Is Delta 8 in hemp?

At this point, it’s getting harder to not hear stories about delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta 8 or D8 THC. It seems like pretty much every news outlet and blog site is talking about it, but there are still a lot of questions that remain unanswered for some people. For example, does it come from hemp? What kind of effects can it have? Is it legal? How do I take it? These are all great questions. We, here at DharmaD8, are going to help you answer them. So, are you ready to get started?

Can you find Delta 8 in hemp?

Let’s start with the main question of this article. Is D8 THC in hemp? The quick and simple answer is yes. Delta 8 can be found in hemp. But let’s discuss this in a little more detail. 

Firstly, hemp is a variation of the cannabis plant. You may have heard "hemp" and "cannabis" be used interchangeably with "marijuana". However, this isn’t the most accurate way to talk about these plants. Marijuana is another variation of cannabis, so using interchangeably doesn’t really work. Meanwhile, the word cannabis can be used to refer to these types of plants in general, but if you want to talk about one in particular, you should use its proper name. But how are these cannabis variations different?

The difference between hemp and marijuana lies in their chemical make-up. Cannabis plants are filled with chemical compounds that are known as cannabinoids. These compounds can do some pretty amazing stuff that we’ll talk about later, but they also help determine the difference between marijuana and hemp. D8 THC is one of over 100 different cannabinoids found in cannabis. Each of these is found in each variation of cannabis, but their concentration is what makes the difference.

Marijuana is filled with a cannabinoid called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta 9 THC). The level of Delta 9 THC contained within this plant is what differentiates marijuana from other Cannabis plants. Meanwhile, hemp is defined as having only 0.3% Delta 9 THC content. Thus, these two plants are set apart from each other. 

As mentioned before, both hemp and marijuana have Delta 8 in them. The levels of these compounds don’t seem to vary all that widely between the two varieties of plants. That being said, when you see a D8 THC product, it’s very likely that it was made using hemp instead of marijuana. We’ll explain why in a moment, but first, let’s talk about why you would use Delta 8 in the first place.

What does Delta 8 do?

So, now that we understand a little more about where exactly D8 THC comes from, let’s talk a bit about what it does and how it does it.

We mentioned earlier that cannabinoids are able to do some pretty impressive stuff. They can interact with and have an effect on the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). This is a system found in the human body made up of cellular receptors that control a number of different functions. In this way, cannabinoids, like Delta 8 are able to have different effects on people. Here are just a few examples of what these effects could be.

Gives you a feeling of euphoria

The potential of experiencing a feeling of euphoria is one of the main reasons why people use cannabis in general. There is a good chance that you associate this feeling (also called a high) with Delta 9 THC much more than D8 THC. There are a number of reasons for this, mainly due to the fact that Delta 9 THC is much more famous than its counterpart.  We briefly mentioned that while Delta 9 THC and D8 THC have similar names, they are still different. They have a double bond that is in a slightly different spot in each one. This changes the way that they behave when interacting with the ECS.

The way that Delta 9 THC is built, it binds with the ECS receptors very tightly. This causes the psychoactive feeling of euphoria usually associated with THC. But because Delta 8 is built differently, it can’t bind with the ECS receptors in the same way. It still binds with them, however, this bond is not quite as tight. In turn, this leads to a differing feeling of euphoria, compared to that of D9. It’s often described as less intense and more bodily. But cannabinoids affect everyone in a different way, and your experience will most likely vary from that of someone else. 

May help with pain

This is an idea that has recently gained more traction. It is a common argument that cannabis should be legalized on the merit of it being able to help with pain. However, it is rarely discussed what exactly it is about cannabis that could help with pain. As it turns out, it is the cannabinoids found in cannabis plants like hemp that appear to have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects. D8 THC could be counted in this group, as studies, like this one, have found that Delta 8 could be effective in helping deal with pain and inflammation of all kinds.

May help with asthma

One area of D8 THC research that seems to be particularly promising is the idea that it may be able to help with asthma and asthma-related symptoms. There is a study that especially highlights this. This study found that Delta 8 may be able to help increase bronchodilation. This is when the lungs are able to expand more easily, allowing air to flow through with few problems. This could mean that D8 THC could make life easier for people with asthma.

May help with anxiety

If you’re at all familiar with the stereotypes surrounding THC, then this may seem odd at first. You probably know some stories about people having paranoia when they use too much Delta 9 THC. So, how exactly could Delta 8 help with anxiety if it’s so similar to Delta 9 THC? Well, it would seem that the answer lies in the ECS. As we mentioned, the ECS is able to help control several different functions throughout the body. One of these, researchers have recently found, is how we feel and process fear. More specifically, researchers have determined that it is the ECS receptor called CB1 that particularly has an effect on this function. CB1 happens to be the main ECS receptor that D8 THC interacts with. This means that Delta 8 could help soothe anxiety when used at the right levels.

These are a few examples of the different effects that D8 THC could have. It is good to remember that cannabinoids, including Delta 8, don’t always affect people in the same way. Some people will feel different effects than you. This is normal because everyone’s body chemistry is different. So, cannabinoids are going to have varying interactions with the ECS.

Is Delta 8 legal?

Now that you know all there is to know about where D8 THC comes from and what it could do, let’s move on to one of the biggest questions that people tend to have about it: Is Delta 8 legal in the United States?

The short answer is yes, but there are some nuances to this that are important to understand. In 2018, something pivotal happened. The latest version of the Farm Bill was passed. This bill helps control all things agriculture in the United States. Every five years or so, this bill is reviewed, revised, and passed again with updates. The 2018 version of the bill federally legalized industrial hemp. This legalization also included the cannabinoids found in hemp, including D8 THC (with the exception of Delta 9 THC; since it is considered a Schedule one drug).

This is where things get a bit nuanced. The phrase “federal legalization” may sound like it is legal everywhere in the country. But in all reality, it essentially means that the federal government isn’t going to get in the way of states legalizing it themselves. When industrial hemp was federally legalized, most states legalized it too. There are still a few that have kept it illegal and others that have specifically singled out Delta 8 to stay illegal.

Therefore,  D8 THC is likely legal in your state, but it’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with the local laws on hemp and Delta 8. That way you can be sure you’re not doing anything illegal.

What products does Delta 8 come in?

So, at this point you know where D8 THC comes from, the different uses for it, and have a better idea of whether or not it’s legal where you live. Now we should talk about the different products that contain Delta 8.

Good news! There are a lot of products for you to choose from. So, to help you find the perfect product faster, here are the main categories of Delta 8 products for you to choose from.

Smokables

The products in this category are probably the most common. It includes anything you can smoke containing D8 THC, including blunts and vapes. You can choose from pre-rolled joints and hemp flower that you roll into a blunt yourself, and vape pens and vapable oils that you use in your own reusable pen. A lot of people prefer smoking their Delta 8 because it starts working faster than any other D8 THC product. When you smoke it, there aren’t any barriers that the Delta 8 has to get through before it is in your system. That being said, the effects of smokable D8 THC products wear off much more quickly than any of the other products. So, this means that you have to keep taking hit after hit. For some people this isn’t much of an issue, for others, it’s a deal-breaker. It just depends on personal preference.

Oils

Another common product to find Delta 8 in is oils. These products are also pretty simple, usually consisting of just the D8 THC extract and a carrier oil. The appeal of these products is that they offer you some flexibility in how you use them. There isn't a set way in which you use Delta 8 oils, but there are a few methods that are more popular. One of these is by putting the oil directly under your tongue. Through this method, the D8 THC is able to absorb through the thin skin in your mouth, helping it to start working pretty quickly. Another way of using a Delta 8 oil is by incorporating it into your cooking. This way you are basically making your own D8 THC edibles. This is a little slower than when you just put the oil in your mouth, but the effects last for a while longer.

Edibles

The final category of Delta 8 products is edibles. We touched on these a bit in the above section. They are any food or drink that has been made with D8 THC in them. They are incredibly popular because they taste great and are easy to use. The one downside is that they can take a while to start working. This is due to the fact that food needs to digest a little before it can release the Delta 8 into your bloodstream. However, it does appear that the effects last much longer than with any other method of use. If you’re looking for a yummy way to consume some D8, then consider Delta 8 gummies.

Choosing the right D8 THC product may seem daunting at first. But knowing what categories you have to choose from should make this an easier task.

There you have it, everything you need to know about D8 THC and hemp. If after reading all of that you’re ready to give some a try then you’re in the right place. Here at DharmaD8, we supply all the best hemp has to offer. Our high-quality Delta 8 products could be just what you need. If you have any unanswered questions, don’t hesitate to visit our contact page to get a hold of a DharmaD8 team member. We want to hear from you!