We offer both delta-8 THC and CBD products among our diverse range of hemp products. For the everyday American, though, you may not know about one or either of these cannabinoids. Even though they’re two of the most researched cannabinoids in the world, America has been in the dark until just recently.
Now, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp and its derivatives are legal for production and consumption.
That means CBD, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid with a plethora of beneficial properties, is fully legal as long as it’s extracted from US-grown hemp that contains 0.3% or less delta-9 THC.
The bill also unlocked the freedom for brands to extract the minuscule amount of delta-8 THC in some hemp strains, sold in concentrations put into tinctures, edibles, and more.
But how exactly do the two cannabinoids differ? That’s what we want to cover in this guide. How is delta-8 different from CBD? What do they share in common? Let’s find out.
What is Delta-8 THC?
It’s not the most popular cannabinoid currently, but it is the fourth most prominent of the 100+ cannabinoids that occur in cannabis plants. It’s considered a minor cannabinoid because it occurs in such a small percentage of any cannabis strain, which explains why the USDA failed to mention it when clarifying their rules in the 2018 Farm Bill.
Delta-8 THC, according to the research available thus far, seems to have a load of benefits. It’s mildly psychoactive, but not as intensely as delta-9 THC, so it doesn’t cause the overstimulated negative symptoms that some people experience.
Some people don’t smoke because the potency of delta-9 leaves them paranoid and anxious instead of giving them the chill high they were expecting. With delta-8, the high is much more invigorating – you feel a mellow chill wash over you without feeling like you’re locked in your head or on the couch.
Overall, delta-8 has a lot to offer as a powerful cannabinoid. In fact, beyond just a cool high, it appears to help with anxiety, certain types of pain, stimulating appetite, reducing or eliminating nausea, and even provides neuroprotective properties.
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is the cannabinoid most abundant in certain hemp strains. Non-psychoactive, it doesn’t stimulate any sort of high like the THC variety does. It does, however, exert quite a variety of properties that many consider high-profile benefits. These include anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive, and anti-anxiety effects – which means CBD gives a lot of perks to a lot of different people.
Since CBD became legal through hemp, it’s gained quite a following throughout the US. In fact, as of a Gallup Poll in August 2019, over 1 in 7 Americans use CBD for various reasons – a whopping 14% of the adult population already. And as of 2020, a SingleCare survey found that as many as 33% of Americans have used CBD products in the past, so it’s clear to see the rapid increase.
How CBD and Delta-8 THC Differ
Because they connect to the same receptors in the brain, there’s a lot in common with the two cannabinoids. They provide a lot of similar benefits to one’s health, but they also have a lot of big differences – the main one being, one gets you high and the other doesn’t.
Delta-8 THC is psychoactive, so it can stimulate certain “stoned” effects for you. CBD, on the other hand, is meant to stimulate relaxation in a different way – more in the same way that melatonin can help you get to sleep.
CBD doesn’t cause a high and requires a much more consistent, robust routine before any of its benefits are felt. You can get high from delta-8 THC the first time, and feel many of its benefits along the way, but with CBD, it can take four weeks or more of being incorporated into your daily routine before anything noticeable is felt.
Which Should You Try?
Really, it depends on your preferences. Try CBD, try delta-8, or try a combination of the two, along with the other cannabinoids in our line, to see which really fits your preferences the best.
Everyone has their own reasons for trying any concentrated extract from hemp, so it may just take time and some experimenting before you find what’s right for you. Try our CBD or delta-8 THC products today to see which one is your favorite!