Delta 8 THC: The Controversial New Frontier of Hemp Products

In December of 2018, the United States Department of Agriculture approved a new bill called the 2018 Farm Bill. In this bill, farmers in the United States were finally allowed to produce mass amounts of hemp and hemp-derived products at a federal level.

However, this new Farm Bill actually has some interesting implications for new products that would enter on to the market.

As many people know, Delta 9 THC, the most prevalent active psychoactive ingredient in your typical cannabis products is not yet legal at a federal level in the United States.

What most people don’t know is that there is actually another active compound in hemp called Delta 8 THC. Delta 8 THC is found in very trace amounts in hemp flower. Delta 8 THC is not as psychoactive as Delta 9 THC, but it definitely can have effects that are similar if consumed in larger quantities.

How the 2018 Farm Bill Sparked a Delta 8 Craze

Because Delta 8 THC is found in trace amounts in hemp flower, the 2018 Farm Bill technically legalized Delta 8 THC consumption at a federal level in the United States. Farmers quickly realized a unique opportunity to create innovative new products through this “loophole”.

In a nutshell, some smart entrepreneurs realized that they could take hemp flower that was legalized in the 2018 Farm Bill and extract the trace amounts of Delta 8 THC and other compounds such as THCV, CBN, and CBG.

After extraction, the Delta 8 and other compounds could be made into delta 8 concentrates such as Delta 8 Isolate and Delta 8 Distillate.

From here, they got even more creative. These entrepreneurs realized that they could spray the Delta 8 concentrates on hemp flower to make it psychoactive.

The innovation didn’t stop there however. These concentrates were also added to products such as 510 threaded vape cartridges and edibles such as gummies.

The Differences Between CBD, Delta 9 THC, and Delta 8 THC

When it comes to CBD, most people realize that these products are not psychoactive. Most people consume CBD for the potential health benefits such as reducing inflammation for example. CBD is commonly available online and in health stores. You can even find CBD in places such as Walmart these days.

Delta 9 THC on the other hand is known to have very strong psychoactive effects. These products are not yet federally regulated in the United States, but many states have permitted the sale and consumption of recreational Delta 9 THC products. It’s always critical that you research what legislation exists in your state before venturing into the realm of Delta 9 THC.

Delta 8 THC on the other hand is technically federally legal. How long will this last? Only time will tell. Some states have passed legislation banning the sale of Delta 8 products, but the vast majority of states currently do not have any legislation.

Comparing the effects of Delta 9 and Delta 8 THC, Delta 8 is often said to have much “lighter” psychoactive effects. You may see people throwing around the term “weed-light” online.

The Companies Paving the Way for Delta 8 THC

There are a number of companies that are selling Delta 8 products both online and in person. There is one company however that is truly paving the way for innovation in this space. Canna Clear is a seller of Delta 8 products online in the United States, but with a twist. Instead of just selling typical consumable products, their company focuses on selling Delta 8 concentrates such as Delta 8 Isolate and Delta 8 Distillate.

Many companies and individuals across the United States rely on Canna Clear for their raw materials to craft their own unique products. They even post all of their lab results and COAs online on their website for full transparency.

Concluding Thoughts

The Delta 8 industry has become a hot topic as of late, and a controversial one at that. We always recommend doing your own research before venturing into any of the products mentioned in this article. Always consult the advice of your physician if you are unsure about any products, including CBD or Delta 8 products.