The biggest difference between hemp-derived THC and marijuan-derived THC is legality at the federal level. Hemp-derived THC is legal as long as it contains less than 0.3% by dry weight, while marijuan-derived THC is only legal in states that have passed laws on medical or recreational marijuana. What else is an important difference between the Delta-8 and the Delta-9? Both are derived from hemp, but only products containing more than 0.3% of Delta-9 are illegal at the federal level. Although each state has its own rules, Delta-8 is generally much more accessible.
Try it in a steamer or even a rice krispie. No matter what your favorite way to enjoy Delta-8 is, we've got you covered. Professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology at the University of South Carolina, Prakash Nagarkatti receives funding from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. Mitzi Nagarkatti receives funding from the National Institutes of Health.
The University of South Carolina provides funding as a member of The Conversation US. Nowadays, you see signs of delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC and CBD, or cannabidiol, everywhere: at gas stations, convenience stores, vape stores, and on the Internet. Many people rightly wonder which of these compounds are legal, if they are safe to consume, and which of their supposed medicinal benefits stand up to scientific scrutiny. The rapid proliferation of cannabis products makes clear the need for the public to better understand what these compounds are derived from and what their true benefits and potential risks may be.
We see that these products are very promising for medical applications. But we are also concerned about the fact that there are still many unknowns about its safety and its psychoactive properties. Cannabis sativa, the most common type of cannabis plant, has more than 100 compounds called cannabinoids. The best-studied cannabinoids extracted from the cannabis plant are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or delta-9 THC, which is psychoactive.
A psychoactive compound is one that affects the functioning of the brain, thus altering mood, consciousness, thoughts, feelings, or behavior. THC delta-9 is the main cannabinoid responsible for the high associated with marijuana. Marijuana and hemp are two different varieties of the cannabis plant. In the U.S.
UU. The marijuana that is cultivated today has high levels (10 to 30%) of delta-9 THC, while hemp plants contain between 5 and 15% of CBD. The chemical difference between delta-8, delta-9 and delta-10 in THC is the position of a double bond in the chain of carbon atoms that they share structurally. Delta-8 has this double bond on the eighth carbon atom in the chain, delta-9 on the ninth carbon atom and delta-10 on the tenth carbon atom.
These small differences cause them to exert different levels of psychoactive effects. Delta-9 THC mimics the cannabinoids, called endocannabinoids, that our body produces naturally. Because THC delta-9 emulates the actions of endocannabinoids, it also affects the same brain functions that regulate, such as appetite, learning, memory, anxiety, depression, pain, sleep, mood, body temperature and immune responses. The National Academy of Sciences has reported that cannabis is effective in relieving chronic pain in adults and in improving muscle stiffness in patients with multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease.
That report also suggested that cannabis could improve sleep outcomes and fibromyalgia, a medical condition in which patients complain of fatigue and pain throughout the body. In fact, a combination of delta-9, THC and CBD has been used to treat muscle stiffness and spasms in multiple sclerosis. This drug, called Sativex, is approved in many countries, but not yet in the U.S. However, delta-9 THC has not been approved by the FDA to treat ailments such as pain, sleep, sleep disorders, fibromyalgia and autoimmune diseases.
This has led people to self-medicate against these types of ailments for which there are currently no effective pharmacological treatments. Delta-8 THC is found in very small amounts in the cannabis plant. Delta-8 THC, which is widely marketed in the U.S. It is a derivative of hemp CBD.
Delta-8 THC binds to CB1 receptors less strongly than THC delta-9, making it less psychoactive than THC delta-9.People who seek delta-8 THC for its medicinal benefits seem to prefer it over delta-9, because delta-8 THC doesn't cause them to get too high. However, delta-8 THC binds to CB2 receptors with a strength similar to that of delta-9 THC. And since CB2 activation plays a fundamental role in suppressing inflammation, delta-8 THC may be preferred to THC delta-9 for treating inflammation, since it is less psychoactive. The sale of delta-8 THC, especially in states where marijuana is illegal, has become highly controversial.
Federal agencies consider all compounds isolated from marijuana or its synthetic forms, similar to THC, to be Schedule I controlled substances, which means that they currently have no accepted medical use and have significant potential for abuse. However, hemp manufacturers argue that delta-8 THC should be legal because it is derived from CBD isolated from legally grown hemp plants. Delta-10 THC, another chemical cousin of delta-9 and delta-8, has recently entered the market. Scientists still don't know much about this new cannabinoid.
Delta-10 THC is also derived from hemp CBD. Some people have anecdotally reported feeling euphoric and more focused after consuming delta-10 THC. In addition, anecdotally, people who consume delta-10 THC claim that it causes less euphoria than delta-8. And practically nothing is known about the medicinal properties of delta-10 THC.
However, it is marketed in a similar way to the other most studied cannabinoids, with claims about a range of health benefits. Research and clinical trials on the use of marijuana or delta-9 (THC) to treat many medical conditions have been hampered by their classification as Schedule 1 substances. In addition, the psychoactive properties of marijuana and delta-9 THC create side effects on brain functions; the associated effect makes some people feel bad or simply hate that feeling. This limits its usefulness in treating clinical disorders.
On the contrary, we believe that delta-8 THC and delta-10, as well as other possible cannabinoids that could be isolated from the cannabis plant or synthesized in the future, are very promising. With their strong activity against CB2 receptors and their lower psychoactive properties, we believe that they offer new therapeutic opportunities to treat a variety of medical conditions. .