The Hemp plant has been around for thousands of years and has been used for different purposes. As of 2018, we’ve really started to discover its different properties and cannabinoids. However, you might be wondering how many cannabinoids are in the Hemp plant? You can expect to discover the different Hemp cannabinoids along with their specific uses in this article.
What Is A Cannabinoid?
The word cannabinoid refers to different chemical substances that join to the cannabinoid receptors in our body that are found in the Hemp plant. The most common cannabinoids include CBD and THC, but there are between 80 – 100 that are known; aside from other 300 non-cannabinoid chemicals. Although the most sought-after cannabinoid is THC, the Hemp plant also produces anti-psychoactive cannabinoids such as CBD.
Besides the high feeling that THC produces, Hemp cannabinoids can also produce different experiences. These experiences can differ, but the most common feelings include euphoria, laughter or excitement, increased appetite, or dry mouth. However, for some, it can also trigger anxiety or drowsiness. The different effects depend on a number of conditions including tolerance, resistance, and amounts taken.
Marijuana Vs. Hemp
The reason why there are so many Hemp-derived products emerging is that in 2018 Hemp was declassified as a controlled substance. This meant that everyone’s attention was now on Hemp for its many properties. Although Marijuana will always be popular, we now started to discover the value of Hemp-derived THC. If it wasn’t for Hemp becoming legal, products like Delta 8 THC wouldn’t be as popular. This is because there would be no need for Delta 8 since Marijuana would have remained as the go-to for THC.
The biggest difference between Hemp and Marijuana is the amount of THC in both plants. Although they both come from the same species, Hemp tends to produce low amounts of THC and high amounts of CBD. However, the opposite is true in Marijuana, and it produces high amounts of THC and low amounts of CBD. Because of this, Hemp is legal and Marijuana remains illegal. Although you are able to get high from the Hemp plant, it just would take a lot of Hemp-derived THC extracts in order to achieve this goal.
Hemp-Derived THC Cannabinoids
There is a long list of Hemp-derived THC Cannabinoids, but the important thing to remember is that they are not classified as Marijuana. In 2018, it was established that any Hemp product that has less than 0.3% of Delta 9 THC is considered Marijuana. Also, any product that has less than 0.3% of Delta 9 THC is considered Hemp. Therefore, you’re able to extract Delta 8 THC, Delta 10 THC, etc. as long as it has less than 0.3% of Delta 9 THC.
This does not mean that you’re not able to use Delta 9 THC in Hemp products. It just has to contain less than 0.3%, but that can still be enough to cause a head change. Although this percentage might not seem very high, certain Hemp-derived products such as our Delta 9 THC Gummies have a good amount of THC. However, while they are able to cause a psychoactive experience, it’s still below the legal Federal limit, and classified as Hemp.
LEARN MORE: A GUIDE TO HEMP COMPLIANT DELTA 9 THC
DELTA 8 THC
In order to understand why this form of THC is referred to as “Delta 8,” you’ll have to understand its science. The Delta part of the name refers to the double bond, so both Delta 8 THC and Delta 9 THC contain double bonds; the difference is where the double bond is actually located. Chemistry deals with carbon atoms. Delta 9 THC has a double bond on the 9th carbon in the chain, Delta 8 THC is located at the 8th.
So, what this really boils down to is that a double bond is going to have more electrons than single carbon bonds and will interact differently with the Endocannabinoid system. Now while there isn’t a big difference, when we’re talking about small particles, the location of that double bond can be very paramount. Also, other cannabinoids like Delta 10 THC have their double bond located in the 10th carbon of the chain.
Synthetic THC
The question is often asked, is Delta 8 THC or any other Hemp-derived THC synthetic? The short answer is no, Delta 8 THC is not synthetic. Also, synthetic cannabinoids/THC are typically made by combining different chemicals to produce a similar effect to cannabinoids.
Naturally Occurring
Although the Hemp plant produces only a small amount of THC, it does produce some THC. What this means is that cannabinoids like Delta 8 THC, Delta 10 THC, THCP, THCV, etc. are naturally occurring in the Hemp plant. However, they are only produced in small amounts and it takes a lot of hemp to produce large batches.
Looking at what a Hemp product is, any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers is considered a Hemp product. Although some products have a more intense process to either extract or produce, it still falls under the category of Hemp.
Synthetic
One important thing to note is that synthetic cannabinoids do not come from Hemp or Marijuana. The goal of synthetic weed is to replicate the cannabinoids found in Hemp or Marijuana. This is done by combining different chemicals in order to replicate the feeling you get from THC.
The side effects from synthetic marijuana have been linked to many mental, and health issues. This includes trips to the emergency room for rapid heart rates, vomiting, headaches, anxiety, and more. Also, you can overdose from synthetic marijuana due to toxic reactions, elevated blood pressure, and can cause seizures.
Conclusion
Simply put, a cannabinoid is any part of the Hemp plant that produces some sort of reaction in your receptors. This can include Hemp-derived THC like Delta 8, Delta 10, THCP, etc. However, these Hemp-derived products are not to be confused with synthetic cannabinoids. Natural occurring cannabinoids are produced in the Hemp plant, while synthetic cannabinoids are produced in a lab in order to replicate the effects of naturally occurring cannabinoids.
