With cannabis taking flight into a whole new era, the special chemical compounds that exist within the plant are carving out niche markets of their own, and everyone is buying into it. One of the latest cannabinoids to gain traction is Delta-8 THC, a close relative of the infamous psychoactive cannabinoid that has made marijuana so popular throughout the centuries. If Delta-9 THC has received all of the spotlight for years, why is this less-known version of tetrahydrocannabinol emerging so quickly? In this case, it’s all about timing.
It truly began after the perception of cannabis became more relaxed. Though it remained federally illegal, states started taking the law into their own hands and one after another, cannabis gained legal status in several states. This sparked a push towards federally legalizing hemp, which actually happened due to the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, otherwise known as the 2018 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill specifically allows all derivatives, isomers, and cannabinoids of hemp legal, provided that the final product contains less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC.
Now federally legal, the hemp market is booming and all of the cannabinoids that naturally occur within the plant are finally getting the moment to shine, yet on a much broader spectrum. Delta-8 THC is the most recent cannabinoid to gain the spotlight for several reasons. Firstly, it’s legal, it provides much more tolerable psychoactive effects than its relative, and it packs several benefits.
Now that you know how it all started and what it is, you are still left wondering how to make Delta-8. We apologize for babbling about the upbringing of this special hemp-derived compound but sometimes we can’t help ourselves but spew Delta-8 THC information so that our customers are more informed during the buying process.
How To Make Delta-8 THC?
Despite what many believe, Delta-8 THC is a naturally occurring cannabinoid within the cannabis plant, both in hemp and marijuana. However, it occurs in very small concentrations, therefore it wouldn’t make sense to extract it and create products with it because it wouldn’t be affordable. The cost would far outweigh the benefits that it offers.
Fortunately, the structure of cannabinoids is very similar, which means that they can be converted from one cannabinoid to another with a simple chemical reaction. What is even more impressive is that these cannabinoids naturally occur within the cannabis plant, and some of them even change themselves into each other with the help of time, light, and heat. For instance, THCA is converted into Delta-9 THC by applying just the right amount of heat for just the right amount of time. Many avid marijuana smokers do not even realize that while they smoke marijuana, this conversion process is happening.
Fun Fact: All cannabinoids begin their journey as CBGA, then naturally synthesize into other cannabinoids throughout the maturation of the cannabis plant.
The conversions are a normal part of the industry. In fact, they are performed quite often to create more rare cannabinoids, such as Delta-8 THC, Delta-9 THC, CBC, and CBN to name a few.
Warning: Delta-8 THC is created using solvents, reagents, and acids, therefore the conversion process should only be performed safely by knowledgeable lab technicians to ensure the bases that are used are properly removed from the final product.
Though you may not have a lab, you may be interested in how Delta-8 THC is actually made. To isomerize, or convert, CBD to THC, you have to dissolve 1-gram of CBD in 10mL 0.005molar H2SO4 in glacial acetic acid. Once dissolved, let the solution stand at room temperature. After 3 hours CBD is converted into 52% Delta-9 and 2% Delta-8. If you allow the solution to set over the course of 3 days, the CBD converts into 15% Delta-9, 54% Delta-8, 10% Delta-8-Iso, and 10% CBD.
Delta-8 THC Product Options
For those of you who aren’t mad scientists, you never have to endure the lengthy process of converting one cannabinoid to Delta-8. You can gain the remarkable benefits and its effects with a variety of products that have hit the market, such as our Delta Extrax Delta-8 THC Cartridges, which are available in several flavors, including:
GRAND DADDY PURP
CALI ORANGE KUSH
STRAWBERRY COUGH
