The Ultimate Guide to Delta-8 THC & Other THC Variants

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Have you heard of the 2018 Farm Bill? It’s one of the most important pieces of legislation on THC and CBD because it changed the legal definition of marijuana.

According to the bill, hemp containing no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC isn’t subject to the Controlled Substances Act. Therefore, all CBD hemp flower products containing a maximum of 0.3% delta-9 THC are federally legal.

The 2018 Farm Bill was game-changing because it was the first glimmer of the US government legalizing our favorite plant for recreational use. But what exactly is delta-9 THC, and how is it different from other variants like delta-8 THC, THCA, and THCV?

Continue reading to find out!

Delta-8 THC

What Is it?

Delta-8 THC is a variant of the main psychoactive compound found in marijuana. It’s the current poster child for every CBD hemp flower products marketplace because it’s federally legal. You read that correctly—it’s legal to buy products like delta-8 THC oils (subject to state regulation)!

Delta-8 THC was legalized when the Farm Bill was passed in 2018 because lawmakers defined THC solely as delta-9 THC. For the science buffs among you, delta-8 THC is formed when delta-9 THC oxidizes—and while the effects are milder after oxidation, it’s a small price to pay for what many describe as the first step to legalization!

How Does it Affect You?

The effects of delta-8 THC depend on how you take it. For instance, if you apply or ingest a full-spectrum delta-8 THC oil, you’ll feel a wider range of effects because of additional compounds inside the product, like CBD.

On the other hand, here’s what happens when you consume pure delta-8 THC:

  • Your senses will be boosted so that colors, sounds, and tastes are clearer and more magnified
  • You’ll become more sensitive to bodily sensations
  • You’ll feel euphoric
  • Your muscles will relax, causing you to feel drowsy
  • Your heart rate will rise
  • Your eyes will redden

It’s vital to avoid dosing too much delta-8 THC as it could lead to the following side effects:

  • Inability to speak, read or think clearly
  • Dizziness
  • Muscle tremors
  • Excessive hunger
  • Insomnia

I recommend buying your delta-8 THC and CBD products from a reputable supplier and consulting a medical professional about what dose suits youto minimize the side effects mentioned above.

Delta-9 THC

What Is it?

Delta-9 THC is considered the OG version of delta-8 THC because it produces the same effects but with greater intensity. It’s important to remember that products containing delta-9 THC are only legal if the concentration is less than or equal to 0.3%. This isn’t enough to feel the psychoactive effects, but you’re bound to feel the physical effects—especially if you use a full-spectrum product that also contains CBD and other marijuana derivatives like terpenes.

How Does it Affect You?

Take the effects of delta-8 THC in the section above, raise the intensity by about two-thirds and you get delta-9 THC. However, if you intake the legal amount of delta-9 THC, you won’t feel anything because the concentration is too low.

It’s worth noting that the side effects of delta-9 THC are more pronounced than delta-8 THC—so if you’re not feeling good after ingesting a product, consult a medical professional and source your goods from a better marketplace.

THCV

What Is it?

THCV (also known as ‘delta-9 tetrahydrocannabivarin’) is a compound that’s often extracted from marijuana plants using a solvent. It’s a naturally occurring compound that resembles the chemical structure of delta-9 THC—but the effects are much different!

THCV must be inhaled for the user to feel its full effects. With that said, the effects are extremely mild (so you need to take a lot to feel it), and they don’t last long.

How Does it Affect You?

Interestingly, THCV produces one major opposite effect to CBD and other THC variants—it suppresses your appetite! Aside from that, THCV produces all the effects listed in the ‘delta-8 THC’ section above but at a much lower intensity.

THCA

What Is it?

THCA (also known as ‘tetrahydrocannabinolic acid’) is the only type of THC that doesn’t produce any psychoactive effects. Why? Because this molecule doesn’t fit the parts of your brain and nervous system responsible for that buzz we all love.

With that said, THCA can bechanged into psychoactive compounds like delta-8 and delta-9 THC by applying heat and light in a process most of the pot community knows as ‘decarbing’ (short for ‘decarboxylation’).

Why is all of this important? The answer’s simple—some of the best places to buy CBD hemp flower products source their goods from producers who know how to decarb their plants properly!

How Does it Affect You?

THCA doesn’t affect your mind at all—but it does provide several physical benefits. Studies have shown that THCA ingestion helps people treat diet-induced obesity by suppressing their hunger. It also reduces inflammation and fights nausea.

Mary Jane’s Bakery Co Has a Brilliant Collection of Delta-8 THC and CBD Products Online at Fantastic Prices!

Want to buy CBD and THC products from a marketplace that carefully checks every product to ensure you’re getting the good stuff? If so, I recommend checking out Mary Jane’s Bakery Co.!

Mary Jane’s Bakery Co. sells a plethora of high-quality THC and CBD products. They’ve got everything from delta-8 THC oils to delicious snacks with varying concentrations of delta-8 THC. They also sell novel products like CBD-infused lip balms and hair sprays that work like a charm and are bound to impress your friends!

If you want to buy products that contain delta-8 THC instead of the other variants we’ve discussed in this article, contact Mary Jane’s Bakery Co. today!

About the Author

James S. has helped companies synthesize legal variants of THC for over 10 years. His work has helped producers and CBD/THC product manufacturers across the country to understand the intricacies of marijuana. James has a post-graduate degree in biochemistry and spends his spare time advocating for the legalization and regulation of delta-9 THC.