Over the last few years, there has been a rise in the legality of cannabis and cannabis products, which has paved the way for discovering new chemical compounds in the Cannabis Sativa plant every day. Delta 8 THC is the latest psychoactive substance found in cannabis and hemp plants.
It is a new product, and therefore there is limited extensive research by industry experts on everything delta 8 THC. There are some similarities between delta 8 and delta 9 in that they are forms of THC.
Even though delta 8 THC is gradually rising in popularity, some people are still skeptical about using it. They keep questioning the safety of consuming delta 8 products. Read on to clear any potential concerns you may have concerning the safety of delta 8 and the best way to consume delta 8 THC products.
What is Delta 8?
Delta-8 THC is a naturally occurring psychoactive compound found in trace amounts in the hemp or cannabis plant. It is similar to delta-9 in that they are both forms of THC, but delta-9 has a higher concentration in cannabis plants than delta-8.
Because of the low concentration of delta-8 in hemp and cannabis plants, manufacturers use hemp-derived cannabidiol as a raw material to make concentrated amounts of delta-8 THC. They introduce strong acids to convert the cannabidiol into delta-8. So delta 8 THC is typically synthesized from hemp-derived cannabidiol.
Is Delta 8 THC safe?
All delta 8 THC, delta 9, CBD products, or any other psychoactive substances consumers always have concerns related to delta 8 THC consumption safety. Irresponsible consumption of any cannabis or hemp-derived products can put one’s safety at risk. The safety of delta 8 THC is determined by whether you purchased from trusted sources or the consumer’s choice.
Therefore, before purchasing any delta 8 THC products from a vendor, ensure you do your research and determine their trustworthiness. Also, make sure that you read the ingredients on each delta 8 product label you buy. It will help you note ingredients that may be harmful or may cause allergic reactions.
There is limited research on the effects and safety of delta 8 THC. so far; only the rarely occurring side effects such as nausea, paranoia, and anxiety are known. The FDA also has growing concerns about sold typically manufactured delta 8 THC products. They expose consumers to higher levels of substances naturally occurring in hemp cannabis raw extracts. Some chemists sound alarms after discovering several unidentified compounds in delta 8 THC product labeling.
Delta 8 THC products are to be kept out of reach for children and pets, but some manufacturers package and label their products in a way that appeals to children. These products are easily purchased online or from retailers at gas stations and convenience stores where there are no set age limits as to who can buy there. Numerous poison control centers have reported receiving alerts that involve pediatric patients’ exposure to delta 8 THC products. There have also been reports from animal poison control centers about the increasing accidental exposure of pets to these products.
What are the effects of Delta-8?
Delta-8 THC is similar to delta-9 THC in that it also causes feelings of relaxation, euphoria, and pain relief, only that the effects are mild. It also causes psychoactive and intoxicating effects. The results of delta 8 THC vary from person to person. And are affected by factors like the method of consumption and the quality of the product. The mild stimulating and therapeutic effects of delta-8 are what make it popular.
Even though delta 9 is the main component responsible for causing a high, delta 8 THC also has the same mind-altering effects, but they are mild. There is little research on the psychoactive effects of delta 8 THC. Most of the research on delta 8 THC is in online forums where consumers narrate their experience with these products. Most consumers stated that they experienced feelings of mild stimulation, mood-boosting, mild euphoria, and relief from these products’ pain after consuming delta 8.
How to safely consume delta 8?
Personal Preference
The consumption method for delta-8 is dependent on one’s personal preferences. Even though all delta-8 THC products have decent amounts of the delta-8 compound, each product type suits each user differently.
For example, vaping delta 8 can be difficult for first-time consumers to learn. Or they could find tinctures frustrating with all the measurements one has to take when pulling out the dropper.
Experimenting is how you will get to know your favorite method of consumption. Try out all the forms of consuming delta-8 and choose the one that suits you best.
Time of the Day
Time of the day is an essential factor in determining the best method of consumption of delta-8. It is crucial because highly concentrated products are best for consumption at night for the best enjoyment. Forms like tinctures and vapes, which one doses regularly, are suitable for consumption during the day.
Onset and Duration of Psychoactive and Intoxicating Effects
Do you want to feel the effects of Delta-8 instantly, or would you prefer to wait a while for the impact, but they are long-lasting?
The determining factor here is bioavailability. It refers to the amount of delta-8 in the bloodstream after the liver finishes metabolizing it. Every delta-8 product will offer different levels of bioavailability.
Oral products have lower levels of bioavailability because the digestive tracts break down most of the delta 8. Sublingual products have a medium level of bioavailability as the capillaries in the mouth will absorb most of the delta 8 into the bloodstream. Vapes have the most bioavailability because when you vape, the delta 8 gets absorbed into the bloodstream via the lung tissues causing the effects felt quickly.
The duration of effects relies on the form of delta-8 because each form has a different time of effects. Vapes last for 3-4 hours, tinctures last for about 6 hours, and edibles and capsules last for almost 10 hours.
Vapes take the least time to feel the effects, and one can feel the effects minutes after inhalation. Delta 8 tinctures are in the middle but delayed longer than hemp-derived cannabidiol tinctures. Edibles and capsules take the longest time to feel the effects, and it can take almost 2 hours to feel the effects.
The Potency of Your Product labeling
The potency of the product determines the intensity of the cognitive effects. Products such as tinctures or vapes have lower concentrations than edibles and capsules. Products that you eat or drink have slower acting effects than vape products.
You can try out different dosages recommended on each product label to find the correct delta 8 potencies for yourself. Adjust the dose depending on your body’s reaction to the delta 8 THC.
Best ways to consume Delta 8 THC
Gummies
One of the methods one can use to consume delta 8 THC is in the form of delicious fruity gummies. There is a wide variety of gummies as they all have different flavors.
Its different flavors make it more attractive and popular among choosy consumers. With delta 8 gummies, the onset of the effects is delayed, up to two hours, but long-lasting.
Disposables
A delta 8 disposable device with pre-assembled batteries and prefilled cartridges is an all-in-one device. They are alternatives to vape cartridges. Delta 8 disposable vapes, just as the name states, are not reusable.
Delta 8 disposable vape pens have advantages like:
They are free of fumes, ash, and combustion.
Unlike smoking, you can control how much delta 8 THC you inhale per puff.
Disposable vape pens are natural herbs and are inorganic, and they are not hazardous like tobacco cigarettes.
Recently delta 8 vape pens have been rising in popularity because of their convenience and ease of use, and also because they are cheaper than other cannabis products. If you want to experience powerful and instant release, vaping delta 8 is the best method. Inhalation has the highest bioavailability, and one feels the effects within minutes of inhalation.
Cartridges
Delta 8 cartridges are psychoactive vaping products that cause the same psychoactive effects as marijuana. They are made of different flavors to cater to everyone’s tastes. Delta 8 carts are the most popular form of consuming delta 8 THC. The delta 8 cartridges have a pure delta 8 THC distillate.
Besides having a variety of flavors, there are other benefits of delta 8 carts:
Fast absorption rate because of the high bioavailability.
Ease of use.
Easy accessibility and availability.
How Much Delta 8 THC Should I Take?
From a medical point of view, pure delta 8 is safe to consume, just like pure delta 9 is. But from a practical point of view, there is no safe amount of delta 8 to consume as there is no purity guarantee. There is a need for more research to clearly understand the right amount of delta 8 THC one should consume.
Is it possible to overdose on delta 8?
There are no medical reports of any delta 8 THC overdose victims. Like other hemp and cannabis products, it is impossible for healthy subjects to overdose on delta 8 THC. Because even though delta 8 is potent in high doses, one would need to consume significant amounts of delta 8 THC for an overdose to occur possibly. Also, there has been no report of deaths caused by hemp-derived cannabis and any relevant derivatives.
The impossibility of an overdose does not rule out the occurrence of adverse effects for some consumers. Adverse events included vomiting, dry mouth, trouble standing, confusion, anxiety, extreme nausea, and paranoia from consuming too many cannabinoids. You would need a higher dose of delta 8 THC than delta 9 THC to feel any side effects as it is less potent and mildly stimulating.
Is Delta 8 addictive?
As it is with all other cannabis or hemp compounds, delta 8 THC does not cause addiction in the way we all know addiction happens. It is not physically addictive, and the body does not become dependent.
There is limited research on delta 8 THC and addiction, but there are suggestions that, as a whole, cannabis can form a habit and be addictive after prolonged use. Chances of one undergoing withdrawal symptoms after stopping the use of delta 8 are low, and there will be no unbearable cravings. If one has an addictive personality, one can be addicted to any substance on a mental level because most of them contain psychoactive compounds.
Delta 8 effects are pleasing, and even with responsible use, one can still develop an addiction because all substances like the delta 8 that offer one a chance to escape reality and relieve stress can be habit-forming and later be addictive.
How to prevent Delta 8 Tolerance?
Like delta 9, delta 8 THC also forms tolerance after continuous consumption. So as the tolerance builds and the effects start to fade away, you will have to increase your dose gradually. To experience the best delta 8 THC, you will have to control your tolerance levels. A low tolerance level reduces the risk of addiction and one gest to save money.
It is easy to control one’s tolerance levels. And a method of maintaining tolerance levels used with delta 9 is used here: ‘tolerance breaks.’ just as the name suggests, tolerance breaks are periods where one takes a rest from taking the cannabinoid substance.
During tolerance breaks, you avoid consuming any of the delta 8 THC products and allow for the recharge of the CB1 receptors. THC products like delta 8 interact with the CB1 receptors in the brain, causing impaired feelings. Depleting the CB1 receptors occurs after continuous and prolonged use of the cannabinoid over a long time. Allowing the CB1 receptors to recharge ensures that they can effectively receive cannabinoids.
How often one takes a tolerance break is dependent on the individual. Everyone is different, and there might be some who replenish their CBD receptors in a shorter time than others. Once they start developing tolerance towards delta 8 THC, one must do a little experimentation.
Conclusion
Delta 8 THC is the perfect alternative to delta 9 for those who want to experience mild stimulating and therapeutic effects. According to the 2018 farm bill, delta 8 is legal as long as the extraction is from legal hemp. Delta 8 THC is a great alternative to weed as it does not suffer any legal conflicts.
References
https://nutritionfacts.org/2021/11/09/marijuana-can-be-habit-forming/
