If you find yourself asking this question, you’re not alone. In fact, I’d say you’re likely a savvy consumer. Especially in prohibition states, we’ve seen all sorts of synthetic cannabis alternatives over the years from K2 and Spice to various other gas station gimmicks sold as “herbal incense” or other equally confusing or vague names. So, what is Delta 8 THC, and how is it different?
Basic structure
Let’s start by learning a little bit more about the naming and structure of “normal” THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). This is the THC you’ve heard about for decades. It is the psychoactive chemical in cannabis that is traditionally associated with a high. What many are unaware of is that “normal” THC is more accurately described as Delta 9 THC. The “Delta 9” portion of the name denotes which carbon molecules the double bond connects. In Delta 8 THC, the molecular structure is like that of Delta 9 THC, but with the double bond between different carbon atoms. You may also hear this referred to as a THC isomer.
Where does it come from?
While Delta 9 THC occurs in abundance naturally, Delta 8 only occurs in a handful of strains, and not usually in quantities that are economically feasible to extract for mass production. That means that Delta 8 THC is almost always synthesized from CBD in a laboratory. The process involves solvents and acids and is described in detail here.
As you can see, it’s an involved process, and if you’re going to put a Delta 8 product into your body by eating or (especially) inhaling it, you need to be certain that whoever made your Delta 8 THC followed the process correctly, ensured all the solvents were removed, and tested their products at a third party to verify. Otherwise, you may unknowingly be ingesting solvents such as pentane, hexane, or other organic solvents that can cause health issues. This may sound scary, but if these operations are being performed by a chemist and verified by third party testing, Delta 8 THC can be a safe, effective (and fun!) supplement to improve your wellbeing.
How is this different from synthetic cannabis alternatives?
There are a few important distinctions between the current Delta 8 THC market and the old days of K2, Spice, and other synthetics sold at gas stations and head shops. The biggest difference is regulation. Now, we have regulatory agencies and licensing for consumable hemp product producers. To sell Delta 8 THC legally in Texas, Texativa and others have to test our products regularly to show that we are following correct manufacturing procedures and keeping our customers safe. A decade ago, the only rule was that if the chemical wasn’t on the controlled substance list, it received the same oversight as an essential oil would – none. This led to gray market companies cutting corners to make money at the expense of their consumers. This is why Texativa will always advocate for regulation and accountability in the cannabis industry.
Another important distinction is that older synthetic cannabis alternatives were fully chemically synthesized in a lab instead of beginning with naturally occurring cannabinoids. This meant more steps and less similarity with naturally occurring compounds that we have years of research on. Making delta 8 THC, by comparison, begins with naturally occurring CBD.
Legal Status
Until recently, the legal status of Delta 8 THC was up for debate as court cases litigated its legality. Now, we have a ruling by the 9th Circuit confirming that it is federally legal as well as a Texas Court ruling confirming that it is legal in the state of Texas. There are states that have specifically outlawed Delta 8 THC, though, and consumers in other states will need to verify the legal status before purchasing. Out of an abundance of caution, Texativa only allows sales to states where Delta 8 THC is fully legal without restriction.
How to protect yourself and choose the best products
The good news is that if you’re buying from a reputable brand that tests their products, Delta 8 THC is a safe supplement for most people. Of course, we always recommend consulting a physician before taking psychoactive substances, but with correct dosing, it can be both fun and functional.
The best place to start is verifying that the company you are buying from is licensed in their state. This means that the state enforces quality and testing standards on the brand. You can search licensed Texas consumable hemp product brands here. If you search for Texativa (click the “organization” radio button), you’ll find us!
Next, look for testing data. Good companies will make this accessible to you. At Texativa, we put QR codes on all our products that take you to a webpage with product information and testing data. If you have our product and a smart phone, you always have access to our testing data. If you don’t, you can email us at support@texativa.com and we will send you the testing data directly.
Once you’ve covered licensing and testing, its time to sample products and find what works best for your preference and body chemistry. Our Delta 8 THC gummies come in 3 delicious flavors (Blue Raspberry, Strawberry, and Mango) and are vegan and gluten-free for a safe and delicious experience. If you’re trying them for the first time, we recommend starting with half a gummy and not taking more for two hours as the effects usually don’t peak for about that amount of time. You can expect effects to begin about 30-45 minutes, peak around 2 hours, and fade out about 4-6 hours after consumption.