IN THE SPOTLIGHT by KRYSTINA SKIBO

And even though these cannabinoid molecules are not new, consumers are becoming increasingly curious about each variant’ s unique properties and experiences along with their legality in certain states.

While both Delta 8 and Delta 9 contain THC, what ' s the difference between the two?

DELTA 8 VS. DELTA 9 THC

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the primary psychoactive compound found in high doses within cannabis and lower doses within hemp. Delta 9 THC is the most prevalent and well-known form, as explained in an article by Extract Labs, responsible for the characteristic“ high” associated with cannabis use.

Delta 8 THC, on the other hand,“ is an isomer of Delta 9, meaning it has a similar chemical structure with slightly various effects that are typically reported as less intense,” according to the article.

“ The majority of hemp products you see on the marketplace today are typically made with Delta 8 THC since it was seen as this loophole to the 2018 Farm Bill, which only defined Delta 9 THC, so Delta 8 had more of an ambiguous definition,” says Ricky Wojcik, account representative at Perfectly Dosed.“ All of that being said, most folks are now using Delta 9 because it’ s the most commonly occurring form of THC in both hemp and marijuana.”

To break it down even more, the main difference between Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC has to do with each cannabinoid’ s molecular structures.

“ For Delta 9 THC, this bond is found on the ninth carbon chain, while in Delta 8 THC, it is on the eighth

Shari B. Kaplan, LCSW is a clinical director and plant medicine formulator at Cannectd Wellness.

PHOTO CREDIT: © RYAN- STOCK. ADOBE. COM carbon chain,” explains Extract Labs’ CEO Craig Henderson.“ This seemingly minor difference significantly impacts their effects and stability.”

Since Delta 9 accounts for most of the THC that occurs naturally in the cannabis plant, it can be more easily extracted. This is a main contributing factor as to why consumers typically smoke Delta 9.

Delta 8 THC, however, is about half as potent since it’ s only an isomer of Delta 9, as mentioned in the Extract Labs article. It’ s also produced in far less quantity and thus must be processed from a concentrate. That’ s why most users consume it in edibles such as gummies or brownies.

This also means that in order to create most Delta 8 concentrate products, the cannabinoids need to be synthetized and concentrated through a chemical process, which can result in some unwanted effects in users.

When consumed outside of its proper dosage, synthetic Delta 8 THC can cause challenges in the human body.

CONCERNS SURROUNDING DELTA 8 THC

Shari B. Kaplan, LCSW, a clinical director and plant medicine formulator at Cannectd Wellness, has worked with hundreds of patients to create customized cannabis formulas tailored to their specific health needs and symptoms.

In her experience, Kaplan sees a number of patients coming in for mental health services due to the use of Delta−8.“ The symptoms that are most recently displayed are extreme anxiety and psychosis,” she explains.

“ This may be due to the high levels of synthetic THC, overstimulating brain activity and the inability for the endocannabinoid to produce the enzymes needed to breakdown the THC and use it to support the body in modulating the other systems in the body, which is the major role that organic cannabinoids play in the body,” she continues.

Any synthetic substance can cause adverse effects on the body. Because Delta 8 hasn’ t been studied in depth,

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