There are all kinds of new cannabis products hitting the market right now, and it can be hard to understand the difference between all the kinds out there! In this blog we’ll be going over Delta 8 THC vs. Select Spectrum products, so you can get a better idea of what those are and which one you want. Select Spectrum products contain federally legal amounts of delta-9 THC. That means this blog will in a sense look at the question- what’s the difference between delta-8 THC and delta-9 THC?
Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (or Delta-9 THC) is one the numerous naturally occurring chemical compounds found in hemp and marijuana plants. Delta-9 THC is best known for causing the ‘high’ sensation when using cannabis. Products with above 0.3% delta-9 THC levels are federally illegal. Delta-8 THC is its legal cousin. Classified as a cannabinoid, its popularity has continued to rise because of the health benefits it provides to its users. This rise in popularity can be attributed to several reasons. But, the majority of users have reported switching over to the compound because of its reduced side effects.
What is Delta 8 THC?
Delta-9 THC (Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol) is the more known and more prevalent psychoactive compound found in marijuana. It is also what is responsible to inducing feelings of highness in users. The difference between Delta-8 THC and Delta-9 THC is the location of a double bond between both carbons. With Delta-8, the double bonds are located on the 8th carbon and located on the 9th carbon with Delta-9 THC. This simple change is why Delta-8’s effect is milder when stacked against Delta-9.
Getting access to a well-deserved high is easier and quicker than ever before. And although there are a lot of factors responsible for this, we owe a lot to the 2018 Farm Bill. That’s what allowed the sale of hemp products, as long as they contain 0.3% THC or less. This, coupled with the emergence of Delta 8 THC, has caused a huge wave in the cannabis community. Today, Delta 8 is available as gummies, vapes and tinctures with more products surely on the way. But irrespective of its popularity, a lot of questions still surround Delta 8 THC. A major question we hear: ‘is Delta 8 synthetic?’
Exploring Delta 8 THC
Known primarily because of its similarity to Delta-9 THC, which is the major psychoactive compound in cannabis. Delta-8 on the other hand also goes by Delta-lite not only because of the reduced high users experience but also because of the reduced side effects users experience as well. Scientifically speaking, the difference between the Delta-8 and Delta-8 compound is the location of the double bond within the carbons. With Delta-8, the double bonds are located on the 8th carbon and located on the 9th carbon with Delta-9 THC.
What Are Synthetic Cannabinoids?
Before we delve into major question, we need to define a synthetic cannabinoid.
You might be surprised to know that synthetic cannabinoids are already used by members of the cannabis community. Slangs like K2 and spice are colloquial names used to define synthetic cannabinoids. These are lab-produced cannabinoids or chemical compounds. They are able to mimic the properties and effects of natural phytocannabinoids derived from hemp or cannabis. They also work like natural phytocannabinoids in the sense they interactt with the same cannabinoid receptors as their natural counterparts. That means they sometimes induce similar effects as well.
Depending on who you ask, synthetic cannabinoids could raise some eyebrows. But what is the main difference between synthetic cannabinoids and its natural counterparts. According to professionals, the main difference between the two is the intensity of the effects it has on receptors within the body. This seemingly simple difference could have more severe ramifications in effects being too strong, which is important to bear in mind.
So, Is Delta 8 THC Synthetic?
Without a doubt, Delta 8 THC is not synthetic. It is a naturally occurring cannabis compound that exists both in marijuana and hemp plants. However, the amount of Delta 8 in these plants is usually so little that it takes a massive amount of plant material before one acquires a significant amount of this compound.
This is a major reason why most manufacturers would rather procure their Delta 8 via synthesis of CBD as opposed to extracting it straight form the plant material. And although this process might be considered expensive, it is cheaper and more efficient than the extraction of Delta 8 directly from the plant material. It may sound synthetic, but this does not make it a synthetic cannabinoid.
And to ensure Delta-8 THC remains accessible, legal, convenient and viable for everyone, newer strains of hemp are coming along in order to increase the yield of Delta 8 THC that exists in the plant material.
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What is Select Spectrum?
Select Spectrum refers to a new range of products that combine cannabinoids extracted from hemp in a pre-determined balance in order to achieve an outcome known as the ‘entourage effect’. Our select spectrum products contain 1omg of CBD & 10mg of Delta-9 THC, naturally occurring compounds extracted from hemp. By combining CBD and Delta 9 THC, we’re bringing together their respective effects and combining them for a stronger response. This is termed as “entourage effect”.
But with all hemp and cannabinoid products, it is important to remember that everyone reacts differently. Even the entourage effect will feel different with everyone. However, you can expect to experience a psychoactive effect because of the Delta 9 THC contained within the product.
Are they Legal?
Unlike THC, Delta-8 is legal to use within most states in the country. This is because the compound is extracted from hemp. Hemp products are federally legal thanks the 2018 Farm bill. This federal bill (the Agriculture and Nutrition Improvement Act of 2018), removed hemp and its byproducts from the list of controlled substances. The reason: Hemp’s low THC levels (less than 0.3%). This bill has made It one of the fastest growing products from the hemp industry.
Select Spectrum products are legal federally and in numerous states including Texas because they are classified as products derived from hemp and not marijuana. This protects them thanks to the aforementioned 2018 Farm bill where marijuana and hemp were separated legally.
The cannabinoids found within the select spectrum products are derivatives of hemp and none of these products have a Delta-9 THC level over the 0.3% concentration limit.
So which is Better?This depends entirely on your preference. Because of the combination of CBD and Delta-9 THC, Select Spectrum is definitely stronger than Delta-8 products but you might not be in the market for stronger. Your preference is highly dependent on what you want to achieve. If you are in the market for something mellow, you should definitely go with any of our Delta-8 products but if you are looking for something stronger, Select Spectrum is your only choice!
That’s a wrap on Delta 8 THC vs. Select Spectrum THC products!
