In states where medical or recreational use of THC is legal, you may find a wide variety of Delta 8 THC items on store shelves. The FDA has not yet tested any of these products. Users of cannabis are learning to differentiate between Delta 9 THC and Delta 8 THC and their respective effects. But many are wondering whether Delta 8 THC is really safe for human use. We looked into what researchers had to say about the chemical compound they had been examining in order to shed light on this pressing question.
What Does THC Delta 8 Refer To?
As a stereoisomer of the more well known delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol has a slightly different chemical structure. The percentage of delta-9-THC in the marijuana plant is rather high, at over 90%. Since Delta 8 THC shares so many chemical bonds with Delta 9 THC, both may bind to CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors in the brain and provide the same psychoactive effects. What primarily sets Delta 8 THC from from Delta 9 THC is its mass. When comparing THC at the Delta 8 and Delta 9 molecular weight levels, the Delta 9 form is the weaker. Details will follow shortly. There is evidence that both Delta 8 and Delta 9 bind to the CB1 receptor in the brain, making cannabis’ euphoric effects more accessible to the user. In contrast to Delta 9 THC, Delta 8 THC has no effect on the CB2 receptors. So is delta 8 safe? Here are some things to discuss about.
How about Delta 8 THC?
Delta 8 THC does really produce intoxication. As the principal ingredient responsible for that high, Delta 9 THC, it may have mental effects that are comparable. Even while Delta 8 binds to CB1 receptors in the brain with a lesser affinity than it does to CB2 receptors, it is nevertheless able to provide a psychoactive effect.
Alternating between 8 THC and 9 THC
Although Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC have similar chemical structures, there is a notable difference between the two in terms of molecular mass. In comparison to Delta 9, Delta 8 has a substantially smaller molecular mass, making it far more likely to pass the blood-brain barrier and bind to CB1 receptors. The half-life of Delta 8 is likewise shorter than that of Delta 9. Both Delta 8 and Delta 9 have very identical chemical compositions, hence their effects are mostly interchangeable. So is delta 8 safe? Yes, it is. Numerous websites claim that delta 8 THC is either completely inert or merely mildly intoxicating when compared to delta 9 THC. As a result, consuming cannabis with high levels of Delta 8 may seem like a way to benefit from the drug’s medicinal qualities without becoming high.
