Is Delta 8 THC Natural or Synthetic?

Delta 8 THC is a chemical compound that can be found in the hemp plant. The Delta 8 THC molecule has been around for decades and it comes from the same family as cannabidiol (CBD). This means that while Delta 8 is naturally derived, it can also be made synthetically in a lab to produce more of this chemical-- namely from cannabidiol (CBD) and Delta-9 THC. 

Delta 8 THC is a natural cannabinoid

Though it can be produced synthetically made in a lab, Delta 8 THC is natured derived from industrial hemp. Delta-8 is not a synthetic like Spice or K2. Only natural Delta-8 THC from the hemp plant is considered legal under the 2018 Farm Bill.

Delta-8 can also be made synthetically in a lab to produce more of this chemical. That being said, natural Delta-8 THC is legal because it comes from industrial hemp plants whereas synthetic Delta-8 THC does not.

Natural Delta-8 was legalized by The Farm Bill in December 2018 and only applies to those who are producing products with no more than 0.3% Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), under the federal guidelines.

Synthetic products are often created in laboratories

Be aware that synthetic cannabinoids such as "Spice" and "K2" are not natural, and are made synthetically in a lab. These types of synthetic cannabinoids are then further refined and transformed into synthetic products. Synthetic products can cause adverse effects.

In its natural form, Delta-8 THC is not a synthetic compound. The chemical structure of Delta-8 derived from the industrial hemp/cannabis plant differs from that made from synthetic marijuana/hemp.

Commonly used as a substitute for marijuana, "Spice" is a term used to describe synthetic cannabinoids, as described in a scholarly article on the subject. Though Spice is commonly desired as a way to get a "legal high" and is typically not detectable on drug tests, it has shown to have adverse effects, too, especially among adults.

For the rise in emergency room visits among other reasons, the DEA has labeled synthetic cannabinoids as Schedule 1 drugs. No research thus far suggests that synthetic products are a safe alternative to natural hemp-derived products.

Real cannabinoids, such as CBD and Delta-8 THC, are made for human consumption as they interact with the Endocannabinoid System already in the body. The impact of hemp-derived cannabinoids is well-researched and backed by years of studies.

Synthetic THC products with high potency levels may have serious consequences that could include paranoia, hallucinations and psychosis in some people. It should be noted that unlike the naturally occurring cannabinoids from hemp-derived cannabinoids, Synthetic THC products are also prohibitive under the federal 2018 Farm Bill.

Synthetic cannabinoids are often used to mimic the effects of natural cannabinoids

Often marketed as a substitute to marijuana products, synthetic cannabinoids have been shown to be more dangerous than natural hemp-derived products.

Of the less-famous cannabinoids, Delta-8 THC is a remarkable minor cannabinoid in that it comes from the THC-family. Unlike Delta-9 THC, though, which federal law requires products to contain less than or equal to .3% Delta-9 THC, Delta-8 THC is federally legal and requires no maximum amount. The best part: Delta-8 is psychoactive! It'll get you high, man. Who would've known that this cannabinoid from hemp would be so desirable in 2021?!

Due to Delta-9's similarity with marijuana, we wanted to address some of your common questions for how a natural product, like Delta-8, differs from other synthetic products on the market.

Delta 8 vs K2

Is K2 delta 8? No, it's not even close!

Synthetic products, like, K2 are using synthetic cannabinoids which are made in a lab by humans. Delta 8 is naturally found in the industrial hemp plant. With Delta 8, the product simply needs to be extracted from the plant to be transformed into natural products.

Delta 8 vs Spice

We get this question, too, almost everyday: is delta 8 the new spice? Again, the answer is no!
In some cases, Delta 8 can be converted from cannabidiol (CBD) and Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This process requires a lab, but the question of spice raises many other issues.

With spice, it is made from JWH-018 -- along with all of its varieties -- and it is made in labs. Spice is designed in a way to interact with CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, just as a natural hemp-derived product would interact with these receptors within the Endocannabinoid System. However, spice contains 0 benefits derived from hemp products, and contains all of the warnings (addressed above) whenever the spice attempts to fake its effects within the components of the Endocannabinoid System.

Be Smart Out There

The primary difference between synthetic THC and natural hemp-derived cannabinoids is the process of refinement. Synthetic cannabinoids are derived from chemicals or other artificial substances, while naturally occurring hemp-based cannabinoids come from refined hemp material and transformed into natural Delta-8 products.