What is Delta 8? Is It Different Than CBD?
Have you heard of Delta 8 yet? It’s the newest cannabinoid craze that has many people intrigued and confused. You may notice it is even available through some of our Premium CBD brands. But, what is Delta 8? How does it differ from CBD, or even THC?
What is Delta 8, exactly?
CBD is short for cannabidiol. The cannabis compound that gets users high, THC, is short for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Delta-8, the compound that has recently become popular and the topic of this blog, is actually delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol. As you may guess from the names, Delta-8 is a cannabis compound that closely resembles the chemical makeup of THC.
Delta 8 is very similar to CBD in how it is currently seen in the industry. It is not regulated in the way THC is, and is available in various capacities across the nation. Some CBD companies are selling Delta 8, including Green Roads which is one of our premium CBD brands. But just because some CBD companies (and other businesses) are selling Delta-8 does not mean it is CBD.
Delta 8 is sitting in a gray area, legally, right now. We’ll get to that further down.
What are the effects of Delta 8 vs CBD?
You may see Delta 8 and CBD listed together or referred to interchangeably in places. This is incorrect. There are some valid reasons the two may be confused, though, and they have to do with the effects of Delta 8 and how they are sometimes similar to the effects of CBD.
The key difference between the two is that Delta 8 can get users high. CBD on its own can not. If you hear about CBD products getting users high, it’s because they contain higher-than listed levels of THC or are mislabeled some other way. It’s why the Premium CBD database exists – to hold CBD companies accountable for their products and labeling.
The high experience with Delta 8 is much different than that of typical THC, though. The feeling is much more subdued, typically offering users a clear-headed, sometimes hungry, and euphoric sensation.
The effects of Delta 8 are so much milder than the effects of THC that they tend to not produce any negative side effects. Some people cannot use THC because they tend to get anxious or paranoid, but this is not typically the case with Delta 8 because the effects are so subtle.
With this in mind, you can probably see why Delta 8 and CBD are sometimes described similarly. CBD often helps users focus, improve mood, combat pain, and more. Similarly, Delta 8 is used for many of the same reasons.
Is this new cannabinoid legal?
Unlike CBD, Delta 8 is very much in a gray area, legally, right now. CBD’s legal status is more clear: The 2018 Farm Bill legalized agricultural hemp, which essentially legalized hemp-derived CBD.
Delta 8 typically starts from CBD. While it can be extracted from hemp and marijuana plants, there is usually not enough to extract. Instead, processors can synthesize Delta 8 directly from CBD. This is why Delta 8 products are often more expensive than CBD and other products.
It’s also why the legal status is blurry. Hemp-derived CBD that follows other governmental regulations (including maximum THC level) is legal. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that Delta 8 is legal. It doesn’t mean it’s illegal, either, considering it comes from a legal compound. And that’s why it’s so confusing.
Because Delta 8 can cause users to get mildly high, there have been many controversies and discussions about its legality. People living in states without access to legal recreational marijuana are able to order Delta 8 products and use cannabis in a controlled manner. This is subject to end at any time when lawmakers decide where to go with Delta 8.
For now, you can find Delta 8 products through Green Roads and other CBD suppliers. Check out the Premium CBD database to learn more or shop for the purest, most potent CBD on the market!