Even though delta 8 is popping up a lot these days, there is still some confusion over it. For one, delta 8 is THC, but not the federally illegal one you often think about when you hear those three letters (that’s delta-9 THC). Don’t worry. We are going to lay this out for you here, because we want the Canna River crew to understand what they are consuming, what it means, and what the legalities are currently.
THE BASICS
Delta 8-Tetrahydrocannabinol is a cannabinoid found in cannabis—both hemp and marijuana. That means it’s part of the entourage effect just like CBD, THC (the other one), CBN, CBG, and so on.
Like its more intoxicating sibling, delta 9, delta 8 has two bonds in its chemical structure. (Fun fact: It is believed this is where the psychoactive aspect of THC comes from!) On a chemical level, the only difference between delta 8 and delta 9 THC is where this double bond occurs. In delta 8, it’s on the eighth carbon. In delta 9, it’s on the ninth.
THE EXPERIENCE
Okay, so chemistry class aside, what does this mean for you? Well, that double bond placement changes the cannabinoid enough to impact its psychoactive effects. Delta 8 is intoxicating, even though it isn’t nearly as potent as regular THC (delta 9). That said, if you take a high potency delta 8 product, you’re probably going to feel a head change, so be safe when you enjoy it. Driving or operating machinery is not recommended.
ALL-THINGS LEGAL
Delta 8 currently falls into a grey area that keeps it legal (at least for now) for all of us to enjoy, because manufacturers generally extract delta 8 from hemp. Hemp is federally legal via the 2018 Farm Bill. The one caveat is the product must have less than .3% THC (delta 9). Since a high potency delta 8 product can still observe these guidelines, it is technically legal. Whether or not this will change in the future is still up in the air. But for now, as long as a product is Farm Bill compliant, we’re peachy.
That said, delta 8 can trigger drug tests. Additionally, some states have local regulations preventing legal sales and consumption in those regions. So consume with care! Do what’s best for you and follow your local guidelines. Please know we do not ship to any state in which local laws conflict with the Farm Bill. This is for our safety and yours.
WHAT’S IN A NAME
As we introduce delta 8 products at Canna River, we want it to be clear that they are a bit different than taking CBD alone and have added some extra precautions due to their potential experiential effects. Moreover, we want people to know that delta 8 is short for delta-8 THC but is not regular THC. So we are going to use the number distinction whenever possible.
If you see “THC” by itself on a Canna River product, it is referring to delta-9 THC. All of our delta 8 products will be clearly labeled DELTA 8. As industry standards change, we will update our packages accordingly.
Ready to take a trip down some rapids? Explore Canna River's full collection of Delta 8 hemp products now.
