out of your favorite gummies and won’t be disappointed.

The only downside to gummies is that, similar to all other edibles, they’re not as fast-acting as smoking products. Gummies have to be fully digested before they produce effects, so based on your metabolism, you may have to wait for an hour or more.

Delta 8 flowers

If you’re looking for a more traditional way to enjoy legal THC, Delta 8 flowers are the best choice. 

Delta 8 flowers come in various hemp strains and provide an incredible range of options for you to choose from. However, smoking these flowers will pose a significant risk to your respiratory health. Since smoking combusts the flowers, it involves inhaling potentially hazardous chemicals into your lungs. Recent studies suggest that smoking hemp is less damaging than tobacco, but that doesn’t mean it is entirely safe. 

To avoid some of the potential risks of smoking but still get a similar sensation, you can try vaping Delta 8 cartridges.

Whether you’re smoking or vaping, the results of Delta 8 are pretty fast-acting. Both the smoke and vapor are quickly transferred into the bloodstream, producing effects within 10 to 15 minutes.

Delta 8 oils

Delta 8 oils are one of the most convenient ways to experience the Delta 8 buzz. These edibles are designed to provide you with the best between edibles and smoking products.

First of all, there are two ways to consume the Delta 8 oils, which significantly impact the speed at which these edibles kick in. The first consumption method, that’s also more efficient, is sublingual administration. Placing a couple of drops of the oil beneath the tongue might provide almost immediate effects, similar to smoking products. That is because the sublingual route avoids the first-pass metabolism by the liver and is quickly transferred into the bloodstream.

The second consumption method is ingestion. Ingesting the Delta 8 oil takes quite more time to produce effects, usually around one to two hours. When ingested, Delta 8 oils need to be metabolized by the liver, similar to all other edibles, resulting in far longer waiting times.

One of the best advantages of oils over other Delta 8 products is that you can easily infuse them into any food or beverage.

How to Find the Best Delta 8 Products?

The choice of Delta 8 products is endless. It includes everything from gummies, brownies, cookies, lollipops, and other edibles to flowers, pre-rolls, vape cartridges, tinctures, etc. But regardless of the type of product that’s most convenient for you, you have to be very careful about sourcing your Delta 8 safely.

There aren’t many regulatory bodies to verify the quality and safety of a product before being sold on the market. You have to do an extensive search if you’re looking to stay away from any potentially unsafe products. 

To help you with the task, our Delta 8 buying guide includes a list of factors that’ll help you get your hands on the best Delta 8 products.

Organic ingredients

Whether it’s gummies, oils, or flowers, each Delta 8 product starts with a safe and natural Delta 8 distillate. Manufacturers need premium quality hemp to get the purest and safest Delta 8 distillates.

If you’re looking to avoid any health implications posed by low-quality hemp that comes with risky impurities, you should look for organically grown ingredients. Organically grown hemp eliminates the presence of any synthetic pesticides or other agents, making the end product less safe for consumption.

Some Delta 8 products contain many other ingredients apart from the Delta 8 THC. So to be utterly safe and cautious, always look for a natural and organic approach to all the ingredients, not just the THC.

Extraction methods

As we already stated, Delta 8 THC isn’t naturally abundant in hemp plants. Therefore, manufacturers have to distill it from CBD. 

The manufacturing process starts by extracting CBD from the hemp plants. There are a lot of different ways to do that. Still, the best and safest approach is through carbon dioxide extraction, as it eliminates the presence of any solvent residues after the process is completed.

Once the CBD is safely extracted, manufacturers move to the next process, which is the isomerization of Delta 8 THC. Once again, different ways of chemical conversion can be applied, but you should look for safe practices that provide the cleanest Delta 8 extracts.

Lab results

Another thing you should pay close attention to while looking for the best and safest Delta 8 products are lab results. Reputable manufacturers turn to third-party laboratories to show their customers that their products are 100% safe to consume. 

After conducting rigorous tests on the various Delta 8 products, independent laboratories display their findings in the lab results, also known as Certificates of Analysis. Transparent manufacturers go a step further and post these certificates publicly. That allows you to go through the extensive cannabinoid profiles and other useful information regarding the specific product.

If you learn how to read the results, you’ll be able to detect the presence of impurities, learn more about the quality of the soil in which the hemp plants were grown, and so much more.

Product type

The type of product you choose can make or break the entire Delta 8 experience. Even though we only covered a couple of the most popular Delta 8 products on the market, we encourage you to explore all of your options and find a product that’ll fit your needs.

If you’re going with edibles, you should consider flavor. If you want smoking products, consider their aroma. But regardless of your preference, make sure you treat your taste buds as an enjoyable experience, as that’ll contribute to even better enjoyment.

How Do Delta 8 Products Work?

Delta 8 THC is a psychoactive cannabinoid that offers slightly toned-down effects. As a result, it produces a euphoric high and could reduce anxiety and stress. Users describe the Delta 8 essence as bliss, followed by increased sensory perception, feelings of happiness and joy, etc.

Though you can expect some general outcomes out of all Delta 8 products, strains have a lot to say about how unique products work. Depending on the strain, some products might make you feel relaxed and sleepy, while others might make you creative, productive, and heedful.

Binding with the endocannabinoid system

The positive effects of Delta 8 products may be produced when the THC binds with the CB1 receptor. The event may induce various psychological effects such as:

Improving sleep

The THC inside Delta 8 products can interfere with your body and mind’s circadian rhythm. Delta may bind twice with the endocannabinoid system receptors and regulates the quality of your sleep. If you’re struggling with hectic mental activity, unsteady breathing, or a fast heart rate while sleeping, Delta 8 products may be able to help you overcome the problem.

Alleviating pain and inflammation

Delta 8 THC displays extensive soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. That’s why it is often used to target acute pain and chronic inflammation. Besides that, Delta 8 may be helpful for dealing with hangovers if you often struggle with muscle pain or severe headaches after drinking alcohol. Its expressing analgesic properties can be beneficial for many purposes.

Improving body balance

Research suggests that while binding with the receptors in the endocannabinoid system, Delta 8 may improve body balance and wellness. It interacts with your body and impacts important bodily functions like regulating mood hormones, including serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate. That’s why Delta 8 is described as a potent mood enhancer.

Increasing appetite

Delta 9 THC, or marijuana, is well known for the munchies that it serves its users. Even though Delta 8 won’t call for such extensive eating, it might stimulate your appetite effectively. An increased appetite is the reason why many people turn to the safe THC alternative. Delta 8 products may also contribute to better nutrient absorption.

Reducing nausea and vomiting

Delta 8 THC can act as a potent antagonist, moderating and suppressing the feelings of nausea and managing vomiting. Even though there is no good scientific evidence to confirm the claim, many people use Delta 8 to cope with chemotherapy and claim that it effectively inhibits nausea and vomiting.

Dosing Delta 8 Products

Dosing Delta 8 and all other cannabinoids can be pretty challenging, as many factors add up to the perfect dose. How much Delta 8 you need to consume depends on your unique body build, your endocannabinoid system, and a couple of other factors.

However, there are some guidelines that’ll help you make a good assumption about how much Delta 8 you need to take per serving. The generally accepted Delta 8 dosage chart involves 3 tiers or categories that suit users with different tolerance to the cannabinoid. They are as follows:

• Users with low Delta 8 tolerance (new users) – 5 mg to 15 mg per serving
• Users with moderate Delta 8 tolerance (occasional users) – 15 mg to 45 mg per serving
• Users with high Delta 8 THC tolerance (regular users) – 45 mg to 100 mg per serving

Looking at the above guidelines, you’ll note that the ranges are pretty loose. That’s because every person’s body is unique and reacts to the substance differently. Therefore, if you’re looking to experiment with the substance without any prior experience with THC, we recommend that you start on the lower side of the recommended dose range. Let your body get accommodated with the cannabinoid, and gradually work your way towards higher doses, if necessary.

Understanding potency

With the variety of different Delta 8 products, calculating the potency of a single serving can be pretty tricky. Reputable companies usually tend to display the total potency of the product, along with the potency of each serving (a single gummy or a single drop of the Delta 8 oil).

Furthermore, you may get the chance to choose between different strengths and package sizes for a single product. Delta 8 oils usually come in various potency options, while gummies and flavors often come with a one-size-fits-all solution, but it doesn’t mean that that’s always the case.

Calculating the potency of a single dose requires that you divide the total potency of the product by the number of servings you have. For instance, if you have a 1,200 mg Delta 8 tincture infused in 30ml of oil, the potency of a 1 ml drop can be calculated by dividing the total potency by the number of drops you get (the same goes for all other Delta 8 products). As a result, you’ll find that you have 40 mg of the Delta 8 essence in a single drop of the liquid, which could be more than what many experienced users can handle.

Excessive use

Since Delta 8 and other cannabinoids don’t interfere with respiratory functions, you can’t lethally overdose on hemp-derived products. Additionally, Delta 8 doesn’t pose a significant liver toxicity concern. For that to happen, you’ll have to inject 50 mg of pure THC directly into your system, which is not something that people do.

Even though Delta 8 products aren’t related to any hefty implications and are usually well-tolerated, consuming more than what your body can handle will definitely make you feel uncomfortable. Excessive Delta 8 use can lead to deep relaxation and make you feel dizzy and confused. However, you shouldn’t worry about panic attacks and paranoia that are often related to Delta 9. Such events are very rare among Delta 8 users. In fact, some people take the milder potency of Delta 8 to help them cope with anxiety.

However, there are still some side effects you should be prepared for. They include the typical aftereffects of cannabis, like dry mouth, red eyes, and increased appetite. 

With that said, we strongly recommend that you stick to a lower dose of Delta 8 THC. Smaller servings of the cannabinoid can be stimulative and may increase your energy levels, while extensive use could lead to sedation and drowsiness. 

The Delta 8 High

After learning how Delta 8 products work inside your body and how you should dose them properly, it is time we get to the most important part of the Delta 8 buying guide – the Delta 8 high.

When will it kick in?

You have to know when you can expect the Delta 8 high to kick in before indulging in the experience. The time it’ll take for the Delta 8 THC to produce effects depends on the type of products you’re consuming.

If you go with smoking products, you should get almost immediate effects 10 to 15 minutes after inhaling. If you don’t feel the Delta 8 buzz after 20 minutes or more, it may be a sign that the product is lacking potency, so you can decide to go with another round.

With Delta 8 edibles, things won’t go that fast. Edibles must first be digested, meaning that you might have to wait for an hour or two before they kick in. Make sure you give edibles more time before deciding to take another bite, or you may end up being excessively sedated afterward.

How does it feel?

The Delta 8 high is a wonderful experience unique to every user. Though it is tough to be described, the words that we often come across when reading about the Delta 8 experience include mild, mellow, smooth, and soothing.

The Delta 8 high comes with a kick of euphoria and relaxation at the same time. Because of the cannabinoid’s milder potency, you won’t be intoxicated, so you’ll get to experience the Delta 8 essence with your senses wide awake. 

Users claim that Delta 8 THC makes them happier and boosts their mood. Many consumers talk about how it makes them more relaxed, creative, and productive. However, the more specific characteristics of a Delta 8 product are determined by the strain used, so you have to pay attention to different Delta 8 breeds.

How long does it last?

The duration of the Delta 8 high depends on a couple of factors. Higher doses and potencies usually cause more expressive and long-lasting effects. The peak effects of the high usually come 30 minutes or up to two hours after consumption. In some cases, the high may last up to 5 hours.

Still, every person experiences the Delta 8 high differently, and there are a lot of factors that can extend or shorten the duration of the high. The major factors playing a significant role here include frequency of use, method of consumption, dosage amount, weight, metabolism, etc.

Though edibles are often overlooked for delivering the desired effects slowly, many users claim that edibles provide longer-lasting effects compared to smoking products.

Are there any side effects?

There are reports of Delta 8 side effects you should be prepared for when you’re consuming Delta 8 products. They’re the same side effects that come with other THC variants, but thanks to the milder potency, the side effects should be lenient as well. The potential side effects of Delta 8 include red eyes, dry mouth, rapid heart rate, trouble with coordination, anxiety, memory loss, and slowed reaction times.

The Legal Status of Delta 8 Products

Before you rush out and submit your order for Delta 8 products, we have to update you about the legal status of Delta 8 products.

Federal regulations

Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, Delta 8 THC and many other cannabinoids (except for Delta 9 THC) can be freely consumed on a federal level. The Farm Bill categorized hemp plants with low Delta 9 THC concentrations (lower than 0.3%) as agricultural commodities, allowing for their derivatives to be legally consumed.

Therefore, federal regulations allow the consumption of Delta 8 products as long as the Delta 9 THC content is below the federally legal limit of 0.3%. So while looking for the best Delta 8 products, make sure you check out the Delta 9 THC concentration.

State laws

Even though federal law doesn’t ban the consumption of Delta 8 products, some states have already enforced additional regulations that prohibit the use and distribution of Delta 8 THC. 

At the time of writing this Delta 8 buying guide, the cannabinoid is banned for consumption in 13 states across the US: Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, New York, Nevada, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, Utah, and Washington.

However, Delta 8 regulations are continuously changing. Therefore, you should read up on the legal regulations in your area before you get your piece of the Delta 8 excitement. 

Delta 8 THC and Drug Tests

If you’ve ever taken a drug test before, you probably already know that drug tests look for THC. Delta 8, even though federally legal, is still a type of THC. Therefore, it is detectable on a drug test, so if you’re interested in Delta 8 products but also have to take a drug test anytime soon, you have to know that the two won’t go well together.

Even though Delta 8 is considered to be much safer than Delta 9 and isn’t illegal to consume, it will still induce a positive drug test result. While cannabinoids and science continue to advance, to the extent that you can now legally consume a wide array of cannabinoids, drug tests haven’t moved that much over the past few years. They’re still designed to look for THC, and any THC isomer, whether it is Delta 8, 10, or O, will result in a positive reading.

How long does Delta 8 stay in your system?

The amount of time that Delta 8 is present in your system depends on how often you consume Delta 8 products. 

If you’re excited about your first Delta 8 experience, the Delta 8 traces might leave your body within four days. Though the presence of Delta 8 will quickly wear off if you’ve only used the substance once or twice, you should wait for at least four days before scheduling a drug test, as even the slight traces are detectable.

The frequent use of Delta 8 can result in high THC content in your body, so you’ll have to wait for quite a long until you can safely take a drug test. If you’re a regular user, it might take your body up to a month to entirely flush out the Delta 8 THC from the system. Not all drug tests are fine-tuned to detect Delta 8 consumed a month before the test, but some might, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

How to get Delta 8 THC out of your system?

Delta 8 THC is the “guilty pleasure” of many people. Therefore, a lot of users have already tried and succeeded in flushing out Delta 8 from their systems. There are many ways to speed up the cannabinoid’s departure from your body and improve your chances of passing the drug test without any red flags.

The methods for flushing out Delta 8 THC vary based on the type of test you’ll be taking. If you’re scheduled for a urine test, you’ll need to detox your body for at least a week. If you’re taking an oral test, you should be able to prepare within three to four days ahead. 

The best tips for removing Delta 8 from your system as quickly as possible include:

• Drinking plenty of water – It will cause frequent urination, dilute the remaining THC metabolites, and flush them out.
• Healthy diet – A fiber and protein-rich diet will help your body get rid of THC and unwanted toxins.
• Exercise – Regular activity will speed up your body’s metabolism and help you eliminate THC traces quicker.

Where to Buy Delta 8 Products?

If you’re interested in purchasing Delta 8 THC, you have many available options at your disposal. From tobacco shops and gas stations to specialized dispensaries and impeccable online stores – the possibilities are endless.

But purchasing safe and authentic Delta 8 products isn’t something you’d want to manage at the gas station. If you’re looking for quality and safety, our best recommendation is to go with specialized hemp or THC stores.

Shopping for Delta 8 THC online is most likely the best way for you to get the best product from the market. Online shopping will allow you to do an extensive search before you decide on a particular product.

Apart from that, Googling the ingredients on your laptop is far more convenient than spending hours reading the ingredient lists of different products at your local dispensary. The public Certificates of Analysis are just an added plus. Whether you decide to go with online or physical hemp stores, consider all the aspects we’ve covered in the Delta 8 buying guide.

So if you’re excited to get your first Delta 8 experience, start a new Google search, and find a suitable product to take you on a smooth Delta 8 ride.