Delta 8 vs. Delta 9 – Do You Know the Differences?
Playing it safe and knowing the difference!
November 1 is a day I enjoy.
As I walk my dog through the neighborhood, I see the morning after candy castaways. I learn what candy is not trending this year… discarded Sweet Tarts, ditched Laffy Taffy, dropped Reese’s peanut butter cup (clearly a mistake).
Perhaps the tiny Hulk tossed the packet of Raisinets in a sugar fueled rage. Or the bulky robot dropped the Hubba Bubba by clunky armed accident. Maybe the princess thought licorice was for suckers and discreetly pulled it out of the loot carrying plastic pumpkin.
The streets tell a story of tricking and treating that deeply amuses me.
The kids that’re paying attention, know to avoid the house that gives ice cubes and they know where to get the good stuff.
Do adults buying consumable cannabis products know where to go to get the good stuff?
Where we shop for cannabis is important.
We know you get this question often these days:
“What about Delta-8?”
“I can get Delta-8 gummies mailed right to my house, what do you think?”
Here’s the scoop about Delta-8…
Delta-8 THC, or delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol, has gained popularity over the last year due to it’s
almost identical properties to the more commonly known delta-9 THC—seemingly without all the regulation.
Delta-8, like delta-9, binds to the body’s endocannabinoid system, producing a similar high to that of delta-9.
The difference lies in their chemical makeup and their potency.
While both are made up of a chain of carbons and both contain a double bond, delta-8’s double bond is located on the 8th
carbon and delta-9’s is located on the 9th (see below). It’s projected that this may be the main reason behind delta-8’s lower potency, but more research must be done to determine exactly how delta-8 affects the body.
Overall, delta-8 offers similar relief as delta-9, with some people even preferring its milder effects. Depending on your state, you can find delta-8 products on the same shelves as CBD, and (yikes!) even at your local gas station. However, concerns from the DEA and FDA regarding its effects on the body are a challenge this new market and place further restrictions on the cannabinoid.
The legality of delta-8 is also being called into question. In August 2020, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued an Interim Final Rule stating that “[a]ll synthetically derived tetrahydrocannabinols remain schedule I controlled substances.” And in May 2021, the DEA included delta-8 THC in their “orange book” of controlled substances.
Delta-8 is often derived from hemp-based CBD. The production and sale of which has really taken off in the last two years. The 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized the production and sale of hemp, offered a loophole for states that wish to offer this cannabinoid to the public. The loophole is closing in many regulated states.
For instance, (October, 29, 2021) the Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency sent out the following notice:
“Delta-8 products are not permitted for sale in any retail location, including MRA-licensed locations, and must not be entered into the statewide monitoring system. At this time, the only permissible handling of Delta-8 products is by way of MRA-approved research and development. Any MRA-licensed location that currently has delta-8 products in their inventory must destroy the products or they will be subject to MRA disciplinary actions.”
We’d encourage you to invite your customers to ONLY purchase consumable cannabis products from a licensed and regulated source that can share qualified lab results.
Join one of our Responsible Vendor Training classes: https://yourcannabistrainer.com//classes/
The Scoop by: Kenzie Gobillot