Delta-8 THC

Delta 8 THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is a naturally occurring cannabinoid in cannabis (hemp and marijuana) and is commonly abbreviated as Delta 8 THC, Δ8THC, Δ8, D8, D8 THC, and D8THC. It’s an isomer of both cannabidiol (“CBD”) and Delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol. 

Delta 8 THC is found in cannabis plants (hemp and marijuana), but only in trace amounts. This includes all hemp plants, hemp products, and most CBD goods, but the amount is so small that it can't be extracted and turned into products at affordable rates for most people. Fortunately, one of the best things about cannabis plants is how structurally similar the chemical components are.

Cannabinoids can be easily switched from one to another because of their structural similarities. Many people want to call these "synthetics," but that is not the correct term. The term "conversions" or "derivatives" is more suitable because these compounds not only occur naturally, but many of them will transform into each other naturally when heat, time, and light are applied. In fact, it's assumed that all cannabinoids begin as CBGA and spontaneously transform into other cannabinoids as the cannabis plant matures. 

The duration of Delta 8 THC's effects varies greatly from person to person. High purity vapes last 1-5 hours on average, whereas tinctures and edibles last 5-12 hours. Larger doses, especially in tinctures and foods, produce longer-lasting effects.

Because powerful Delta 8 THC has a pretty natural start and fall down, determining the duration of effects can be challenging.

This is especially true for people who get a mood lift rather of a "high" from D8 THC. Because of the natural start, this mood alteration may go unnoticed by the individual, leading the user to believe D8 THC had no impact. We've seen this many times in sampling sessions where someone says they don't feel anything, but then someone else tells them how much better they've become in the last few minutes.

Another challenge in determining the duration of benefits is that many reports are focused on the "peak," which ignores a significant period of time spent above baseline after the peak effects are felt. The effects of D8 THC do not peak and then go away. The effects begin to fade gradually.

The effects of vaporized D8 THC will be shorter than those of D8 THC ingested.

Because Delta 8 THC has a delayed onset, it may take a few tries or days to determine the right amount. Because doses are extremely customized and don't appear to be totally related to any one physical trait (age, sex, weight, etc), it's recommended to start small and work your way up. 

Delta 8 THC is usually taken in doses of 10-40 mg orally. Those that require more than 40mg are usually Delta 9 recreational users. Because 10 mg can make a huge difference in effects for certain people, we normally advise not going above 10 mg when increasing dosage. Remember that some individuals may require less than 10 mg.

Tinctures 

These sublingually absorbed Delta 8 THC tinctures are oil-based. 33 milligrams would be a typical dose. To determine this, divide the bottle's milligrams of delta 8 by its milliliters, keeping in mind that generally always, one dropper is equivalent to one milliliter.

Vapes

A typical vape dosage is 1-3 three second puffs. It is typically not necessary to take more than this unless the user is a heavy user of Delta 9.

Flower

Raw hemp flower infused with a delta 8 extract is called delta 8 flower. The same concept still holds true: a normal dose is 1.5 milligrams, and a suitable starting point is 1 to 3 puffs. However, it is more difficult to be precise with the milligrams when measuring delta 8 flower, mainly because the delta 8 may not be spread uniformly throughout the flower. As a result, if you're completely new to THC, we advise sticking to the 1 to 3 puffs rule, opting for just 1 and waiting 20 minutes before taking another.

The effects and potency of Delta 8 THC differ from person to person, however the average experience can be best described by combining all of the benefits of CBD and Delta 9. It's described as calming, mood-boosting, pleasantly uplifting but not overly intoxicated. Some people find it motivating/energizing, especially at lower dosages, while others find it sleep-inducing, especially at greater levels.  Delta 8 THC users report feeling significantly more functional and active than Delta 9 THC when dosed correctly. Given its combined actions on CB1 and CB2 receptors compared to CBD and Delta 9, Delta 8 THC may have medical implications (pending more research).

Vaping THC Delta 8 Effects of vaporized Delta 8 THC might occur within 20 minutes and persist up to 5 hours, with peak effects often diminishing after 30 minutes to 2.5 hours, depending on the individual. The faster the onset and severity of effects, the better the purity of D8 THC and the fewer cannabinoids like CBD and CBG.

The effects of Delta 8 THC taken orally might take anywhere from 45 minutes to 4 hours to peak, with effects lasting up to 12 hours or more.  D8 THC's absence of or reduced "mental fogginess" and paranoia is also a unique and advantageous property, since it allows many users to take it while still performing daily duties.  Drowsiness, upset stomach, dry lips, red eyes, and headache are all possible side effects.