In this article we will talk about Delta-8 THC, why people have become so fascinated with it, and here’s good practices on How to Find and Buy Quality delta-8 THC Products Online… as well as traps to avoid.

What is Delta-8 THC?

Delta-8 THC is short for Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol. Like Delta-9 THC it is a cannabinoid derived from marijuana and hemp. Delta-9 THC is often recognized and shortened to simply THC, the element of marijuana responsible for the plant’s psychoactive effects. Delta-8 shares the other derivatives’ euphoric, fuzzy sensation-inducing effects but to a lesser degree. Other effects that accompany THC use, such as drowsiness, paranoia, and anxiety are also less strong with Delta-8. 

Because hemp and hemp byproducts are legal to farm thanks to the 2018 Agriculture and Nutrition Improvement Act, Delta-8 products enjoy a legal gray area within which they can be sold and purchased.

However, this legal gray area also means a lack of regulation, lab testing, and oversight when it comes to the rapidly growing Delta-8 industry. This means if you want to purchase and enjoy Delta-8 in its various forms you need to be careful and keep some things in mind.

You should also note that Delta-8’s legal gray area will not last forever as some states are already developing legislation to restrict if not ban the alternative cannabinoid. One of those states is Colorado which has legalized weed for some time. So be aware of the legislation in your state regarding the sale and purchase of Delta-8.

How to Find and Buy Quality delta-8 THC

Before 2020 Delta-8 was very much an underground product traded in an underground product. Though finding vendors for ‘marijuana-lite’ online will not be a difficult problem. The problem is finding vendors you can trust. One of the great risks of a legally gray product market are the potential and actual bad actors active within it. Delta-8 products may contain toxic chemicals that have not been properly extracted due to lack of oversight as well as greed and expedience on the producer’s part. They may also have been manufactured in a way that is illegal.

Here are some things to keep in mind on How to Find and Buy Quality delta-8 THC as laid out by Leafly.

1. Licensed Sellers Good– living in a state that has legalized marijuana means there are state-licensed cannabis stores. These are the only stores you should be purchasing Delta-8 from. The products sold from these stores will be both legitimate and quality tested.
2. Head Shops Bad– while head shops can be good places to purchase accessories such as rolling paper and glass pieces they should not be where you purchase Delta-8. Head shops do not have to abide by any of the regulatory requirements that licensed cannabis stores follow.
3. QR Codes and COAs– always makes sure a Delta-8 product has a QR code. If it doesn’t have one Do. Not. Buy it. And even if it does have a listed QR code check to see if that code links to a COA, the certificate of analysis. The COA contains a product’s test results assuring you that it has been tested.
4. Cash App Payments? Avoid– Legitimate online sources for Delta-8 products do not use cash apps like Venmo, Cash app, or Zelle. Legitimate CBD brands accept the credit cards American Express, Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. Reputable retailers can use legitimate payment processes.

The following are Delta-8-THC scammers who should be avoided at all times according to LAWeekly: Cake, CannaClear, Honey Creek Labs, Truelieve. 

LAWeekly also advises to not purchase from companies that neither test for impurities nor publish lab reports from third parties.

Delta 8 THC is one of the newest, most potent forms of cannabis available today. It has taken the world by storm in recent months and doesn’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. 

We had the opportunity here at the PBP Corner to sample a handful of Delta 8 products from the Official Farmacy recently and wanted to share with you all what we thought of them. 

What is Delta 8?

For you newbies out there, Delta 8 THC is a potent cannabinoid that can be smoked or ingested orally. This chemical compound interacts with receptors in your brain to produce various effects like euphoria, increased energy levels, relaxation, reduced anxiety, creativity, and talkativeness, among others, depending on how much Delta 8 you consume. 

Delta 8 THC is a lesser-known cannabinoid that has been shown to have properties different than delta 9, the most well-known cannabinoid. It is thought that this might be because it binds more selectively with CB2 receptors in the brain. Delta 8 THC is also less psychoactive and less likely to cause anxiety or paranoia. It’s all about that Delta 8 Feeling!

Now with some background information on Delta 8 itself, let’s take a look at the products the good folks at Official Farmacy sent us.

What we reviewed:

• Sour Diesel Sativa Pen
• Delta-8 Vegan Gummies (Mixed Berry)
• Delta-8 Flower (Hawaiian Haze – Currently not on the website)

To start, we tried the Sour Diesel Sativa Pen. One of the first things we loved about it is just how small and discreet the piece was! It is about a small to medium-sized USB flash drive size and almost looks like one too. This is excellent because it can easily fit into your pocket or a small purse and not take up too much space and looks very inconspicuous. 

The draws from the vape pen were smooth, and the odor was very minimal, making this ideal for indoor or small space use. We noticed that occasionally, it was a bit difficult to take a hit (perhaps the oil itself got clogged in the heating element?), but a quick blow OUT of the device and then back IN typically did the trick! Overall the unit was very nice and gave a nice mellow yet potent buzz.

Next up were the Delta-8 Vegan Gummies (Mixed Berry). They were delicious, and the consistency of them was excellent! The flavor was just enough to give you a punchy fruit burst while masking the taste of the Delta 8 THC within them. 

The gummies were a medley of mouth-watering flavors, including Mixed Berry, Peach, and Melon. The high from them was also very smooth and pleasant. We would give them a try again in the future.

Last but not least was the Delta-8 Flower. Right off the top, we could tell that the flower was very fresh and hand-trimmed with delicate hands. The buds were green and aromatic and so so tantalizing! You can see for yourself below:

We were the most “skeptical” about this product, as many Delta 8 flower products claim to be potent and aren’t. Often, they are sprayed with distillates to give an extra kick; however, that’s not what you want in a flower product. The active compounds should be derived within the plant itself, and this particular strain seemed to be just that! Aside from just how aesthetic the buds were in their container, the flower packed a nice dreamy lift into the stratosphere of relaxation and bliss.

Conclusion

Of all of the products we tried from the Official Farmacy, none of them were even remotely disappointing. As a matter of fact, the products were so good that we are likely to keep ordering them once our supply here at the PBP Corner is out! Nothing but A’s around the board for them, so a big Kudo’s to Josh for sending us the products!

You can get more information by visiting their website at www.officialfarmacy.com or checking out their Instagram page @officialfarmacy

When talking about the potentials of cannabis and its cannabinoids, two of the most popular chemical compounds found in the plant always come up namely cannabidiol and delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC. What many people neglect to recognize is that there are more than 130 cannabinoids in the plant.

One of these is the lesser-known delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8 THC), which is different from the more commonly known delta-9 THC. This compound recently gained popularity and many members of the cannabis community are becoming more interested in trying it out. If you are one of these people, here’s what you need to know.

Introducing Delta-8 THC

Delta-8 THC is a psychoactive compound present in the cannabis plant. It bears a similar structure to delta-9 THC, more commonly known as simply THC. Both cannabinoids have a double bond in their carbon chains, however, they have differences that influence how it affects consumers. This variance rests on the placement of the double bond. For delta-8 THC, the double bond is found on the eighth carbon chain, while it is located in the ninth double chain in delta-9 THC. Delta-8 is also considered more stable than delta-9.

Given these differences, the two compounds also have slightly varying effects on consumers. When talking about these properties, it is first important to talk about the effects of psychoactive agents, seeing that the delta-8 and -9 THC are both psychoactive chemicals. These compounds are known to produce a high that offers a euphoric and sedated feeling. However, the effects of delta-8 are much milder than delta-9.

Another essential difference between the two is that delta-9 is found in abundance in the cannabis plant, while delta-8 is not. In fact, there are no significant concentrations of delta-8 in the plant, but most especially in the hemp variety. What many manufacturers do to produce delta-8 supplies is to make it from CBD.

So, Where Can You Get It?

In the topic of legality in the United States, the first thing we need to talk about is the 2018 Farm Bill and its implications. This law delisted hemp from the list of illicit crops, allowing farmers to legally cultivate, harvest, and sell hemp which is known as a high-CBD and low-THC plant. The law defines hemp as a cannabis plant with only 0.3% THC or less. This technically makes it federally legal to consume hemp in all forms, particularly extracted CBD, which can be used to create delta-8 THC. Delta-9 can also be converted to delta-8 THC.

However, it is important to remember that particular states have created laws that specifically outlaw particular substances such as CBD, delta-8, and delta-9 THC. Currently, there are 12 states that prohibit delta-8 THC namely Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Kentucky, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, Rhode Island, and Utah. Alabama, North Dakota, and Oregon are looking into bills to ban it.

The rest of the states either allowed the distribution and consumption of this substance or have no specific laws to prohibit it. Interestingly, the United States Hemp Authority, which certifies hemp products, did not endorse delta-8 products as they are marketed for their psychoactive effects. Moreover, the agency takes a stand that the law only allows a total THC concentration of 0.3%, and with delta-8 being a THC compound, products cannot exceed this threshold.

The Bottom Line

The laws surrounding delta-8 THC as of this moment remains hazy, especially as hemp products are considered legal only through technicality. Nevertheless, consumers in states where cannabis is fully legal can definitely go out and try what delta-8 products have to offer and see the difference for themselves.