According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are currently at least 144 cannabinoids isolated from the cannabis plant. The most popular among them is Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive compound known to offer all the stereotypical effects of becoming high. Yet it seems a lesser-known cannabinoid with more than half the psychoactive potency of Delta-9-THC is poised to challenge its dominance.
No, it’s not CBD, CBN, CBG or CBC; it is Delta-8 THC, an analogue of Delta-9-THC.
The cannabinoid was probably legalized in December 2018 when the Farm Bill was passed; but only in September 2019 will 3Chi, an online cannabis retailer, become the first company to sell Delta-8-THC cartridges, gums, tinctures and concentrates in all 38 states that it is legal – both online and in retail stores. According to 3Chi, the company is “the largest Delta-8-THC company in the country with products in every state in which Delta-8 is legal”. Their 1000 ml cartridges sell for about $ 25 per shipment, making it much cheaper than most Delta-9 THC cartridges sold in recreational strips.
From a molecular perspective, Delta-9-THC and Delta-8 are not so different. Except that a certain chemical bond appears on the 8th carbon – instead of the 9th. Dr. Peter Grinspoon, a medical instructor at Harvard Medical School, estimates Delta-8 “has some, but not all, of the psycho-activity as Delta-9”, which is the majority in the cannabis industry. People often report that Delta-8, due to its reduced strength, offers them a smoother, lighter peak that is less calming and more functional than Delta-9. Another researcher, dr. Max Mikheev, CEO and scientific officer for the biotechnology firm BIOMEDICAN, notes that people anecdotally report that it offers all the benefits of Delta-9 – without the anxiety or paranoia.
However, the legality surrounding Delta-8 remains complicated. “While Delta-8-THC is legal if it is derived from hemp, the process most commonly used to make Delta-8 – synthetically changing downtown into Delta-8-THC – is probably not legal,” says Joseph Hoelscher, founding member of the Texas Association of Cannabis Lawyers and longtime member of the NORML Legal Committee. According to Hoelscher, who represents canna companies in Texas, the synthetic modification of the CBD is considered the cost-effective method for manufacturers to produce Delta-8-THC wholesale, which otherwise exists only in fractions of one percent in hemp plants. However, this process is federally prohibited.
“Just as many jurisdictions have struggled to build the infrastructure to correctly identify legal hemp, few scientists have the ability to determine how a sample of Delta-8-THC was obtained,” says Hoelsccher. “The DOJ is aware of this and we can expect them to find out how they can prosecute these cases.”
Asked about the future of Delta-8’s legality, a DEA spokesman told Rolling Stone that the agency is currently working on the government process on implementing the 2018 Agricultural Improvement Act – which covers the scope of regulatory controls on marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinols and other marijuana-related ingredients – and therefore cannot comment on delta-8 until the process is complete.
The spokesperson added that ‘the emergence of different marijuana components emphasizes the importance of research. There is much to learn about the impact of marijuana and its chemical ingredients, and the DEA and the DOJ fully support these research efforts. Therefore, a few weeks ago, with the support of our interagency partners, we announced unprecedented action to expand opportunities for scientific research. and medical research on marijuana in the United States. ”
To ease the concerns of customers, LiftedMade has a complete section on its website which states that they will also send and which will not. Because of the danger of the law, LiftedMade may label Delta-8 as’ legal ‘in one state, like Connecticut, and others only as’ likely’ legal ‘in another state like California. “I think the Delta-8 will dwarf the downtown market and be bigger than any other cannabinoid in any other space,” said Nicholas Warrander, CEO of LiftedMade, a company that sells hemp and hemp products across the U.S., which will soon to be sold in 2,500 independent pharmacies across the country. A large expectation of people with downtown felt something, and Delta-8 provided it. In many ways, Delta-8 is the bridge between the hemp industry and the marijuana industry, as it can be used recreationally, not just medically. ”
As soon as Craig Henderson of Extract Labs, a veteran-owned Colorado business in Colorado known for producing high-quality minor cannabinoids, sees other companies like LiftedMade and 3Chi take the plunge – and are not plagued by regulators – he decided it was time to embrace Delta-8. ‘I was nervous about being the first man out of it. It was only when we saw how people advertise and market it – let’s try to make it better than everyone else, ”says Henderson. However, despite its strong sales of Delta-8, Henderson says he is still concerned that the cannabinoid may undergo a major regulatory investigation.
Brett Sandman of JustCBD, a leading online market for downtown products, does not carry Delta-8 products. From its perspective, retail demand for Delta-8 is fueled by vape stores and e-cig stores turning to save their business paralyzed by a combination of the pandemic and recent regulation. “Because of the ban on fragrance oil and vape oil, most of these stores just kept going,” Sandman said. Rolling clip via email. “The boom in Delta 8 is helping these small business owners keep their lights on.”
Instead of bothering to manufacture their own Delta-8-THC, some pharmacies and smoking stores buy it in bulk from reputable manufacturers such as Elevated Wellness, a downtown business founded by a pharmacy foundation, and rename it as their own. . However, Ross Anderson, general manager of Elevated Wellness, says the reception of potential customers to Delta-8 was mixed. “Depending on the organization, they can be super receptive or a little hesitant,” Anderson says. Rolling clip. “The people / companies who hesitate usually do not fully understand it. But some businesses will not enter D8, simply for fear that they may make a large investment and will not be able to sell it in the near future if laws are made against Delta-8 (which is ultimately a possible outcome), causing a hefty loss. ‘
In some ways, Delta-8 sounds too good to be true. But it is not. For people who want to experience the psycho-effects of Delta-9 but still find it paranoid or anxious, Delta-8 is a quasi-legal option available online. And unlike Delta-9, Delta-8 is significantly cheaper, making it a viable option for some people looking for a short uplifting feel without being intoxicated. But judging by how much attention Delta-8 gets by law enforcement, the trend could be short-lived. Despite the budding success of Delta-8 over the past year, any day may be the last of the cannabinoids.