Delta 8 vs. CBD: which is more beneficial?

Buy weed online. Have you ever tried to purchase CBD online? If yes, you might have also come across Delta 8 THC products. The two cannabinoids are so similar that most people fail to distinguish them. They come from the Cannabis Sativa plant and have been used for centuries. Yet, there are confusions around it.

The cannabis Sativa plant is probably one of the oldest known non-food crops. The plant was native to India and Persia. But for the past 6000 years, countries all over the world have been cultivating it. CBD and Delta 8 THC are the two most popular compounds of this plant. So, let us explore the two cannabinoids and learn how they differ.

The Big-Bang Theory of Cannabinoids

Let us first try to understand CBD and Delta 8 THC. How have they made space in the market?

CBD and Its History

Popularly known as CBD, cannabidiol is a cannabinoid extracted from hemp plants. Do not confuse hemp and cannabis Sativa plants. Hemp is a type of Cannabis Sativa plant with low levels of THC ( or Delta 9 THC, the compound responsible for psychoactive effects of Marijuana).More and more research on the compound has made some people think that CBD is a new compound. However, the first documented use of Cannabis dates back to 2737 BC. At that time, Sheng Neng, the emperor of China, used Cannabis-infused tea to treat various diseases, such as gout, malaria, and rheumatism.

However, with modern medicines taking over the market, CBD lost its identity. In 1939, William B. O’ Shaughnessy, an Irish physician and medical researcher published a detailed investigation on the therapeutic effects of Cannabis plants. After this, the CBD again drew the attention of researchers. Since that, there has been massive growth in the global CBD industry, particularly in the United States.

Delta 8 THC and Its History

Delta 8 is also a Cannabinoid found in hemp plants but not extracted. Yes, you read it right! Hemp is a source of D8, but its amount is too low for commercial use. So, manufacturers came up with a unique way to prepare Delta 8 THC, that is, by isomerizing CBD in a particular laboratory environment. Ironically, despite being a CBD isomer, its properties are similar to Delta 9 THC. It can make you high, but not as high as an equal dose of Marijuana. It is one of the primary reasons behind its popularity.

The story of D8 began in 1941, when an American-based organic chemist, Roger Adams, published about the partial synthesis of D8. After this, he with his colleagues focused on the psychoactive properties of Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC.

Raphael Mechoulam, whom we popularly known as “the father of Cannabis,” was the first one to achieve a complete synthesis of Delta 8 THC in 1965. Finally, in 1970, the article related to the full pharmacology of many cannabinoids, including Delta 8.

High of Delta 8 and CBD

While many people consume cannabinoids for their possible therapeutic benefits, there is undoubtedly a broad segment of the population looking at Cannabis for recreational purposes. So, you should know how they differ in their psychoactive properties.

Will CBD Make You High?

No, it would not! CBD is quite different from THC. It cannot make you high. Instead, it might block any increase in the body. If you consume THC and CBD together, there is a high chance that you would not feel as high as you would by only consuming THC.

Will Delta 8 THC Make You High?

Yes, it will but not as high as Delta 9 THC. THC binds with the CB1 receptors present in your brain. This binding activates those receptors, making you feel high or euphoric.

While CBD also affects CB1 receptors, it rarely binds with CB1 receptors. Thus, do not make you high.

The Presence of D8 and CBD in Hemp

Delta 8 and CBD are both present in hemp. The primary source of CBD and THC are real hemp flowers. However, CBD is also present in hemp leaves and other parts where trichomes are present.

Other than real hemp flowers, Delta 8 THC is also present in the resins of Cannabis plants. Resins are the sticky covering of the buds and leaves of a Cannabis plant.

Researchers on Delta 8 and CBD

Here is what researchers say about Delta 8 and CBD.

Research on CBD

Much research shows the pain management properties of CBD. A significant study also concluded the use of CBD for seizures. After this, Epidiolex ( a CBD-containing medicine) became federally legal in the United States. Other significant applications involve regulating PTSD, anxiety, appetite, and addiction recovery.

Research on Delta 8

Research suggests Delta 8 boosts levels of Acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter. This neurotransmitter is related to cognition and memory in your body. Several other studies suggest that D8 might stimulate appetite, reduce nausea, regulate inflammation, and manage anxiety.

Legal Status of Delta 8 and CBD

Instead of comparing the legal status of CBD and Delta 8 THC, it is better to see them together and learn about the legality of two of the most prevalent cannabinoids. The farm bill in 2018 changed the way people see cannabinoids. The act legalized, “All derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent.”

That means CBD becomes federally legal. However, some states have specific regulations on it. After the farm bill, the legal status of CBD became quite clear. Unfortunately, the case is different with Delta 8 THC. It should be a legal substance under the Farm bill because it is a hemp derivative. However, Delta 8 cites the Federal Analogue Act (FAA) to conclude that Delta 8 should be illegal.

This act considers every chemical “substantially similar” to any schedule 1 substance (Delta 9 in this case) as a schedule 1 substance. So, the legal status of Delta 8 is yet unclear.

Conclusion

While there are differences between the two, there is some similarity in possible therapeutic benefits. You can find a range of CBD and Delta 8 THC products in the market, starting from capsules to vapes. You can try these products and pick the one that suits you the most. Moreover, flavors and strains are added to it, offering you countless options. That is one thing that makes cannabinoids interesting. You will never get bored of them.