Is Delta 8 The Equivalent Of “Delta 8 Bath Salts” In The Hemp Industry? | Finger Board Farm

Let's be clear about one thing right away: Unlike Rudy Eugene, the notorious Miami man who was allegedly high on Delta 8 Bath Salts, you probably won't turn into a zombie or start eating people's faces. (Please note that we are not referring to the typical kind of bath salts used for soaking in the tub.) But have you noticed us yet? Good.

You may already be aware of Delta 8. Almost everyone on social media is discussing it. It's the biggest development since bread was sliced. CBD is an old story. Actually, not really; the CBD market is just incredibly overrun with junk. The most recent celebrities to enter the CBD market are Martha Stewart, Travis Barker, Kristin Bell, and all the other famous people looking to capitalize on star-struck customers. Just incredibly hot.

Back to the subject at hand: Delta 8

You must have heard of THC unless you've spent your entire life living under a rock. The primary psychoactive component of cannabis is THC, also known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. It is what causes the "high," which is a pleasant buzz.

What Exactly Is Delta 8 Then?

The THC isomer known as Delta 8 is an isomer of Delta 9. In chemistry, the same molecule with a different atom arrangement is referred to as an isomer. In plain English, Delta 8 is just another name for THC. Although Delta 8 gives off a more subtle, mellow buzz than Delta 9, it is still THC and therefore moderately intoxicating.

So why can you buy Delta 8 at your neighborhood supermarket, gas station, truck stop, or CBD store if it's still THC? Doesn't hemp have to have a THC content of less than 0.3%? To these queries, the answer is a narrow legal loophole. Delta 8 falls into this legal limbo because it isn't specifically mentioned or prohibited in the farm bill and because it's technically made from industrial hemp. Legal murkiness may be viewed favorably by some, particularly those looking to profit, but for many others, including those in the industry who have fought tenaciously to sell CBD legally, and in particular law enforcement, it's a cause for concern.

But hold on a second, if Delta 8 is found naturally in hemp, it should be acceptable, right? Here's the catch, though. It has been difficult to produce large quantities of delta 8 or really extract it in any significant concentration because it occurs in the plant in such minute concentrations. The majority of Delta 8 on the market is synthetic or made in a lab.

This Is How It Is Created

A process known as isomerization is used to transform one cannabinoid, such as the naturally occurring CBD or THC found in hemp, into another. To refresh your memory, an isomer is the same molecule with a different atom order. In essence, you cook naturally occurring, hemp-derived cannabinoids like Delta 9 THC or CBD in a strong acid after dissolving them in a solvent to create different isomers like Delta 8 or even Delta 10. In reality, Delta 8 is not a true distillation product, where compounds are actually fractionated and separated from the original whole plant extract, despite the fact that many extractors and suppliers are calling it a distillate or extract. A true CBD distillate, for instance, starts with 2-5% THC (a true full spectrum extract) and ends with less than 0.3%, making it federally and farm bill compliant.

As the blog's title suggests, Delta 8 is not necessarily harmful or even remotely similar to delta 8 bath salts, but the idea behind it is very similar to the designer drug industry. For instance, a chemist might work in a secret lab to produce an isomer of a popular street drug like Ecstasy or DMT. However, due to a slightly modified molecular formula, this substance is still legal in theory. Then, until it is declared illegal by the DEA and other law enforcement agencies, or until someone eats another person's face off, this slightly altered drug mixture is lawfully sold as "bath salts" in some vape shops or gas stations.

Despite the intriguing title, Delta 8 is merely molecularly modified Delta 9 THC. It is thus the "delta 8 bath salts of the hemp industry" in this sense.

Delta 8 Marketing: Sky High

Unambiguously being marketed as both diet weed and a sedative is delta 8. For instance, "Sky High" is the name of a 1500 mg delta 8 tincture made by Luna CBD in Georgia, USA. What message is being conveyed to consumers through their marketing? Even though it doesn't have as much of a paranoia-inducing effect as Delta 9 THC, Delta 8 is still intoxicating. However, items like the "sky high" tincture from Luna CBD invite legal trouble. In spite of whether it contains an isomer like Delta 8 or Delta 10 THC, anything made from hemp is supposed to have less than 0.3% delta 9 THC, or all THC, to be exact. Still, it's THC.

As it stands, there is a lot of scrutiny on the hemp industry. High THC cannabis is being transported across state lines under the guise of "legal hemp," according to a recent DEA report. We believe Delta 8 will harm the emerging CBD market, which is already the target of law enforcement. The existence of a legal loophole does not automatically imply that something is morally or ethically acceptable. I believe that the extreme oversupply of the CBD market and greed are the real causes of the recent rush for delta 8. Many market participants who have been severely impacted by COVID-19 and a sharp decline in the price of CBD/hemp raw materials have shifted their attention to creating delta 8. It's highly sought-after.

Ultimately, we firmly believe in the healing properties and medical efficacy of cannabinoids, including Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC, but we must express our opposition to the sale of CBD derived from hemp alongside Nano Delta 8 THC. Outside of the regulated cannabis market sector, the sale of delta 8 is not particularly rational. Instead of sitting next to your hemp-derived broad-spectrum CBD oil, Delta 8 belongs on a dispensary shelf.