Guide to Delta 8 THC - The Perfect Match for CBD

Move over, CBD and THC: there’s a new cannabinoid in town. 

Actually, Delta 8 THC is far from new — it’s just underrated! Here’s how this interesting cannabinoid could transform your health and wellness routine. 

• Background on Delta8 THC
• Delta8 THC for Health & Wellness
• Is Delta8 THC Psychotropic?
• CBD & Delta8 THC: A Perfect Match?
• Where to Find Delta8 THC

A Little Background on Delta 8 THC

In 2018, the Federal Farm Bill legalized hemp-derived CBD products, on one condition: they had to contain less than .3% THC. Simple enough — at least at first.  

But soon people began wondering about the legality of other cannabinoids. What about THC’s raw form, THCa? What about CBN, CBG, or other cannabinoids? 

It turned out they were legal, too, so long as hemp (not marijuana) was their original source. One particular cannabiboid known as  Delta 8 THC has become especially popular. 

Although it is chemically similar to Delta-9 THC,   Delta8 possesses some pretty impressive qualities. Per the National Cancer Institute, it has “antiemetic, anxiolytic, appetite-stimulating, analgesic, and neuroprotective properties.” 

Delta 8 THC for Health & Wellness

Delta 8 THC has many of the same potential health benefits as CBD...and many of the same mental effects as THC. Indeed, research from the world’s leading cannabis experts has shown that Delta 8 THC binds to both CB1 and CB2 endocannabinoid receptors. 

Delta 8 THC is thought to be especially great at regulating something called neurotransmission, or the brain’s ability to transmit neuronal messages. One study found Delta 8 could increase acetylcholine levels — and acetylcholine has been linked to everything from increased neuroplasticity to reduced memory loss. In other words, it seems Delta 8 THC helps the brain’s various hormones and messenger molecules communicate...with each other.  

Other potential benefits of Delta 8 THC include:

• Appetite stimulation
• Mood stabilization
• Pain relief

All this — without the dry mouth or unsettle feelings sometimes caused by other psychoactive cannabinoids.

As one study attested, “delta(8)-THC [...] caused increased food consumption and tendency to improve cognitive function, without cannabimimetic side effects.”

One final benefit: Delta 8 THC is already oxidized (i.e., reduced by oxygen), so it’s more shelf-stable than virtually any other cannabinoid. Practically speaking this means you don’t have to worry about Delta8 products being broken down by heat or sunlight.

Is Delta8  THC Psychotropic?

Yes, Delta 8 is indeed psychotropic...but not quite as psychotropic as what you would expect with Delta-9-THC. Some sources estimate it’s only 50% as psychoactive. 

Delta 8’s affinity for CB2 receptors (endocannabinoid receptors located in the peripheral body) may actually counterbalance its more mental effects. This means Delta8 THC tends to be better for those with anxiousness than regular THC is. 

And while Delta 8 THC is psychotropic, that doesn’t mean CBD products that contain it will be getting anyone high. Small amounts of Delta8 produce a very mellow type of upliftment more comparable to a glass of wine than a joint or two. Customers report staying lucid and clear-minded almost regardless of how much Delta8 they take. 

Even large amounts of the compound don’t produce anything too overwhelming. You can safely take Delta8 THC prior to your favorite hike or bike ride — it’s perfect for getting out and enjoying nature.  

CBD & Delta 8 THC: A Perfect Match?

Delta 8 THC may even help amplify hemp’s already-impressive entourage effect. Remember, it binds to both CB1 (like THC) and CB2 (like CBD). 

Where to Find Delta 8 THC

Delta 8 THC used to be pretty hard to come by; in the past, only a few dedicated medical cannabis labs carried it. 

But here’s the thing: cannabis-derived Delta8 isn’t federally legal...only hemp-derived Delta 8 is. Besides, Delta8 created through fractional distillation and sourced this way is more than a little pricey. 

For these reasons, the best source of Delta 8 THC is premium hemp flower — and premium CBD products derived from it. These products are naturally rich in CBD, THC, Delta 8 THC, CBG, CBN, and more. 

If you want to engage the entourage effect and feel your very best, there’s probably no better way.