Delta-8 THC Feeling Explained: How This Trending Cannabinoid Works

Delta-8 is a popular compound derived from a cannabis plant said to give euphoria, body high, and possibly help with pain relief similar to a traditional THC high

Delta-8 is a new trend in the cannabis market, but this cannabinoid has been around just as long as cannabis itself because it is derived from the plant. Interested in Delta 8? Check out our Flying Monkey Delta 8 here.

It is a molecule within the plant generally derived from hemp plants, because they lack the high concentration of psychoactive compounds that give users that high feeling.

Delta-8 does have euphoric effects though, leaving many users curious about the difference between a Delta-8 THC feeling and the familiar THC high. It is also legal to purchase and consume through a sort of regulatory oversight in cannabis law.

The most important thing to understand is that it affects your endocannabinoid system just as traditional marijuana does which may support health benefits such as anti-inflammatory properties, appetite stimulation, and pain relief.

More research is needed to understand the proven health benefits of delta 8, but this trending compound is being tested and studied every day.

Key Takeaways About Delta-8 THC

• Delta-8 is federally legal, unlike traditional cannabis.

• Delta-8 THC is a cannabinoid derived from hemp plants in low doses and often extracted as an oil, but technically can be used with almost any traditional cannabis consumption method.

• Unlike CBD, Delta-8 is known for giving users a Delta-8 feeling, some users say it is a clear-headed high, with less psychoactive experience than smoking traditional weed.

• Some research may support that Delta-8 has some of the same benefits as marijuana but without some of the known common negative side effects such as dry mouth.

• Much like marijuana that can be purchased legally at a dispensary, Delta-8 can come from various cannabis strains and have different potencies.

What is Delta-8?

Delta-8 is shortened from Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, which is a cannabinoid that derives from cannabis plants, formally known as Cannabis Sativa.

Delta-8 is just one of the hundreds of cannabinoids that can be found within a cannabis plant. Generally, there are just trace amounts of this cannabinoid, so it is extracted in low doses often as an oil.

There are two types of cannabis plants: hemp and marijuana.

Both types of plants can have different strains, varying concentrations of certain terpenes, and varying levels of cannabinoid molecules. This results in a diverse cannabis product experience for users depending on their state guidelines.

Marijuana Plant

Marijuana is the plant known for its psychoactive properties that are most commonly smoked resulting in a euphoric body buzz, head high, and sometimes even psychedelic.

Marijuana is legal on a state level in states like California, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Las Vegas, however; it is still technically federally illegal for its intoxicating effects.

Hemp Plant

The hemp plant is most commonly grown as a crop to create hemp clothes, and hemp lotions, and to legally extract cannabinoids within the plant that are not illegal, most commonly CBD or Delta-8.

Growing hemp is not considered illegal, whereas in some states and federally growing marijuana technically is not legal. The laws vary state by state, but those who grow hemp and extract Delta-8 THC have found a legal loophole.

Delta-8 Has Risen In Popularity In Recent Years Because Of Its Legality

Delta-8 has become a new and somewhat controversial trend in the industry because of the legal loophole that technically makes it federally legal, similar to CBD.

CBD is probably the most popular known cannabinoid found in the plant's compounds, just behind THC, which is actually called Delta-9 THC.

Delta-9 THC is the one that is known to get users high and then CBD has risen in popularity for its medicinal use in the forms of creams, tinctures, edibles, and more.

In fact, CBD is the first cannabis derivative that is used in a medication called Epidiolex. It was the first-ever FDA-approved CBD medication approved to help seizure disorders from rare but serious diseases: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Dravet syndrome, or tuberous sclerosis complex.

The FDA has said they recognize that there are over 100 compounds within cannabis and some other than CBD and THC could have medical use.

This regulatory oversight has led to the extraction and third-party testing of other THC cannabinoids, resulting in the discovery of the Delta 8 THC high.

What Is The Delta 8 THC High?

Unlike CBD though, users report that they get a Delta-8 feeling after consuming or ingesting Delta-8 products such as tinctures, vapes, or even oils.

Some describe it as a psychoactive high similar to Delta-9 THC, but with less intense effects. Some have even referred to Delta-8 as junior weed or baby weed.

The potency is not as high as Delta-9 THC, which can produce a less intent high that most regular THC users have reported enjoying.

It is important to keep in mind that a user's personal experience is not created equal and is dependent on many factors such as their weight, anxiety, metabolism, and tolerance level.

The method in which a person chooses to ingest can also produce varying experiences, just as one can expect that eating edibles is more of a full body high than the head high from vaping.

Some users report Delta-8 gives them the good parts of a marijuana high such as relaxation, an elevated experience, and feeling euphoric, and without the negative side effects like feeling couch locked, anxiety overload, or having dry mouth.

The Delta 8 THC high only lasts for a few hours as cannabinoid receptors get activated by the consumption of Delta-8.

If a user is a regular marijuana consumer, they are likely to have a high tolerance and this is also important to consider when discussing the overall intense feeling and experience is of a Delta-8 THC high.

For some, THC can cause anxiety, whereas for some it relieves anxiety. These differences are important factors to consider before making any decisions on THC and its effects.

It Is Important To Remember That Personal Experience With The Delta-8 High Varies

On the flip side, individual factors can always vary for each person. For a first-time user, there can be such a thing as too much delta 8 THC. Higher doses could cause an uncomfortable or overbearing THC high that may not be for everyone.

A new user of cannabis in general could feel overwhelmed with the first-time high experience. It is very difficult to measure the exact amount an individual is consuming and the variances in the consumption method they chose.

User experience can be at all ends of the spectrum just as consuming other medications. The method and product consumed varies too.

For example, vape products could expect to contain high concentrations of THC and the flower version could contain a low dose of THC resulting in different Delta-8 highs.

On the health side, there is still not much research since this trend of extracting Delta 8 THC is so new. Researchers are continually studying the effects of delta 8 THC and releasing new scholarly articles sharing discoveries.

Some studies have said that Delta-8 THC is like the nicer sibling of Delta-9 THC because of its fewer intensity reports of the most common side effects that come with a traditional THC high.

With future research, we may find that Delta-8 could have medicinal use similar to Delta-9 THC, but more research needs to be done before making those determinations.

Like Delta-9 THC, it could be appetite-stimulating for cancer patients. It could reduce anxiety for those with mental health conditions. Or similar to CBD, it could become known for its neuroprotective properties relating to seizure disorders.

Studies are coming out all the time where the benefits of Delta-8 are being tested in the human body and compared to Delta-9, many find it is less potent.

How Was Delta-8 Discovered?

Despite its recent trend in the market, Delta-8 was discovered in 1965 by Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, known as the father of cannabis. He discovered many other cannabinoids too.

At the time of his discovery though, Dr. Mechoulam did not recognize Delta-8 as a special compound with intense psychoactive impact like Delta-9 THC.

More recently though, Delta-8 has been proven to bind to the endocannabinoid system similar to Delta-9 THC, which could suggest it has similar medicinal properties such as improving stress, anxiety, or appetite issues.

What Is the Endocannabinoid System?

The endocannabinoid system is a biological system in the human body that has several functions involving lipids, the liver, and glucose metabolism within muscle cells.

It is crucial for human health because it impacts important body functions: memory, emotions, sleep, temperature control, pain control, inflammatory and immune responses, and appetite.

Consuming THC causes cannabinoids to interact with our central nervous system, resulting in intense euphoric feelings we recognize as being high. This has been known for Delta-9 and is newer in studies with Delta-8 THC.

Does Delta-8 Show Up On A Drug Test?

Unfortunately, despite being legal, Delta 8 THC can show up on a drug test through urine, hair, and blood testing.

It is considered to have less potency than THC, but the compound Delta-8 THC is just one derivative away from Delta-9 THC so users should expect Delta-8 to show up as positive on a drug test.

This poses problems with basic urine analysis screenings and can cause unwanted failed drug tests. Despite the potency being less, it is not recommended to be guinea pigs and test this theory if needed to pass a drug test.

What Are The Benefits Of Delta-8?

Overall, the benefits of Delta-8 are still not proven, but it is suggested that it can help with similar health issues in ways that Delta-9 THC or CBD does. More research is being done to test this theory.

Most users have reported enjoying Delta-8 and its lesser psychoactive intensity in comparison to Delta-9 THC.

If a user enjoys Delta-9 THC, it is possible they may enjoy Delta-8 more because it is less potent resulting in fewer negative side effects.

As research develops, the cannabis community is likely to uncover other benefits of Delta-8 THC and even possibly other THC cannabinoids with other effects.

As federal and state laws continue to progress, there is hope that these organically available THC compounds could help alleviate more ailments than we ever imagined.

As testing continues to progress and the industry continues to produce new products, the future of the cannabis industry and Delta-8 THC is promising as knowledge is gained.