What is Delta-8-THC?

When the 2018 Farm Bill made it federally permissible to buy and sell hemp, it opened up a way for companies like Wanderous to sell hemp-derived cannabinoid products – including THC – all over the country. A long-overdue victory for accessible plant wellness!

Unfortunately, not all brands are as scrupulous as the ones featured on Wanderous, and the growing hemp industry isn’t currently subject to the same strict regulations that other packaged foods are.

We caution consumers to look out for a number of red flags when shopping for hemp products outside Wanderous. One of the easiest-to-spot warning signs is the sale of Delta-8-THC, an increasingly popular hemp-derived cannabinoid that you may have already heard of… or even tried yourself.

Back up…there’s more than one kind of THC?

Yes! Sort of.

The cannabis plant in its natural, neutral state produces meaningful quantities of only one form of THC: Delta-9-THC.

Delta-9 is the most commonly known and experienced THC molecule. It’s what people consume when they smoke or vape, and it’s present in many Wanderous products. It typically produces what many people describe as a euphoric, cerebral “head high.”

Things get wacky when you ingest Delta-9-THC via traditional edibles. When that happens, the Delta-9 is metabolized in your liver, where it’s converted into a different molecule called 11-Hydroxy-THC. 11-Hydroxy results in more potent, longer lasting effects, often referred to as “a body high.”

As far as intoxicating THC molecules you can consume straight from the plant, without significant chemical intervention, Delta-9 and 11-Hydroxy are pretty much it. But once you take things out of nature and into the laboratory, things get more complicated. That’s where Delta-8 comes in.

So what is Delta-8-THC?

In terms of molecular structure and effects, Delta-8-THC is very similar to Delta-9, though many report feeling less potent effects when they consume it.

Here’s the catch: the cannabis plant does not naturally produce Delta-8-THC, at least not in high enough amounts to infuse into edibles or beverages. Any Delta-8 you see advertised for online sale has been created in a lab, usually by altering the atomic structure of hemp-derived Delta-9-THC or CBD molecules to synthetically produce this strange little spin-off cannabinoid.

Is Delta-8-THC safe?

The short answer is: probably not! Delta-8 molecules in their pure, uncontaminated form might be ok, but it hasn’t really existed long enough for researchers to study its long-term effects. More urgently, the process by which Delta-8 molecules are synthesized – usually using harsh agents like sulfuric acid – often produces unknown, undesirable, downright unsafe chemical byproducts.

We should also note: Delta-8 is not the only alternative THC molecule being synthesized in labs. See also Delta-10, Delta-7, HHC, HHCO, THCO, THCP, and JWH18 (also known as “Spice”). Some of these molecules are known to have dangerous side effects – Spice, for example, can cause hypothermia and respiratory issues. None of them are required to adhere to any kind of standardized safety practices

Are all Delta-9 products OK?

We’d love to tell you that Delta-9 products are always a safe alternative to Delta-8, because they very often are! But, again, regulations are few and far between in the hemp-derived cannabinoid biz, and plenty of operators do cut corners and produce or extract their Delta-9-THC through unsavory means.

This does NOT mean you need to be scared all online hemp retailers… it just means you need to know what to watch out for. Whether you buy from Wanderous or not, make sure your hemp providers adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices and that all their products are third-party tested for potency and consistency.

The proof is in how the products make you feel… but it should be in the official documents too.

Wana Strawberry Lemonade

Bring balance to any moment with Wana’s sparkling Strawberry Lemonade, available online only at Wanderous! With a calibrated blend of THC, CBG, and CBD, this fast-acting beverage can lift your mood and sweeten any activity, whether it’s unwinding at home or enjoying a hangover-free Happy Hour with friends.

Strawberry Lemonade 4 Pack