Is Delta-8 the same as CBD?

A hemp plant contains numerous chemical compounds that act as the building blocks of the plant and among them, CBD is one of the prominent compounds found in the plant. CBD is widely used around the world and in recent years, CBD is used as a natural remedy to experience its refreshing health benefits. But, at the same time, a budding compound by the name of Delta-8 is making the headlines and for all the right reasons.

Many CBD-fanatics have been looking closely at the Delta-8 compound that’s also derived from the hemp plant and fact-checking to see if it offers the desired benefits. But since the Cannabis plant is quite complex, we’ve discussed the properties of Delta-8 and see how it compares with CBD.

Many people believe that Delta-8 is the same as CBD but it’s not exactly true. There’s a lot going on between the two compounds and to find out the difference, stick with us till the end to learn everything you need to know about Delta-8 and its similarities with CBD.

What’s Delta-8?

Delta-8 is a psychoactive compound that is derived from a Cannabis plant and it’s quite similar to THC. There’s a lot of similarity between the chemical structures of 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and 8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-8) and both of them are capable of offering a body high.

Delta-8 is generally manufactured from CBD extract in the U.S. where the THC limit for all the legal products is 0.3%. Compared to THC, Delta-8 is less potent, even though the chemical properties are identical and it’s almost impossible to tell them apart. Delta-8 is widely available on the market and since the Farm bill of 2018, you can find Delta-8 on shelves of every dispensary.

Benefits of Delta-8

A hemp-derived Delta-8 compound holds various health benefits and can be consumed to increase the wellbeing of a person. Similar to other Cannabis-derivatives, Delta-8 interacts with the endocannabinoid system of the body to induce its relaxing effects. Generally, the most common use of Delta-8 is to experience its ability to reduce pain and anxiety.

People with severe chronic pain have experienced pain relief with the use of Delta-8. After observing the compound for a long time, scientists have concluded that the analgesic properties of the compound play a vital part in alleviating pain and increasing the quality of life.

Is the Delta-8 the same as CBD?

A Cannabis plant contains hundreds of Cannabinoids and CBD and Delta-8 are one of those Cannabinoids found inside a Cannabis plant. Both CBD and Delta-8 are part of the same plant but, they have different chemical properties and there’s a significant difference between the molecular structure of the compounds.

One of the main differences between Delta-8 and CBD is that Delta-8 is a psychoactive substance and it can make you high but the effects will be milder compared to THC. On the contrary, CBD is a non-intoxicating substance and it can not make you high or alter brain functions in any way. However, there are a lot of similarities between the two.

Both, the Delta-8 and CBD compounds when consumed interact with the C1 receptors of the endocannabinoid system of the body that boosts certain functions in our body. Generally, when C1 receptors interact with Cannabinoids, they offer therapeutic effects that support uplifting the mood and also, increasing the cognitive abilities to help with focus.

Similarities

Health Benefits

Both, CBD and Delta-8 could be used to treat a wide range of symptoms including chronic pain, anxiety, and stress but compared to CBD, Delta-8 is a bit more potent and provides a body high to offer a more relaxing experience.

Furthermore, both of these Cannabinoids derived from hemp can increase the quality of life for people suffering from chronic ailments like IBS and insomnia. The soothing effects of these cannabinoids can put your mind at ease but since Delta-8 is a bit more potent, it can offer the same benefits as CBD but for a longer duration of time.

Edible

Delta-8 and CBD are edible and they can be ingested to experience their benefits and it is another similarity between the two. Generally, other cannabinoids are consumed in various other ways including dabbing or vaping but Delta-8 isn’t specific to those methods. Similar to CBD, Delta-8 also comes in small delights in the shape of gummy bears that contain a specific amount of Delta-8 dosage that offers various health benefits.

Legality

Since both, Delta-8 and CBD are derived from hemp, both of these substances are legal in the majority of the states that have legalized the use of hemp-derived compounds under the Farm Bill of 2018. However, there are no clear guidelines regarding the Delta-8 since it’s pretty new to the industry and regulatory authorities are yet to address concerns regarding the Cannabinoid. Until then, the use of Delta-8 is legal in all the states where the use of CBD is allowed.

Differences

Chemical Structure

There’s a significant difference between the structure of CBD and Delta 8. The CBD has a different molecular structure compared to Delta-8 which differs the response of endocannabinoid receptors when either of these cannabinoids is consumed. However, more research is needed to learn more about the psychedelic effects of Delta-8 cannabinoids and how they would affect the wellbeing of a person.

Non-Psychoactive/Psychoactive

Aside from the different molecule configurations and atomic structure, the biggest difference between CBD and Delta-8 is that CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid which means that it cannot get you high. Even after consuming a large dose of CBD (70mg>), the user would still not experience any kind of intoxication.

On the contrary, Delta-8, sister-cannabinoid to THC, is a psychoactive compound and it does make you high. Unlike THC, it won’t alter your memories and impair judgment but, it offers a slight mind high to offer a relaxed state to treat insomnia, stress, and anxiety.

Breathalyzer Test

One of the key differences between CBD and Delta-8 is that if you blow in a breathalyzer kit, CBD won’t show up in the machine but, if you’ve consumed Delta-8 and are asked to blow into a breathalyzer kit then the Delta-8 will show up in the machine.

Similarly, CBD will not show up in urinal tests either while Delta-8 can stay in the body for up to 6 weeks and will be detectable in urinal tests as well.

Infusion

Similar to other cannabinoids present in the hemp plant, Delta-8 and CBD can be infused together to enjoy the moderate effects of these compounds. And since they bind with the endocannabinoid system, the body would respond well to the mixture and more soothing effects will be experienced.

Where to Buy Delta-8?

Delta-8 is a relatively new cannabinoid in the market and there aren’t many manufacturers that are offering Delta-8 that is up to the standards of the FDA but, D8Gas is one of the prominent names in the industry and they’re offering premium-quality Delta-8 products including pre-roll joints, cartridges, vegan gummies, and hundreds of other Delta-8 infused products.

That’s all folks!