What Is Delta-8? You’re About to See It Everywhere

Cannabis culture is more complicated than ever. Even the most frequent partakers may confuse CBD for hemp, diet weed for regular weed, or an indica strain for a sativa, etc. Cannabis goes by too many names these days… and we’re about to jumble things up even further with the latest addition of “diet weed,” known more formally as Delta-8. Here’s everything you need to know about cannabis’ newest rebirth.

What Is Delta-8?

Delta-8 differs from standard marijuana in the sense that it’s less potent, and, as a result, more widely available in states that have not legalized or decriminalized cannabis yet. Pot lovers have found a new way to legally buy and sell this less-potent version using a legal loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill (source 1). Delta-8, aka “Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol,” can be purchased in gas stations, smoke shops, and recreational cannabis shops in all but a handful of states (source 2). It smells and looks like the real thing but skips out on certain psychoactive effects that you get from standard marijuana. Basically, it’s cannabis on a diet.

What Is the 2018 Farm Bill?

The 2018 Farm Bill is the primary reason why you can legally buy and sell Delta-8 in many states. Without it, Delta-8 would not be legal. The bill creates and upholds a distinction between hemp, from which Delta-8 is derived, and cannabis. In simplest terms, the bill dictates that cannabis and hemp are indeed different and cannot be lumped together or under the same set of laws because one produces psychoactive activity and the other does not. As the bill states under section 12619, “any cannabinoids derived from hemp is considered legal” (source 3).

Cannabis vs. Delta-8

According to its users, Delta-8 behaves more similarly to CBD than standard cannabis. Fans call it the “sweet spot” between CBD and cannabis. For inexperienced users or those who struggle with negative side effects during their high, Delta-8 might actually serve as the perfect solution. Many say it comes without some of the more adverse side effects that cannabis sometimes delivers. At the end of the day, it all comes down to your personal experiences with cannabis. Maybe you react negatively to THC? Maybe you’d like to have another soothing option at your disposal? Maybe you’re simply interested in trying all the hemp products on the market? It never hurts to experiment with a new product to see if it’s right for your needs.

Delta-8 is on the Rise

Shockingly enough, the initial release of CBD came with a bag of mixed reviews. Some loved it, others hated it—and look what happened years later. CBD is now a billion-dollar industry (source 4). CBD products are literally everywhere from dog treats to chocolate bars and bottled water. Maybe the same could be said for Delta-8 in the months or years to come, as it may take off the same way CBD did, as Delta-8 has the potential to be an under-the-radar product for those who seek a middle ground between relaxation and couch-lock.

Growers Choice Seeds does not sell Delta-8 or “diet weed” products, but we’re curious if any of you have tried it before or are interested in trying it now. Let us know how you felt during your Delta-8 experience! Do you see cannabis’ latest reinvention overshadowing CBD or the original thing? Tell us your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below.