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- What Are The Scientific Differences Between D8-THC And D9-THC?
- What Is The Science D8-THC?
You can expect the same benefits and effect profile from delta 8 THC as delta 9 THC. Both produce the same perceptual differences, stimulate appetite, and offer the same health benefits. There is no indication either delta-9 or delta-8 will have a conflicting effect on the overall tolerance for the other.
Hemp-derived delta-8 is 100% federally legal; however, with the lack of regulation, consumers should do their due diligence before purchasing.
Delta-9 is primarily derived from marijuana, which is still treated as a controlled substance and is federally illegal under the Controlled Substance Act.
The 2018 Farm bill federally legalized hemp and hemp-derived products that contain no more than 0.3% Delta-9-THC.
Delta 8 THC and Delta 9 THC are known as isomers, molecules with the same chemical formula but different structural relationships between their atoms. The difference in question is a double bond on the 8th carbon chain for delta 8, while it is on the 9th carbon chain for delta 9.
The difference lends to slightly altered physiological responses from these molecules. Generally, delta eight anecdotally yields a less potent psychoactive effect or “high” than delta 9.
Delta-8 THC and delta-9 THC’s chemical structures are highly similar. However, delta-8 contains a few extra electrons causing it to react with receptors differently than d-9.
This results in a marginally diminished psychoactive high, leaving the consumer with a more gradual high than an instantaneous one.
As a minor cannabinoid, there’s still a great deal that is unknown about delta-8-THC, which necessitates a cautious approach toward using it. However, the cannabinoid is generally available in concentrate forms because most cannabis flower contains less than 1% delta-8-THC.
While some delta-8-THC concentrates are isolates, other products may combine delta-8-THC with CBD and delta-9-THC to create more of an entourage effect.
While the knowledge we have about the entourage effect is based on delta-9-THC, the molecular similarity of delta-8-THC could mean that it produces enhanced effects when ingested, either as a medicinal or recreational product.
In general, the effects of delta-8 are very similar to delta-9 but toned down. Delta-8 offers a euphoria, stimulates appetite, and can energize or relax based on the terpene or cannabinoid profile.
The National Cancer Institute recognizes delta-8s as having “antiemetic, anxiolytic, appetite-stimulating, analgesic, and neuroprotective qualities.”
Delta-8-THC binds to the CB1 receptor like delta-9-THC, but its affinity for the receptor is different due to its slightly altered molecular structure. The CB1 receptor is responsible for mediating most of the psychotropic effects of THC.
This differential binding may be responsible for the reported clearer high with reduced anxiety and more remarkable ability to concentrate often associated with delta-8-THC.
Its unique molecular structure may also impact the chemical’s effects on other receptors and neural pathways.
>According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), Delta-8-THC binds to the CB1 receptors located in the central nervous system. Delta-8-THC additionally has an affinity for CB2 receptors, although less is known about this binding mechanism.
Delta-8-THC contains a bond on the 8th carbon chain and is studied as having a noticeable effect on how the body’s endocannabinoid receptors bind and respond to the molecule.
In addition, delta-8-THC is stable, does not oxidize to become cannabinol, and boasts a prolonged shelf life. Such stability is very desirable in a medicinal compound.
Delta-8 THC is a minor cannabinoid occurring naturally in the hemp plant. It is an analog of delta-9-THC, with the leading chemical difference being a double bond on the 8th carbon rather than the 9th carbon of the molecule. Therefore, extractors can use molecular isolation to access large quantities of this cannabinoid from the plant.
Important things to note about delta-8 THC: It tends to exhibit a lower psychotropic potency than traditional delta-9 while similarly keeping the properties of appetite stimulation, nausea reduction, and pain alleviation users enjoy.
Delta-8-THC is an analog of delta-9-THC, a molecule with a similar structure but some notable differences. While the two share similar properties, such as reportedly stimulating appetite, reducing nausea, and soothing pain, delta-8-THC tends to exhibit a lower psychotropic potency than delta-9-THC.
Delta-8-THC is a minor cannabinoid, occurring in minimal concentrations. Therefore, commercial growers and extractors often use selective breeding and molecular isolation to access more significant quantities of delta-8-THC.
- Beware of producers of D8-THC that do not have the expertise to prepare it from CBD without contamination from D9-THC above the legal limit and synthetic byproducts of unknown effects and toxicities.
- Note that D8-THC products that contain substantial amounts of D9-THC may produce effects that are largely due to the effects of the D9-THC.
- The presence of D9-THC in D8-THC products can lead to a positive drug test for THC.
D8-THC is purported to produce less anxiety and is a better appetite stimulant than D9-THC.
Tolerance to the effects of D8-THC is purported to occur more rapidly than with tolerance to D9-THC. The effects of repeated D8-THC on tolerance to D9-THC have not been reported.
- The potency of D8-THC is less than that of D9-THC because it binds les tightly to the CB1 receptors. The potency of D8-THC is reported to be approximately half of that of D9-THC.
D8-THC and D9-THC have the same molecular weight and numbers of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms and appear nearly the same when their chemical structures are drawn in two dimensions, as shown in the figures below.
Figure 1. Chemical structure of D8-THC
Figure 2. Chemical structure of D9-THC
The D8-THC being sold today was not obtained by isolating it from hemp. Instead, it is obtained by subjecting cannabidiol (CBD) to an acid-catalyzed isomerization reaction that must be performed under carefully controlled conditions to obtain D8-THC without contamination from D9-THC and other substances that have not been wholly characterized about their effects and potential toxicity when ingested or inhaled.
In addition, since certified reference standards for some synthetic byproducts do not exist, laboratories cannot report them when they are present in D8-THC. Therefore, it is essential to obtain D8-THC from sources that produce and purify it so that it does not contain excessive amounts of D9-THC or impurities with unknown effects.
The effects of D8-THC are purported to be like those of D9-THC but less intense. The binding of D8-THC to the CB1 receptor in the central nervous system is responsible for producing the psychoactive effects associated with marijuana use.
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- D8-THC is a partial agonist at the CB1 and CB2 receptors in mammals. Activation of the CB1 receptor, which is found primarily in the central nervous system, decreases the concentration of the second messenger molecule cAMP by inhibiting adenylate cyclase.
D8-THC binds to cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 in mammals. These receptors are the primary receptors in the endocannabinoid system, and their activation by endogenous and exogenous substances is responsible for the effects mediated by the endocannabinoid system.
The endogenous ligands of the cannabinoid receptors are termed endocannabinoids. They are N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide, AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG).
- D8-THC is different from D9-THC and other natural cannabinoids because it is not found naturally in marijuana or hemp but is produced by isomerizing cannabidiol from hemp using various acids.
- D8-THC is not a controlled substance in contrast to D9-THC but it does bind to the same receptors as D9-THC and produces similar effects although with less intensity than D9-THC.
- D8-THC is more thermodynamically stable than D9-THC and therefore is sometimes found in low amounts in D9-THC due to isomerization of D9-THC to its more stable isomer.
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