What Is Delta-8 THC?
Delta-8 THC has taken the market by storm and it’s easy to understand why. As a substitute for delta-9 THC (a Schedule-I Controlled Substance per the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency,) delta-8 THC is a hemp-derived cannabinoid that can replicate the effects of delta-9 THC causing users to feel intoxicated.
As a minor cannabinoid, there are still a lot of questions about delta-8 THC like
What is delta-8 THC?
Is delta-8 THC legal?
Will delta-8 THC make me fail a drug test?
And more….
What is Delta-8 THC?
Delta-8 THC is a psychoactive cannabinoid produced by the cannabis plant and is present in both industrial hemp and marijuana. Delta-8 THC is considered a minor cannabinoid and only appears naturally in very small (<1%) concentrations.
Because of its legally murky status and psychoactive effects, commercial hemp growers and cannabinoid extractors have utilized selective breeding, extraction techniques, and molecular manipulation to produce greater quantities of delta-8 THC.
What’s the Difference Between Delta-9 and Delta-8 THC?
Delta-8 THC is an isomer of the more common delta-9 THC cannabinoid meaning that both molecular formulas (C₂₁H₃₀O₂) are the same, but the arrangement of the atoms that make up the molecule differs.
A simple model of the delta-8 THC molecule (C₂₁H₃₀O₂).
Notice the double bond between the 8th and 9th carbon atom
Another model. This time of the federally prohibited delta-9 THC molecule.
Contrast this model to the one above. Notice the double bond shifted over just one atom to fall between the 9th and 10th carbon atom.
While it may seem a negligible difference, this double bond placement has upended the hemp industry and has caught the attention of some lawmakers— all of which we’ll dig into below.
What are the Effects of Delta-8 THC?
Delta-8 THC users say that the intoxicating effects are similar to the effects of delta-9 THC, with some minor differences.
Users say that a delta-8 THC intoxication is less potent, more clear-headed, and more energetic than a delta-9 THC intoxication.
According to the National Cancer Institute, delta-8 THC is:
Antiemetic - a drug that helps prevent or manage nausea and vomiting.
In a 1995 study following eight pediatric cancer patients, researchers found that no vomiting occurred 24 hours after treatments when patients ingested delta-8 THC beforehand and in six-hour increments after the treatment.
Anxiolytic - a drug used to help reduce or relieve anxiety.
Appetite - stimulating
Analgesic - a drug with pain-relieving properties.
Neuroprotective - to help preserve both the neuron’s structure and function.
Why is Delta-8 THC Less Potent than Delta-9?
Delta-8’s lack of potency stems from the placement of its double bond. Whereas delta-9 THC is great at binding to our CB1 receptors— part of our endocannabinoid system— delta-8 THC isn’t as good a fit for said receptor.
That means that delta-8 THC doesn’t latch onto our receptors as readily and as a result, delta-8 THC users feel a less intense intoxication compared to a similar dose of delta-9 THC.
Does Using Delta-8 THC Have Any Side Effects?
Because delta-8 THC is considered a minor cannabinoid, there isn’t much research on its use and side effects. What we do know about delta-8 THC use is based largely on animal studies, which while helpful, don’t always give us a good idea about how a substance will affect human beings.
Is Delta-8 THC Legal?
The following isn’t intended to be legal advice and should not be referred to as such.
Yes and no.
The 2018 Farm Bill reaffirmed that it was federally legal to grow, cultivate, and transport industrial hemp (cannabis with lower than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight) across state lines. Judge James Gilbert ruled that products derived from hemp fell under this umbrella too the KAB vs United States Postal Service case.
Given that delta-8 THC is derived from hemp, it is okay as far as the Farm Bill is concerned. Here’s where delta-8 THC’s status gets murky.
In late 2020, the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (D.E.A.) issued an “Interim Final Rule” that stated, “ [all] synthetically derived tetrahydrocannabinol(s) remain schedule 1 controlled substances.” Barring any significant legal challenges, hemp-derived delta-8 THC may join delta-9 THC as a federally-restricted cannabinoid.
A handful of states have advanced legislation that outlaws synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol(s) derived from industrial hemp, ostensibly to get ahead of pending DEA rules.
Is Delta-8 THC Legal in My State?
At the time of this writing, if you live in one of the following 9 states, you most likely can not have delta-8 THC products shipped to you.
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Delaware
Idaho
Iowa
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
Will Delta-8 THC Make Me Fail a Drug Test?
Yes, it will.
Even though most delta-8 THC is derived from industrial hemp, urine analysis, and other generic substance-use tests are not sophisticated enough to discern between delta-9 and delta-8 THC consumption.
These tests work by detecting the presence of molecules called THC metabolites. When we consume tetrahydracannabinols, our bodies break them down into smaller compounds. These THC metabolites have unique signatures; when they’re present in the body, they signify that we’ve consumed THC.
So whether you’re taking delta-8 THC, delta-9 THC, or even full-spectrum CBD products there is a chance that these metabolites will show up during screening, regardless of the concentration, and cause you to fail a drug test.
Where Does Delta-8 THC Come From?
There are a number of ways to create delta-8 THC from industrial hemp and all of them require a bit of science, some specialized equipment, and a lot of know-how.
Warning: Delta-8 THC is created using chemical solvents and acids. The conversion process should only be performed in the safety of a well-equipped lab by knowledgeable technicians to ensure not only your own safety, but the quality and safety of the final product. You are not Walter White, do not try this at home.
Making Delta-8 THC With Solvents
To convert hemp-derived CBD isolate into delta-8 THC, you start by dissolving your isolate in sulfuric acid in glacial acetic acid. Once dissolved, let it stand at room temperature and time will do the rest. After three days your CBD converts into 15% delta-9 THC, 54% delta-8 THC, 10% delta-8-iso THC (an isomer of delta-8 THC,) and 10% CBD.
Once the conversion is complete, the solution is added to water. Sodium bicarbonate is added to that to raise the pH level.
Desired cannabinoids are extracted with petrol ether, washed with water, and heated to evaporate residual solvents. Purification to increase delta-8 THC yields and remove delta-9 from your solution can be achieved with chromatography— a method of separating liquids by passing them through a medium in which the components (CBD, delta-9, delta-8) move at different rates.
Making Delta-8 THC Without Solvents
Not a fan of solvents? Don’t worry because there’s a delta-8 THC conversion for you! Hemp-derived CBD isolate can be converted into delta-8 THC with the use of anhydrous Zinc Chloride (ZnCL₂) and an oxygen-less environment.
Heat your CBD isolate with a small amount of Zinc Chloride, apply heat, and stir. After two hours 40-50%, delta-9 and delta-8 THC will have formed from the CBD.
