What Is The Difference Between Delta 8 THC and Delta 9 THC?
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Many people seek out THC for the numerous benefits that it provides, although it’s also popular on a purely recreational level. However, there might be some confusion about the different types of THC that are available now.
What’s the big difference between Delta 8 THC and Delta 9 THC? In this article we set the record straight about these two cannabinoid compounds.
But first, before we get into the details, here is our list of the top Delta 8 products on the market right now.
Top Delta 8 Products
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Everest
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Summit
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Delta Remedys
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Otter Space
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Penguin CBD
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Planet Delta
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TRĒ House
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Moonwlkr
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Delta Effex
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Area 52
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Joy Organics THC Gummies
Delta 9 THC is a major cannabinoid that can be found in abundance in cannabis. Extraction is usually fairly cheap and simple as a result. It tends to be derived from marijuana plants specifically.
On the other hand, the extraction of Delta 8 THC requires a great deal more effort. That’s because Delta 8 is a minor cannabinoid. Cannabis produces so little natural Delta 8, it’s not worth the immense effort to extract it.
Luckily, there’s another way to produce Delta 8. It was found that Delta 8 can be synthesized entirely from CBD with the use of solvents. While the conversion process can be a bit pricey, it has made creating Delta 8 products much easier. As a result, most Delta 8 comes from hemp rather than marijuana. It also ensures that their concentrations contain under 0.3% Delta 9 THC, which is the threshold required for federal legality.
Effects
One of the major differences between Delta 8 THC and Delta 9 THC is the effects that they produce. This is typically the deciding factor for most people who are uncertain about which one they want to take.
Delta 9 is considerably more potent than Delta 8. Some believe it to be about twice as strong overall. Side effects are also more considerable with Delta 9. These can include paranoid delusions, mental fog, impaired motor skills, and increased feelings of anxiety.
In comparison, Delta 8 is reported to provide a much easier experience. Most users feel a great sense of calm and clarity. Many have reported a definite “high” to the experience, but not enough to impair the ability to form coherent thoughts or focus on activities. Instead, you simply feel more relaxed and less burdened by stress.
The length of time it takes to feel the effects also separates Delta 8 and Delta 9. Delta 8 works slowly and gradually as it eases users into a more mellow state. Meanwhile, Delta 9’s onset is more rapid and instantaneous.
Products
The two cannabinoids are pretty similar in terms of products. They can be smoked as a flower, inhaled through vaping, or consumed in edible form. There’s also a wide variety of topicals, capsules, tinctures, edibles and other products.
Legality
As you probably know, marijuana is not legal on a federal level within the United States. The push for legality has been largely left up to the individual states. So far 34 states have legalized it for medical or recreational use.
The legal fate of Delta 9 THC has been directly affected as a result. Any amounts over 0.3% are not legal at a federal level, and the state level depends entirely on their local marijuana laws.
However, Delta 8 is still technically legal on a federal level. That’s because of the ambiguities of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp production. There is nothing within the bill that prohibits deriving Delta 8 from hemp and creating products with the compound.
The psychoactive nature of Delta 8 has prompted a fair number of bans at the state level, though. Currently there are 15 states that restrict the sale and use of Delta 8 products, with another 6 states where legal action is pending.
So while Delta 8 is more widespread at the moment than Delta 9, how long that will last has yet to be determined.
Availability
If you happen to live in a state where you can safely buy and consume Delta 9 THC, then congratulations. Head on down to your local dispensary to get what you need. Online options are a bit more limited though, given that shipping across state lines is prohibited.
The availability of Delta 8 is a different situation. Since it’s federally legal, Delta 8 can be shipped across state lines. So there are a lot more online retailers for Delta 8 products as a result. However, most reputable companies will not ship to states where Delta 8 is illegal for obvious reasons.
Delta 8 can also be bought from physical locations. This is where you might want to exert a degree of caution.
For instance, you probably don’t want to buy it from a gas station or any sketchy shops. Like other supplements, Delta 8 products are not regulated by the FDA, which means there’s an abundance of low quality products that could contain a myriad of unwanted impurities.
Whenever you buy Delta 8, it should be by a recognizable and trustworthy brand. If they don’t have a website with information about their production process, as well as lab results available on demand, then you should dismiss them entirely. For more info and options to buy can be found here.
Final Thoughts
The choice between Delta 8 THC and Delta 9 THC ultimately comes down to your personal needs and desires. While they share a handful of similarities, there’s enough considerable differences between them to set them apart.
While Delta 9 might be considered the “classic” choice by some within the cannabis community, Delta 8 has been quickly gaining in popularity due to its milder effects and legal availability. In time it might even become the preferred form of THC for most users.
Lastly, if you are looking to improve your health and energy you need to look at sleep as well. There are lots of way to improve your sleep. According to studies better sleep can lead to better concentration, more energy, faster metabolism and lower inflammation. All in all, good sleep will help you get the most out of the products above and set you up for long-term success on your health journey.
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the active ingredient in marijuana. Most people are familiar with the characteristic effects of this psychoactive ingredient.
Most people don’t know there are two different types of THC — delta 8 THC and delta 9 THC.
In this article, we’re going to compare both of these different forms of THC. We’ll compare the two in terms of cost, where they come from, what effects to expect, and how they’re regulated.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DELTA 8 THC & DELTA 9 THC?
Delta 8 and delta 9 THC are almost identical. The only difference between the two from a molecular standing is the location of a double bond in their carbon structures.
The location of these bonds is reflected in their names — delta 8 has the double bond at the eighth carbon chain, while delta 9 has this bond at the ninth carbon chain.
While the structure of these compounds is largely the same, there are a lot of differences between each of these molecules that may make one a better option than the other in certain cases.
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Here are the primary differences between delta 8 THC and delta 9 THC:
- Delta 8 has looser regulations than delta 9 and is legal in most states.
- Delta 8 has a longer shelf-life than delta 9 THC
- The effects of delta 8 are smoother & more clear-headed
- Delta 8 is less likely to result in stress-related side-effects
- Delta 8 provides stronger “munchies”
- Delta 8 is about half as potent as delta 9
DELTA 8 THC VS. DELTA 9 THC COMPARISON
| Comparisons |
Delta 8 THC |
Delta 9 THC |
| Potency |
Moderate |
Strong |
| Cost |
$0.06–$0.10 per mg |
$0.02–$0.08 per mg |
| Dosage Range |
10–60 mg |
5–20 mg |
| Most Common Side-Effect |
Lethargy |
Anxiousness |
| Legality |
Legal in Most States |
Medical-Only |
DELTA 8 VS. DELTA 9: POTENCY
There haven’t been any official tests that compare the relative potency of delta 8 THC against the standard delta 9 THC products. However, many seasoned delta 8 users have weighed in on this question.
The general consensus is that delta 8 is about half as strong as the equivalent dose of delta 9 — at least in terms of the psychoactive effects. Some of the other effects are on-par with delta 9, or stronger — for example, delta 8 has a notable calming action. Most people who use delta 8 for non-recreational purposes take a lower dose than they would with delta 9 THC products.
With that said, if you’re after the psychoactive effects, you’ll need to take roughly twice as much as you would normally take with other THC products.
DELTA 8 VS. DELTA 9: COST
There’s no beating around the bush — delta 8 is more expensive, on average, than delta 9.
It’s not a substantial increase, but generally, delta 8 products are going to run you about 10 to 20% more than the equivalent delta 9 products.
There are a few reasons for this:
- Delta 8 requires more processing to isolate & extract than delta 9
- Delta 8 is present in very small concentrations in both hemp and marijuana.
- There are few companies selling delta 8, so laws of supply & demand bring up the price.
- Delta 8 requires a lot of extra testing, which can be expensive.
DELTA 8 VS. DELTA 9: DOSAGE
The usual dosage range of delta 8 is between 10 mg and 60 mg per dose. If you’re using tinctures, this dose could range from a few drops to a few milliliters depending on how potent the oil is. Capsules and gummies come with either 10, 20, or 30 mg each.
Delta 9 is roughly twice as strong, so most people find a dose between 5 and 30 mg to be sufficient with this cannabinoid.
You can use delta 8 and delta 9 THC in all the same ways — the most common is in the form of a vape or tincture, followed by capsules, gummies, and distillates.
DELTA 8 VS. DELTA 9: SAFETY & SIDE-EFFECTS
There has never been a death attributed to THC on its own. This compound has incredibly low toxicity. The toxic levels are so high there’s literally no way to reach it short of guzzling over a liter of pure distillate or injecting several grams of pure extract at a time (obviously not recommended).
The dosage ranges listed above are about 1/70th of what’s considered a toxic dose.
With that said, there are some differences in terms of side effects and safety considerations between delta 8 and delta 9 THC.
Delta 8 THC is much more likely to result in side effects related to couch-lock compared to delta 9. It has a higher body load and tends towards the more relaxed and chill side of the equation. Delta 8 is very unlikely to result in stress-related side effects or paranoia — which is the primary reason why so many people are becoming interested in delta 8 THC, to begin with.
Delta 9 THC often leads users to a state of panic — it’s one of the biggest downsides of this useful compound. D9 is also more likely to cause issues with sleep due to its more invigorating nature.
Frequent Ask Questions On thc 8 vs 9
Does Delta 8 get you higher than Delta 9?
Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol is more potent than delta-8 and accounts for most of the THC that occurs naturally in the cannabis plant, which makes it easy to extract, explaining why it’s more commonly smoked. Delta-8-THC, however, is about half as potent.
Is Delta 8 or 9 stronger?
Delta 9 is considerably more potent than Delta 8. Some believe it to be about twice as strong overall. Side effects are also more considerable with Delta 9. These can include paranoid delusions, mental fog, impaired motor skills, and increased feelings of anxiety.
What’s the difference between Delta 8 THC and Delta 9 THC?
The only chemical difference between Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC is where a particular double bond is located on the chain of carbon atoms. Delta 8 has a double bond on the eighth carbon atom in its molecular structure; Delta 9 has a double bond on the ninth carbon atom.
Is Delta 8 the same as Delta 9?
Delta 8 THC is also a cannabinoid that is a constituent of the marijuana plant or industrial hemp plant. It provides all the beneficial properties of THC but without the overstimulating effects of Delta 9. As a result, Delta 8 is less potent than its more potent ‘cousin’ Delta 9 TH
What is Delta 8 THC and how does it work?
Delta 8 interacts in ideal harmony with the body and the endocannabinoid system, delivering numerous benefits to individuals who need natural support but prefer holistic solutions over mind-altering ones. Like Delta 9, Delta 8 THC can be extracted from plants in the cannabis family, including hemp and marijuana.
What is delta-8 and delta-9?
Delta-8 is a degraded form of THC that isn’t directly produced by cannabinoid-synthesizing enzymes. Even storing THC for an extensive time can cause it to break down into delta-8. Delta-9, on the other hand, is the cannabinoid associated with the intoxicating high that is experienced after using marijuana.
Where can you buy delta-9 THC?
Suppose you are one of the lucky residents living in a legal state where you can safely buy and consume Delta-9 THC. Then you can easily hop over to a local dispensary or find associated products online through a trusted retailer attached to reputable brands like Serene Tree.
What does Delta 9 THC feel like?
Consumers of Delta 9 THC report many of the same user experiences and effects such as euphoria, mood-lifting, happy thoughts, and they too received relief from feelings of discomforts. However, their experience with Delta 9 THC is more extreme and taken to the next level of relief.
