Is Delta 8 safe?

If there is one thing that everyone can agree on, it’s that we all want the products we use to be completely safe. When it comes to new products, it can be kind of hard to be sure if they are safe or not. Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta 8 or D8 THC) is no exception. Ever since it first hit the mainstream, there has been a bunch of excitement around it, but not many people have been talking about the safety of this compound. We, at DharmaD8, are big believers in transparency. We want to make sure you know all you can about Delta 8 and how safe it is before you run off and buy any. So, let’s talk about it.

Some of the basics of Delta 8

To start with, let’s go over the basics of D8 THC; that way, you’ll have a clearer understanding of what it may have in store.

Delta 8 is what’s known as a cannabinoid. Cannabinoids are a group of chemical compounds that are found in cannabis plants. They are pretty notable because they are able to do something that just about no other compound outside the body can do. They are able to manipulate the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). This is a series of receptors that can have some major effects on different functions in the human body. This means that cannabinoids can affect these functions as well (we’ll talk about what those functions are a bit later). 

There are over 100 different cannabinoids that are found in cannabis plants. With a number that high, it’s pretty likely that you’ve heard of one or the other cannabinoids. More specifically, it’s pretty likely that you’ve heard of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta 9 THC), more often referred to as just THC. You’ll pretty much immediately notice that it has a name very similar to D8 THC. This is because they are almost the same. They are built in similar ways, but each of them has a double bond that is in a different spot. This means that they are considered different compounds.

That difference in structure is also enough to mean that they have slightly different effects as well. As you probably already know, Delta 9 THC is famous for creating the high that is so often associated with cannabis. It’s able to do this by binding tightly with the ECS receptors. Delta 8 is also able to do something similar. It binds with ECS receptors tight enough to cause a similar feeling of euphoria. However, because of how it’s built, it can’t bind quite as tightly as Delta 9 THC. This means that D8 THC creates a high, but that high is different. It’s usually described as not as intense and more bodily than Delta 9 THC.

Because it can be connected so easily to Delta 9 THC, there is a lot of confusion around whether or not D8 THC is legal. That is understandable, but we’re here to tell you that there isn’t much to worry about in this area. Back in 2018, the latest version of the Farm Bill was passed. This version made industrial hemp and all of its cannabinoids federally legal in the United States. However, each state has its own laws regarding hemp. While it is legal in most states, there are a few states that still have not legalized hemp. So, make sure that you do some research to be certain that Delta 8 is legal in your state.

Now that we have discussed the basics of Delta 8, let’s start on D8 THC safety.

Is Delta 8 safe?

It’s completely natural to want to know more about how safe D8 THC is. However, it is very new to the mainstream. This means that the research is still ongoing. We’re still trying to fully understand what it does and how. So, we are hard-pressed to say what kind of effects it has.

That being said, one thing seems to be clear. Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC appear to be very much similar. This means that the effects that D8 THC has are probably going to be really close to the effects that Delta 9 THC has. The biggest issue associated with Delta 9 THC is taking too much of it. When you take too much Delta 9 THC, you can expect side effects like paranoia, fatigue, and a major change in appetite. This means that there is a chance that Delta 8 could have similar effects due to the similarities between these two cannabinoids. Like with Delta 9 THC, it’s probably best to start with a small amount of D8 and wait for the effects to hit you. Be sure to wait for a while before you start taking more. That way, you won’t accidentally take too much. 

One thing that is good to remember is that people tend to feel negative effects from D8 THC if it isn’t used at the right levels or if the Delta 8 product isn’t of the highest quality. The D8 THC industry is still very new. As a result,  there are people who take advantage of the lack of general knowledge on this compound and make low-quality products. There are companies that are not transparent about the ingredients and extracting and processing methods. This could lead to building a poor perception of Delta 8.

Because there is not enough research on the kind of effects D8 THC specifically could have, it’s hard to say what all side effects a person can experience. That being said, the research that has been done so far has found some very positive results for Delta 8.

What other effects could it have?

Speaking of research that has found some positive effects of D8 THC, let’s talk about some of the other effects that Delta 8 could have. Like we mentioned above, there isn’t a ton of research on D8 THC yet, and the research that has been done is very new. But this research is still very exciting and encouraging. Let’s talk about some of the positive effects of D8 THC.

Help with asthma

As anyone with asthma knows, the condition can often be unpredictable. The smallest, most unexpected things can trigger an attack, making breathing difficult or almost impossible. This is why those who have asthma need to carry around inhalers to make sure that an attack is just an attack and nothing more than that. This also means that those with asthma are always looking for ways to help prevent attacks. There is a chance that Delta 8 could help with that. This study found that D8 THC could help with bronchodilation. The study suggests that Delta 8 could help the lungs expand more efficiently, allowing more air to flow through and making breathing easier. This study and concept are both relatively new. There is a lot more research that needs to be done. However, it’s encouraging to know that D8 THC can be helpful in asthma.

Help with anxiety

As mentioned above, it’s not uncommon for paranoia to be associated with D8 THC and other cannabinoids. However, this doesn’t mean that Delta 8 can’t help with anxiety. As we touched on earlier, D8 THC interacts with the ECS. One of the many things that ECS affects is our ability to process fear and other similar emotions. This could very well be a reason on its own to think that Delta 8 could influence anxiety. However, there are also studies that have suggested that the ECS receptor CB1 is particularly responsible for how we feel anxiety. This happens to be one of the main ECS receptors that D8 THC interacts with, signifying that this cannabinoid could really help with anxiety.

This is all very exciting and promising. However, taking too much of any THC cannabinoid (including Delta 8)- could result in adverse effects. Instead of feeling relaxed, you could feel pretty anxious. So, always be careful when you’re trying D8 THC for the first time so that you don’t accidentally take too much.

Help with pain

This is a common reason why people use cannabis in general, but THC cannabinoids seem to help in particular. There have been many studies, like this one, that have found Delta 8 to be helpful in dealing with pain. The reason why it appears that D8 THC can have an effect on pain is that it is the ECS that helps control pain. This means that Delta 8 could have a major effect on pain just by interacting with the receptors it interacts with. None of this should be surprising when you consider the fact that Delta 9 THC is often touted for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. So, it really only follows that D8 THC should have a similar effect.

These are just a few of the examples of the potential benefits that Delta 8 could have in store for you. But there is one thing that is always important to remember. Not everyone is affected by D8 THC in the same way. Some people have stronger reactions than others. Some people need only a little to feel the compound’s effects. In contrast, others might need more of it. Just because you don’t notice any effects right away doesn’t mean that there won’t be any effects later. It could just mean that you require a little bit more Delta 8 to feel any effects than the people around you. And that is perfectly normal.

How to find high-quality Delta 8

You may be wondering how you can find good D8 THC products so that you don’t have a poor reaction to the compound. The big thing is that you need to be willing to do a bit of research. But you’ve come this far for your research, so going a bit further shouldn’t be a problem! Let’s go over what you should look for in a Delta 8 product.

Reviews are everything

We all know that reading some reviews can make all the difference in your shopping. Instead of wasting your money on something that won’t work, you can be warned by reviews. The same can be said for D8 THC products. Reading the reviews can help you figure out whether or not a product is made with high-quality ingredients and is worth your time and money. If you’re having issues finding reviews on a manufacturer’s site, check out some third-party sites. They should have something about the company and products that you’re interested in.

Price is not everything

It’s not uncommon to think that the price of a product is a good indicator of the quality. That may be true for some products, but isn’t necessarily the case for Delta 8. Like we mentioned earlier, the D8 THC industry is very new. So, the prices can vary pretty widely as people figure out how much they should charge. Some people take advantage of this by charging astronomical prices because they think that they can. It doesn’t necessarily mean that their products are actually any good. Others will charge little to get you to buy, but if the price seems too good to be true, it might actually be fake or low-quality. So, look for companies like Dharma D8 that provide high-quality D8 THC products at reasonable prices. 

Testing… testing…

The final and arguably most important thing to look for with Delta 8 products is whether or not the product and extract have been tested properly. These tests should be looking at the cannabinoid content of the extract and the general quality. If a company doesn’t provide you with this information, it’s probably time to look elsewhere.

When it comes to finding high-quality products, you don’t actually need to look any further than DharmaD8! DharmaD8 site has all types of high-quality Delta 8 products, like D8 THC gummies! All of these products are carefully tested and are reasonably priced. You can take a look at our products on our shop page. If you have any questions, drop us a line! You can reach our team through our contact page. We look forward to hearing from you!