The Growing Hype Around Delta8-THC

From product lines to social media communities, there is one little isomer that is acquiring quite a backing nationwide – the cannabinoid known as delta8-THC, or Delta8tetrahydrocannabinol for the technical people out there. 

I am going to assume that some of you may not have heard of it. Why is that? Well, there has not been much research on this cannabinoid unlike its relative delta9-THC (the main psychoactive cannabinoid). With an absence of research brings an absence of knowledge and awareness. 

Thankfully, there has been some research conducted that can help us start to piece together the story of delta8-THC.

So what is there to know about delta8? Well for starters, the cannabinoid is reported to have a more subtle high than delta9. It’s also speculated to have anti-anxiety, antiemetic, cancer-preventive and pain-killing properties.

 In fact, there was a study done in 1995 by Aya Abrahamov MD (Department of Pediatrics), Avraham Abrahamov MD (Department of Pediatrics and Raphael Mechoulam (a biochemist as referred to as the father of cannabis science). This study administered delta8 to eight children from the ages 3-13 years old diagnosed with what they identified as “various hematologic cancers” who were being treated with cancer medications. Two hours before each treatment, the patient was given a dose of delta8 every 6 hours for a full day. What they found was any sign of vomiting  caused by the cancer medications vanished and any side effects were said to be negligible.

There are a few other reports out there claiming the same findings, as well as discovering additional benefits for other ailments. Other consumers of delta8 have shared their experiences and have claimed it has utterly changed their lives for the better. Unlike delta9, delta8 is known to be less potent by a considerable amount. This helps many with dosing and not overdoing it at times. Ultimately research has shown that delta8’s reduced potency helps negate most of the negative side effects that come with consuming delta9. 

There is still one question that remains unanswered, however. How can we be sure we are actually consuming delta8 and not just a smaller percentage of delta9? 

Well, luckily here at the lab we have a very reliable liquid chromatography method that allows us to identify any traces of delta8 in a sample. Through this process we are able to uniquely ping delta8, as well as 18 other cannabinoids. 

So far within the last six months we have identified over 100 samples that contain delta8. As this awareness of delta8 grows we can only speculate that there will be a surge of clients looking at their reports for delta8 levels.  

Still, there is a vast amount of information that we have yet to learn about delta8 and even delta9 for that matter. One thing is certain though – the possibilities with this cannabinoid are truly endless. With doors to cannabis starting to open throughout the nation we are sure that the necessary research for this cannabinoid and others will come to fruition. 

To learn more about our testing process, read this article on the matter.