Introduction: 

Both delta-8 and delta-9 cannabinoids have a chain of carbon atoms, but delta-8 has the double bond on the eighth carbon, whereas delta-9 has it on the ninth carbon. This double bond is thought to produce the intoxicating effects that make the user feel high.

Deta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol or delta-9-THC (“THC”) is an active constituent in extracts of the plant Cannabis sativa (marihuana, Hashish).

With the legalization of recreational cannabis, the industry has devoped strains and products which can reach 15 % THC or more, and concentrated products like oils, edibles and glass-like products called shatter can have a THC concentraiton as high as 90%. Unfortuantely, the more potent a drug and its high is, the more addictive it can be. Today, a about 1 in 11 marijuana users will become addicted. (“Weed is tronger than ever, but it might not affect our brains that much: 6 surprising facts about cannabis” CC Documentaries.)

Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as delta-8 THC, is a psychoactive substance found in the Cannabis sativa plant, of which marijuana and hemp are two varieties. Delta-8 THC is one of over 100 cannabinoids produced naturally by the cannabis plant but is not found in significant amounts in the cannabis plant. As a result, concentrated amounts of delta-8 THC are typically manufactured from hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD). 

These products have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA for safe use in any context. Some concerns include variability in product formulations and product labeling, other cannabinoid and terpene content, and variable delta-8 THC concentrations. Additionally, some of these products may be labeled simply as “hemp products,” which may mislead consumers who associate “hemp” with “non-psychoactive.” Furthermore, the FDA is concerned by the proliferation of products that contain delta-8 THC and are marketed for therapeutic or medical uses, although they have not been approved by the FDA. Selling unapproved products with unsubstantiated therapeutic claims is not only a violation of federal law, but also can put consumers at risk, as these products have not been proven to be safe or effective. See FDA Delta-8 warning