Discover the Delta-8 THC and Learn Why Its Popularity Is Increasing
This cannabinoid is one of the four most common types produced by the cannabis plant, but only naturally present in extremely small amounts. Like other cannabinoids, it has a promising medicinal and therapeutic potential for people with mental and physical problems. Stress from work, anxiety, pain in bones, every web developer and IT professional knows the consequences of hard working.
THC Delta-8 is still largely unknown, product retailers in the US, and increasingly in Europe, are beginning to realize its potential.
Despite thousands of years of cannabis use and cultivation, our knowledge of the plant’s compounds remains remarkably underdeveloped. Although we may know that there are over 100 cannabinoids produced by the plant, most of us have only heard of a few of them, such as THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol).
This lack of knowledge even extends to the scientific community, where cannabis research has been severely stunted for decades due to the plant’s prohibition. However, another cannabinoid has become an object of growing interest: it is Delta 8 THC.
What is Delta-8 THC?
THC has become the best known cannabis compound, however, this abbreviated term actually refers to delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol. It is the most prevalent of the cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, as well as the psychoactive compound known to produce the psychoactive effect in cannabis users. However, delta-8 THC is a completely different compound.
In fact, the structure of this compound is similar to delta-9 THC, with only a few differences in binding between the two cannabinoids.
As an analogue of THC, delta-8 THC also produces an effect similar to that of delta-9 THC, the most common THC. However, it has a lower psychotropic potency. Like other cannabinoids, it has also been found to have promising medicinal and therapeutic potential.
Delta-8 THC is one of the four most common cannabinoids produced by the cannabis plant, however, it is still only naturally present in extremely small amounts. Still, that hasn’t stopped some companies from developing ways to successfully extract cannabinoid for product development.
What Are the Potential Therapeutic Benefits of Delta-8-THC?
Most cannabinoids share at least one or two of the same beneficial therapeutic effects, with their own efficacy in treating specific diseases. Delta-9-THC and CBD have analgesic properties, for example, but while delta-9-THC relieves neuropathic pain, CBD has a better effect in treating inflammation pain. Delta-8-THC is no different, offering many of the same medicinal applications as delta-9-THC, but varying degrees of effectiveness depending on the disease in question . Although research on the benefits of delta-8-THC is limited, the cannabinoid has shown potential to treat the following diseases:
Cancer
Dr. Raphael Mechoulam found medicinal potential in administering 18mg delta-8-THC in an edible with oil to children with cancer, noting that 480 of these had been treated successfully up to the time of the article’s publication.
Sickness
Delta-8 distillate had great medicinal value, as it had a greater effect to stimulate appetite than delta-9-THC, without the discomfort of intense psychoactivity. A 1995 study by Mechoulam also showed that delta-8-THC had helped study participants reduce nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy treatment.
Pain and Neuroprotection
Due to deta-8-THC’s bonds with CB1 receptors, which are widely distributed throughout the brain and throughout the nervous system, the cannabinoid may have analgesic and neuroprotective properties similar to delta-9-THC.
Anxiety
In direct contrast to delta-9-THC, which contributes to anxiety and mental discomfort due to its psychoactive effect, delta-8-THC is much less likely to cause anxiety in high doses, and may even slow down symptoms of anxiety thanks to its relaxing effects.
The Legality of Delta-8 THC
Although THC delta-8 is still largely unknown, product retailers in the US, and increasingly in Europe, are beginning to realize its potential. Several companies are now selling steaming products with the compound, which some adult users claim feels milder with less anxiety and paranoia.
While this may all be very good, the question of its legality remains somewhat uncertain. In the US the compound was essentially legalized at the federal level under the Farm Bill 2018. However, there is much controversy over this fact.
In the UK, the question of legality remains unclear. There is no express mention of this particular cannabinoid in the government datasheet for cannabis and cannabinoids as an exempt product or a controlled substance.
Potential Medical Properties of Delta-8 THC
While the retail market for delta-8 THC may not be as refined (or perhaps as cool) as you’d expect, there have been some promising developments in terms of research. Some studies have found that this cannabinoid have anti-emetic, anxiolytic, appetite-stimulating, analgesic and neuroprotective properties.