How Different are Delta 8 THC and CBD?

iDELTA8 - How Different are Delta 8 THC and CBD?

If you like to stay on top of cannabis news, then you’ve more than likely come across articles about delta8 by now.  There’s still a lot that the average hemp user doesn’t understand about this unique compound, which is also called delta 8 or delta-8.  It is, in fact, a psychoactive compound found in the hemp plant in trace amounts, but thanks to recent changes in federal law regarding hemp, it’s fully legal in its isolated form.

Many who take hemp products wonder if it’s worth giving delta 8 a try.  Well, while it does share some things in common with CBD, it’s very different in many ways.  And it’s those differences that make it well worth considering, even if you’re very satisfied with your current hemp regimen.

CBD is cannabidiol, and it’s the dominant compound in hemp.  But there are lots of fascinating compounds which each interact with the body in a unique way, thus having the potential to offer pretty exciting effects.  Let’s compare these two compounds so that you can decide for yourself whether or not delta8’s unique attributes are worth incorporating into your regimen.

Similarities Between Delta 8 and CBD

Before we get into the differences between these two cannabis compounds, let’s first go over their similarities.

#1: They’re Naturally Occurring Cannabinoids 

Delta 8 and CBD are both cannabinoids.  CBD is short for cannabidiol, and delta 8 is short for delta 8 tetrahydrocannabinol.  For those who don’t know, cannabinoids are a unique category of compounds inherent in the cannabis genus, of which both marijuana and hemp belong.  As cannabinoids, they can be found in both of these plants, in the flowering buds of the female plants to be more precise.  

Cannabinoids are unique from other plant compounds, because only cannabinoids are utilized by the endocannabinoid system in the body, which manages homeostasis throughout the entire bodily system.  Cannabinoid receptors are found in every bodily system, which each one relating to a particular bodily process, such as mood or digestion.  The endocannabinoid system’s job is to send cannabinoids where they’re needed throughout the body to trigger regulatory effects that help improve functionality of these systems.  

Each cannabinoid takes part in this process, but different cannabinoids bind with different cannabinoid receptors, or bind with them in different ways.  Therefore, each cannabinoid may offer slightly unique effects.

#2: They Offer Similar Properties

Because CBD has been around for longer, we have access to far more studies regarding CBD’s effects than those of delta 8.  But studies on delta8 do exist, and demonstrate that delta 8 and CBD have a lot of properties in common. 

#3: They’re Both Legal as Long as They Come from Hemp 

Extractions of these cannabinoids are both legal as long as they are derived from the hemp plant rather than the marijuana plant.  This is because hemp was legalized in 2018 under the United States Farm Bill, which declares that hemp and all of its derivatives, including individual cannabinoids, can be legally purchased and consumed.

#4: They’re Molecularly Similar 

CBD and delta-8 are isomers, which means that their molecular makeup is the same, except these molecules are organized in different fashions.  In other words, you could make delta8 by taking CBD and rearranging its molecules.  Interestingly, this is how a lot of delta 8 extracts are made.

How Delta 8 and CBD are Different 

So, what about their differences?  Let’s break down the key ones that you should know.

#1: Delta 8 is Harder to Find 

The CBD market has been enormously popular for over ten years.  One reason is that extracting CBD from hemp is incredibly easy thanks to the fact that it’s the most abundant compound in the plant.  It’s cheap and fast to isolate and concentrate this cannabinoid.  But it’s harder with delta 8.  In hemp, there’s about 12 to 18% CBD, and only about 0.1% delta-8. 

Only recently have companies developed efficient and cost-saving means of extracting and concentrating delta 8, and because of this, the delta 8 market is very new compared to CBD.  As a result, it’s far easier to find CBD products than it is to find delta8 products.

#2: They’re Extracted and Formulated Differently 

Extracting CBD is a pretty straightforward process that involves using an extraction method like the CO2 method to lift the compounds from the hemp plant, which is followed by isolating the CBD compound.  With delta 8, things are a bit different.  Extracting that tiny amount of delta8 from the hemp plant can be challenging and time-consuming, and so a method commonly used, as referenced earlier, is rearranging the CBD molecules to turn this cannabinoid into delta-8.

#3: One Has a Lot More Research Behind it 

Like we said before, CBD has far more research behind it than delta8.  This means that it’s easier to study what CBD can do, than it is to study how delta 8 may compare.

#4: One May Cause You to Fail a Drug Test

CBD and delta 8 may be both legal, but delta 8 can cause you to fail a drug test while pure CBD will not.  Drug tests are not looking for the CBD compound, but they are looking for THC, which delta 8 technically is.

#5: They are Used by the Endocannabinoid System in Different Ways

One thing that makes delta8 unique from CBD is that it binds with cannabinoid receptors twice.  This means that its various effects may be more potent than those of cannabidiol.

The Delta8 Products at iDELTA8

Now that you can recognize the key differences between these two cannabinoids, you may be wondering how you can incorporate both into your daily routine.  Well, at iDELTA8, we’ve made it easy for you.  We offer our delta-8 vape oils in three unique formulas.  Our Blue Label offers a 2:1 ratio of cannabidiol to delta-8.  Our Gold Label is an even 50/50 mix.  Then, our Platinum Label is pure delta8 isolate.  You can experiment with these different formulas to determine which one gives you the best balance of cannabinoids.