With all of the new products being released that contain ingredients from cannabis plants, it is only natural that a lot of questions have arisen. One thing that has consistently been on my mind, though, is the strange misinformation surrounding one of the newer developments: delta 9. It is a type of THC, sure, but how can we sort the fiction from the fact when it comes to this derivative of cannabis?
Hopefully, this article can help you start to do just that. Consider checking out some of the resources that I utilized like this one here, https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-thc-in-marijuana-4080556, to get a basic understanding of these concepts before you dig in. After that, keep on reading!
What is the Cannabis Plant?
It might seem silly to go this generalized when it comes to this topic, I find that it is often necessary given some of the popular misconceptions about cannabis and the different varieties in this genus. It is a part of the family known as Cannabaceae.
While there are debates in the scientific community in regard to how many types of them that there are, when you hear people refer to “marijuana,” it is the cannabis sativa plant. That is what hemp is as well, though some of them are cannabis ruderalis. The difference between them is the levels of THC in the plant.
What is Delta 9, then?
Before I can truly explain this to you, I must start by detailing the 2018 Farm Bill that legalized hemp. As per the bill, only cannabis sativa plants that contain less than point three percent of THC are legal to grow on a federal level. So, why do we need to know this?
Well, it comes down to the so-called “loophole” that many producers have discovered. You see, THC that occurs naturally in the plants is prohibited, but many types of hemp can be grown to contain high levels of CBD. CBD is cannabidiol, if you are not familiar with the term.
Why does that matter? Well, delta 9 is actually a type of synthetic THC that is derived from the naturally occurring CBD in hemp plants. So, by the definitions in the Farm Bill, it is legal. You can see some examples of delta 9 on the Hifi Farms site if you are curious and would like to see more.
What about the properties of this substance? The main thing to know is that it does produce a very similar effect to naturally occurring THC, so it can give consumers the sensation of getting high similar to marijuana. That is why there are so many items out there online in marketplaces that contain this ingredient.
What About its Legal Status?
Now, as you can probably expect, this is where things do tend to get a bit more complicated. Why is that? Well, officially, delta 9 is still considered a controlled substance by our federal government here in the United States.
How is it being sold everywhere, then? You see, some states have made it legal to use recreationally. You can read more about it in this article, where I got some of my information. Essentially, the key takeaway here is that you should always check in on the regulations and rules regarding delta 9 in the area that you live in before you purchase any items containing it. Better safe than sorry, after all.
What is the Appeal?
Now that you have a better understanding of what delta 9 is and its legal status here in the United States, you might be wondering why people purchase it or use it, anyway. It might seem strange, but the answer is pretty simple: it can produce the psychoactive effects in our minds without being true “weed.”
A large part of this actually comes down to edibles and how easy they are to obtain. This has inspired a rather mixed reputation for the products labelled with “hemp” or “cbd,” especially when they are coming from online dispensaries. Allow me to do some myth busting, here.
There are some cases in which CBD gummies are stronger than what is advertised on the packaging. However, this happens incredibly rarely when purchasing from reputable shops and brands. If this is a concern of yours, consider looking at some online reviews or talking to friends who have shopped for similar products as well.
A lot of the bad press comes from when children get their hands on these items, especially gummies, when they should not be able to. It can certainly produce adverse side effects for young children, as that is not who they are designed for. That is why I urge you to keep any products containing CBD or THC out of the hands of kids.
With that out of the way, gummies or other edible forms of these substances are popular because of how easily accessible they are. There is no oil or difficult to swallow pills involved, which can bother some people. Rather, they are often fairly tasty and not difficult to take.
Naturally, this causes them to be appealing to many audiences across the world. If you are new to this entirely, it could be something to consider giving a try. However, any types of CBD derived products or items can usually do the trick. The choice of delta 8, delta 9, or cannabidiols is up to you.
