Delta 9 vs Delta 8
What is Delta 9 ?
Delta 9 is also known as tetrahydrocannabinol -9. It is one of the most popular cannabinoids found in the cannabis sativa plant. Delta 9 is the recreational marijuana that is psychoactive and gets you high. When smoked, THC interacts with your endocannabinoid system, specifically your CB1 and CB2 receptors in parts of your brain and central nervous system. Every human has an endocannabinoid system, which helps regulate our everyday functions such as sleep, mood, appetite, and memory. Our endocannabinoid system primarily involves 3 components which are the endocannabinoids, receptors, and enzymes.
Endocannabinoids
The prefix, endo in the word endocannabinoid stands for endogenous, as in endogenous cannabinoids, which are molecules created by your own body. There are two key types that have been identified such as anandamide and 2- arachidonoylglycerol.
Receptors
Endocannabinoids interact and bind to the receptors found within your body. There are 2 primary endocannabinoid receptors :
CB1 receptors: are found mainly in the brain, connective tissues, and central nervous system. This is the main receptor that interacts with THC as it enters your endocannabinoid system. CB1 receptors are primarily built by Omega 3 fatty acids. Research suggests these receptors affect majority of our physical properties.
CB2 receptors: These are found within your immune system, which helps support and regulate gastrointestinal systems. These receptors are not the direct cause of the high, when you smoke THC.
Enzymes
Enzymes are a catalyst that help speed up cellular processes within the body and it helps breakdown the endocannabinoids when regulating bodily functions.
What is Delta 8 ?
It is believed that THC interacts differently with your receptors than CBD does. CBD, also known as cannabidiol is believed to counteract the psychoactive effects that THC normally gives. Research is still ongoing to determine exactly how CBD interacts with the receptors differently than THC.
However, Delta 8 yields similar effects on the mind and body like the Delta 9 THC, but at a less intensive level. Delta 9 has a higher potency and delta 8 is the closest thing to the illegal version of recreational marijuana. Delta 8 is considered an isomer of Delta 9, which means that delta 8 and delta 9 have a very similar molecular structure, but both have a different arrangement of atoms that make them distinctly different. Both contain double bonds, but the Delta 9 is bonded on the 9th carbon atom, while Delta 8 bonds on the 8th carbon atom.
The legality of delta 8 is quite interesting, and complex. Under the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act, also known as the Farm bill, Delta 8 is legal if derived from hemp. Delta 8 is extracted by using the C02 method; it is in fact extracted from the delta-9 THC compound in a solvent free distillate. It is worth noting that Delta 8 has antiemetic properties that help reduce nausea and vomiting as well as neuroprotective properties. A research study was conducted on eight children between ages 3–13. The children were administered 18mg of Delta 8, in the form of delta 8 oil and delta 8 gummies. These children had varying types of cancers that are normally treated with antineoplastic drugs, which are drugs that prevent and inhibit the formation of tumors and various types of cancers. The delta 8 treatment was administered 2 hours before the antineoplastic drugs were given for 24 hours. Results indicated that vomiting completely ceased.
Researchers also found that delta 8 is more stable than delta 9 THC and is less expensive to cultivate. And it was considered an ‘excellent pediatric antiemetic with non significant side effects’ for children. Adults who have used Delta 9 reported feeling drowsy, dizzy, and having unstable mood changes, as well as anxiety.
Delta 8 carts
As I am sure you know by now, Delta 8 carts are less psychoactive and are one of the many cannabinoids found in the Cannabaceae plant species. However, delta 8 is fairly found in rare quantities within the cannabis plant. However due to the progression of extraction processes, delta 8 can be successfully isolated and extracted from cannabis plants, thus yielding a higher concentration of it.
Delta 8 carts contain similar properties that cause you to experience feelings of relaxation, pain reduction, focus, and an increased positive mood. Delta 8 carts can be used as a middle ground between CBD and Delta 9 (THC). It provides the perfect balance of not feeling too drowsy and fatigued, but instead feeling relaxation. Secondly, it helps balance one’s level of productivity because it has uplifting properties that can cause one to maintain focus, clarity, and high energy vibration levels. Delta 9 can be too racy for some and can evoke feelings of anxiety and paranoia, and can even cause one to lack focus and cognitive function, which can surely affect one’s productivity levels. It can be a great start for newbies looking to explore the effects of cannabis. According to weed maps, Delta 8 is said to form when Delta 9 is stored for a long period of time and starts to degrade. Delta 8 is not produced from any other cannabinoid acids that are found in the cannabis plant.