We all know what cannabis is and how it is used in the modern world today. It has been known by different names such as weed, pot, and marijuana. Cannabis is a plant that has psychoactive properties that’s why most medical experts would use its flower, leaf, or even seed oil for medicinal purposes. A cannabis plant contains chemical compounds commonly called cannabinoids such as THC and CBD. Delta-9-THC is the most commonly known cannabinoid by most people. However, it is not the only powerful cannabinoid in cannabis as hundreds more cannabinoids are still undiscovered. On the other hand, a newly discovered and enhanced cannabinoid called Delta-8 is emerging into the cannabis industry and many cannabis consumers are trying it.
What is Delta-8?
Cannabis contains hundreds of undiscovered cannabinoids and one of the newest discoveries is Delta-8. Delta-8 is extracted from the hemp of the Cannabis Sativa plant. A dried Cannabis Sativa plant contains 1% Delta-8 which means, that getting this cannabinoid can only be done by a proper abstraction, separation, alteration, and enhancement of the dried cannabis flower. Delta-8 is also commonly called Delta-9-THC’s little brother as they are both cannabinoids. Although these two are both cannabinoids, Delta-8 has different characteristics and effects on the human body. The National Cancer Institution even stated the perfect definition of Delta-8 and said:
“Delta-8 is an analog of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) with antiemetic, anxiolytic, appetite-stimulating, analgesic, and neuroprotective properties. Delta-8 binds to the cannabinoid G-protein coupled receptor CB1. Located in the central nervous system. This agent exhibits a lower psychotropic potency than delta-9-THC.”
In addition, Delta-8 is just a few atomic bonds different from Delta-9-THC and it can still make its consumer high but without any hallucinations and paranoia effects as it is less psychoactive, unlike Delta-9-THC. A vlog channel called “The High Couple” stated in their vlog episode about cannabis that Delta-8 can relieve stress and make you feel relaxed or at ease without experiencing paranoia or anxiety. Additionally, cannabis users claimed that they are more productive with Delta-8 as it is less intoxicating compared to Delta-9-THC. Delta-8 is completely newly discovered and researchers are still conducting deeper studies to discover more positive potentials from Delta-8 together with more cannabinoids.
Why Delta-8 is a possible treatment for Cancer and HIV?
As Delta-8 emerged in the cannabis industry, so as researchers got curious about it. Countless of cancer patients added delta-8 as one of their treatment because they have experienced many positive factors using Delta-8. According to a blog named Vitality, Delta-8 does get its consumers high but with positive high effects. Delta-8 consumers claimed that its high effects are less psychoactive that’s why it doesn’t have any delirium effects. They are twice productive as they are stress-free and more energized throughout the day.
According to a blogger named Kush Queen, Delta-8 is more constant and a cannabinoid with less intensity compared to its older brother Delta-9-THC as she described it. She added that Delta-8 is effective when it comes to mood enhancement, and appetite-stimulant and there are more enriching abilities in Delta-8. Additionally, a study by Discover Magazine stated that Delta-8 can also treat nausea and can increase appetite which can help HIV patients and people with cancer who are going through chemotherapy.
It was also stated in Melissa Meyer’s article that Delta-8 can also relieve pain and inflammation and it can even protect our brain cells as it has neuroprotective properties. She added that most Delta-8 consumers said that they are more motivated and clear-headed when they started to take Delta-8 as its high effects are not lethargic. Even certified cannabis users experienced these positive differences when they switched to Delta-8. Thus, Delta-8 consumers enjoyed CBD-like benefits without getting stoned as they can still function properly and are twice productive.
Is it legal to take Delta-8?
In a short answer to this question, yes it is legal in all 42 states here in the USA but not in the remaining 9 states which are Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Lowa, Mississippi, Nebraska, and Utah. Delta-8 is not yet legal in those 9 states as it is in a legal grey area.
The significance of Delta-8
It was mentioned earlier that Delta-8 can treat nausea and can increase appetite and this is a fact that has been proven decades ago. According to a platform called Cannabis Tech, a researcher named Raphael Mechoulam conducted a study about the positive effects of Delta-8 on children with hematological cancers which resulted well.
They have observed that children who took enough dosage of Delta-8 eased their pain, prevented their nausea, and increased their appetite without losing any control or hallucination effects. Raphael Mechoulam concluded in his study that Delta-8 is a treatment for children and adults that successfully prevented nausea without side effects. Therefore, he stated in his conclusion that delta-8 can be a new economical antiemetic drug in pediatric cancer chemotherapy.
Today, thousands of adults are already using delta-8 for medicinal purposes to produce the same aid without any negative side effects. There are already enough studies for the legitimacy of Delta-8 as an effective substance. Thus, many experts are still conducting more research on Delta-8’s possible potential to make it more as a recognized medicine in the future.
