7 minute read
Let’s Hash Out Delta-8
LET’S HASH OUT DELT∆-8
by Morgan Cole | photos by Guy Stevens
Delta-8-THC delivers a hemp-based high without paranoia or anxiety—all
while being completely legal. This popular hemp-cannabis derivative is flying off the shelves at local smoke shops, dispesaries and cannabis stores. Delta-8 is closely related to Delta-9-THC, the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis known to provide the effects of being high.
Delta-8 is derived from pot’s legal cousin, hemp. The hemp-based derrivative makes Delta-8 legal under the 2018 Farm Bill that governs the production, sale and use of legal hemp products. While experts say Delta-8 can deliver a high that’s milder, but similar to regular cannabis, it’s currently lawful to sell, possess and use. This federal legalization is making Delta-8 the most talked about product in the hemp industry. While the recreational use of marijuana remains illegal under state law, local sellers say that Delta-8 is seeing dramatic growth in sales.
When Pensacola-natives Frank DeRise and Blake Hammac noticed other companies taking the plunge into the Delta-8 market—and returning a huge profit despite Florida’s heavily regulated medical marijuana industry—the duo saw the potential for profit and launched Pensacola’s first Delta-8 cannabis shop.
Located at 503 North Navy Blvd. in Pensacola, Legal Leaf offers a variety of Delta-8 gummies, smokeables, canned drinks, vaping options and other hemp products, including CBD. Unlike medical marijuana, consumers are not required to have a medical card for any of the products found at Legal Leaf. DeRise and Hammac emphasize that these products can help those in the community who may suffer from medical issues, pain or anxiety. For those that may not have the resources to access medical marijuana, Legal Leaf provides a legal alternative to access THC products.
“We saw the need for this type of product in our local market and wanted to make legal THC products more available to those who couldn’t or preferred not to get it from a traditional medical dispensary,” Frank DeRrise, co-owner of Legal Leaf said. “There’s a lot of individuals who could be helped by having access to legal THC without a card. There is an unseen cap on the medical marijuana side for Florida. It’s expensive to acquire a medical card and not everyone can afford that.” In addition to being more readily available than medical marijuana competitors, Legal Leaf offers a variety of consumption forms. Products range from concentrates to edibles but also include non-traditional varieties of Delta-8 products, such as canned THC infused soda. The most popular products are reportedly the standard flower with edibles coming in as a close second. Legal Leaf does not currently participate in the manufacturing process of Delta-8; however, all of their products are acquired from reputable vendors that provide copies of lab tests and comprehensive lists of the active ingredients contained in each of the products.
As for the future of Legal Leaf, the owners have plans to open up a second location in the near future and plan to expand into a mobile vending operation that the owners refer to as a “Cannabus.” Both DeRise and Hammac look forward to potentially expanding this independent LLC into a multi-state franchise.
Downtown Crowd consulted with local experts to get the scoop on everything you need to know about this hot new THC product. So if you’re intrigued, but also a little confused, it’s high time you check out the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions surrounding Delta-8-THC.
Assortment of pre-rolls
WHAT EXACTLY IS DELTA-8?
Delta-8 is a cannabis compound that has become popular because of its similarity to Delta-9-THC, the main compound in cannabis that gets you high, causing euphoria, happiness, sedation, symptom relief and much more. Large amounts of THC are found in a majority of cannabis strains.
The similarities between the two cannabinoids lie in their chemical structures and their names. THC’s scientific name is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or Delta-9. Delta-8 is short for Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol. Delta-8 can cause effects similar to regular Delta-9 THC—but they will be much less potent.
Nearly all Delta-8 on the market today is manufactured from hemp-derived CBD, which makes it, in theory at least, part of a federally legal chain of origin.
WILL DELTA-8 GET YOU HIGH?
Delta-8 will get you high, albeit not as high as regular cannabis. For those living in states where cannabis is illegal, Delta-8 may be a legal way to experience some THC-like effects from cannabis.
Some consumers may even prefer Delta-8 products that aren’t as strong as regular cannabis, even if they can legally obtain THC products. Delta-9 can cause negative effects for some, bringing on anxiety or paranoia. Delta-8 may offer a smoother, milder high.
_ Assorted Delta-8 flower available at Legal Leaf
Delta-8 consumers report many of the same effects as THC, such as mild euphoria, happiness, uplifting feelings and relief from some symptoms such as pain and insomnia.
Adverse side effects may be similar to those of regular cannabis, including dry mouth, red eyes, getting the munchies and short-term memory loss. It’s important to note that Delta-8 hasn’t been studied extensively and more research is needed on the effects it has on the mind and body.
a Product wall at Legal Leaf
_ Delta-8 seltzer water
DELTA-8 VS. CBD
Delta-8 has more similarities to Delta-9 than CBD, both in its chemical structure and because it gets you high. Delta-8 binds to the body’s endocannabinoid system like Delta-9. CBD doesn’t bind as readily to the endocannabinoid system, making it non-intoxicating; although, CBD can offer medicinal benefits for the consumer.
If you are looking for effects similar to THC but with a reduced potency, Delta-8 may be for you. If you seek relief from certain symptoms and don’t want to get intoxicated, you may want to try a CBD product.
WHAT MAKES DELTA-8 LEGAL?
Delta-8 currently exists in a legal gray area. The 2018 Farm Bill, a federal act passed by Congress, legalized hemp in the United States. That act defines hemp as:
“All derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent.” This language makes Delta-8 legal, because it does not contain any Delta-9 THC. There are 11 states where Delta-8 is believed to be illegal according to state law.
The federal Drug Enforcement Administration has a proposed rule to indirectly classify Delta-8 THC as a Schedule I controlled substance, which would make it federally illegal. That rule is not yet final.
Additionally, in August 2020, the DEA released an Interim Final Rule, a document meant to update and confirm the differences between hemp and cannabis. That interim rule said: “All synthetically derived tetrahydrocannabinols remain Schedule I controlled substances,” which would make Delta-8 illegal because it is a tetrahydrocannabinol that is extracted, or synthetically derived. Delta-8 is found in trace amounts in cannabis and hemp plants, and as hemp is legal to grow anywhere in the US and more readily available, the cannabinoid is often sourced from that.
Commonly, CBD is extracted from hemp and refined into an isolate, and then that CBD isolate is synthesized into Delta-8. Delta-8 requires more processing and is more expensive to make than CBD, but this increased production cost is balanced out by the high demand for it.
HOW TO FIND GOOD, SAFE DELTA-8
As Delta-8 is relatively new to the market and unregulated, it may be chal-
a 3Chi delta-8 tincture lenging to find genuine Delta-8 products. When shopping for Delta-8 products, check out a producer’s website to see if they have information on how they source and create their products.
Quality, tested products usually have a QR code or batch number on the box that allows you to look up test results on the producer’s website. Stay away from products that are not tested or have questionable test results, as you won’t know if they contain Delta-8, and if they could potentially contain harmful substances.
For more information on Legal Leaf and their full line of Delta-8 products, visit legal-leaf.com or check them out on Facebook.
Sources: National Institute of Health, Leafely.com and Legal Leaf, LLC
ALL PRODUCTS ARE LEGAL THC, NO MEDICAL CARD REQUIRED!
