First things first: what exactly is Delta 8?
There are hundreds of cannabinoids in cannabis with more being discovered as research develops. The most commonly known are THC and CBD, however, there are a ton of interesting and new cannabinoids in Canadian cannabis. So WTF is Delta 8?
Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol is a psychoactive compound that’s not too different from delta-9 THC. The location of a double bond between two carbon atoms is different (delta-8 at the 8th position, delta-9 at the 9th). This slight variation impacts how they interact with the body's endocannabinoid system.
The felt effects are similar to regular THC but delta-8 is less potent and the felt effects are more chill. Unless otherwise specified, the THC in legal products in Canada are made with delta-9 THC.
Delta-8 produces a less pronounced high, making it an ideal choice for consumers who prefer a lower potency.
You might have noticed that Delta-8 products were on the market for a hot minute before being removed after Health Canada intervened. On December 16, 2022, the Ontario Cannabis Store recommended that licensed cannabis providers avoid buying delta-8 THC products, using “an abundance of caution” as an explanation. There is a 10mg of THC limit in edibles and many of the delta-8 products were exceeding that limit.
Existing inventory in stock was allowed to be sold. Although no adverse reactions have been recorded, delta-8 THC does technically fall outside the classic definition of THC in legal jargon and leads us to wonder: what will happen to other novel cannabinoids discovered in the future, or what legislation on them involves?
Health Canada has since come out with guidance regarding “intoxicating cannabinoids”, allowing them as long as products don’t exceed 10mg of THC and any other intoxicating cannabinoid.
Delta 8 THC is a natural compound that appears in the cannabis plant without intervention. However, it exists in such small quantities that it needs to be synthesized in a lab. That’s why many people think the cannabinoid is synthetic despite being naturally occurring. In the US, many of the products sold as delta-8 are synthetic and untested. That isn’t the case in Canada.
Still, nobody is quite sure what the benefits and downsides of delta-8 are when compared with delta-9 or non-psychoactive strains.
Right now, it’s being thought of as cannabis-lite and is superb for anyone with a low tolerance or folks who get anxiety from more potent strains. Right now, speculation is that Delta-8 can provide similar benefits and fewer adverse effects than its Delta-9 sibling. Based on personal experience, I'd have to agree.
For me, the effects after smoking a D8 strain are similar to the effects of 1:1 CBD and THC strains, providing a milder and more mellow high. However, we still need information like how these novel cannabinoids can affect factors like strength, onset, and duration per milligram. In a market obsessed with high-THC products, delta-8 could be a breath of fresh air for consumers.
If/when Delta 8 does get the green light from Health Canada, it could be a game-changer and a more approachable introduction to cannabis for newbies. Especially for those looking for that perfect alert-yet-content buzz that stronger strains miss the mark on. While that research is still brewing, toke on some of the other cannabinoids we do have knowledge and resources on, including cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabinol (CBN).
