Although products made from cannabis have enjoyed ever-increasing acceptance and popularity in the U.S., different states have imposed varying regulations on these products’ legality. One cannabis-based substance that many states regard as legal, Delta-8-THC, offers potent benefits without the psychotropic impact of stronger substances.
If you have heard about this substance and wonder whether it might help you manage your health challenges, you should learn about its forms, effects, benefits, and legal availability. Check out these frequently asked questions about delta-8-THC products.
How Does Delta-8-THC Differ From Delta-9-THC?
Chemically, delta-8-THC closely resembles delta-9-THC, the more familiar form of THC found in marijuana. The only difference involves the addition of a double carbon bond on the compound’s eight carbon chain (as opposed to the ninth carbon chain). However, this tiny difference in chemical makeup bears important implications.
Delta-9-THC binds tightly to the brain’s endocannabinoid receptors, which enables this form of THC to endow users with the characteristic high felt from marijuana and marijuana derivatives. However, delta-8-THC binds less tightly to these receptors, producing a more subdued high in some users and no discernible high in others.
What Health Benefits Can Delta-8-THC Offer?
Delta-8-THC has demonstrated considerable potential for managing a wide range of symptoms and health conditions. Researchers have observed its ability to boost appetite and relieve pain. A study of children undergoing chemotherapy also indicated that it can help prevent or reduce the vomiting that often accompanies this kind of treatment.
Delta-8-THC might even have the ability to fight cancer directly. In studies, it has inhibited the growth of cancer cells, placing it alongside delta-9-THC as a potentially useful future treatment option.
Other research hints the delta-8-THC may have a future as an Alzheimer’s disease treatment because it optimizes the brain’s supply of an essential neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. It may also reduce feelings of anxiety and depression without impairing alertness or mental focus.
Why Do Some People Prefer Delta-8-thc Over Delta-9-thc For Recreational Purposes?
Delta-9-THC may impart a much more powerful high than delta-8-THC, but many recreational users actually prefer the more subdued effects of the latter compound. Too much marijuana, for instance, can produce feelings of intense anxiety, paranoia, and dissociation that some people can find uncomfortable or even alarming.
By contrast, delta-8-THC provides only a fraction of delta-9-THC’s psychotropic power. This property not only sidesteps the unpleasant feelings sometimes associated with delta-9-THC, but it also makes it much easier for people to find therapeutic doses that ease their physical complaints without necessarily making them high.
Which States Allow the Purchase of Delta-8-THC?
You can legally purchase delta-8-THC products in any state that has legalized cannabis for recreational and medical purposes. The current list includes California, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, South Dakota, Illinois, Michigan, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Alaska, Montana, and New Jersey.
If you have the appropriate medical documentation, you may purchase delta-8-THC in states that have legalized delta-9-THC for medical use only. Currently, 22 states permit the sale of medical cannabis, to varying degrees. For instance, although Texas hasn’t legalized delta-9-THC use in any form, it does allow the sale of hemp-based products such as delta-8-THC. Be sure to check your state’s laws before you purchase any cannabinoid products.
What Forms Do Delta-8-THC Products Take?
Delta-8-THC products can come in a variety of forms. You may find them available as gummies, brownies, and other edibles. Delta-8-THC tinctures include droppers that let you place the liquid compound under your tongue. You can even inhale delta-8-THC vape oil from a vape cartridge.