CategoriesCannabinoids Heath & Wellness Hemp/Cannabis Education How Can Hemp Help Me
by 0

What is Delta-8 and How Can it Help Me

What is Delta-8 and How Can it Help Me

Delta-8 is a cannabis compound that has taken the hemp and marijuana communities by storm in the last few years because of its similarity to delta-9 THC, what we all know and identify a s cannabis, pot, build, weed etc. The difference is that Delta-8 THC is 100% hemp derived, making it 100% legal in most of the US. Delta 8 is what is know as an isomer of delta 9, meaning that is has the same chemical makeup only the delta 8 molecules are configured in a different way.

The similarities between the two cannabinoids lie in their chemical structures and their names. THC as we know is Delta-9 THC, or simply Delta-9. Delta-8, more technically Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (as opposed to Delta-9-tetra…..), Delta-8 THC. Delta-8 THC can produce and experience similar to traditional Delta-9 with a little less punch and not as much of a "head-high". Both are chemically different in the placement of the double bond. Both cannabinoids have a chain of carbon atoms, but Delta-8 has the double bond on the eighth carbon, whereas Delta-9 has it’s double bond on the ninth carbon. Who knew?

Delta-8 binds to the endo-cannabinoid system in a slightly different fashion because of the location of its double bond. This is what is thought to make Delta-8 less potent than traditional THC. The unfortunate truth is that because both hemp and cannabis have been outlawed for so long, much more research needs to be done on Delta-8 ( as well as Delta-9 ..etc..) so we can all learn specifically how they interact with the human body.

I went to a CBD store recently to ask and learn about Delta-8. The gentleman behind the counter explained to me that Delta-8 and Delta-10 are like the little brother versions of traditional Delta-9 THC. Both milder in their approach with Delta-8 being more of a relaxing body experience, or "Indica" if you will. He then went on to describe Delta-10 as the "Sativa" of the two which is milder and offers a bit more of a mildly uplifting, heady experience as opposed to a body one experienced with D8. I got it now! It’s always nice when someone’s verbalization can help your visualization!

Currently, the legality of delta-8 is broadly interpreted. States are taking all types of different stances on the production and sale of D8 products, because of the high to be honest. Delta-8 is most always made from CBD isolate that, with the addition of specific chemical acids and time, converts from isolate to D8 in a matter of days. The The 2018 Farm Bill opened the door for anyone to legally grow, process and sell hemp throughout the United States, making delta-8 legal in states where delta-9 THC is illegal—sometimes.

Although Delta-8 CAN BE naturally extracted from either cannabis or hemp, it doesn’t produce enough of it in nature to actually isolate and extract it form the plant. Without the isolate conversion process there is no way extract enough D8 to service the market that we know of today. Again, almost all delta-8 THC on the market today is manufactured from hemp-derived CBD. By law that makes hemp and all parts, forms and derivatives part of a federally legal chain of origin.

In states, many Bible Belt states for example, traditional Delta-9 THC is still not legal on a recreational or medical level. Many of these consumers are no doubt cannabis consumers and need symptom relief just like anyone else. Others may be looking for alternatives to pharmaceutical medications and would like the opportunity to use, or at least try, a cannabis product. For those living in states where traditional cannabis is illegal, Delta-8 may be the only legal way to experience true THC-like effects. This has opened up a huge market for Delta-8 companies because it may be legal in their home state and you can now ship CBD all over the US. The good ones are truly helping people, not just in it for the money. There is a range of truly quality products out there: tinctures, capsules, flower, distillate drippers, vape cartridges, gummies & a host of other edibles. We’ve even seen luxury cigars infused with Delta-8!

So let’s address the elephant in the room. Delta-8, even that derived from hemp, WILL get you high. It may not get you as high as traditional Delta-9 THC but for a lot of people that’s perfectly ok. Some consumers prefer cannabis products that aren’t as potent or sedating. Delta-9 THC can cause negative effects for some, bringing on anxiety or paranoia. Delta-8 is known to produce a gentler or mellow type of high.

People don’t just want to get high, not all of them anyways, some just want relief of certain lingering symptoms so that they can feel and perform like themselves again. Some of the primary conditions or ailments consumers are using D8 for include temporary relief of aches and pains, anxiety, insomnia, depression, nausea and other abdominal related issues

Delta-8 effects are the same a traditional THC, such as mild euphoria, happiness, uplifting feelings, and temporary symptoms relief of aches & pains, just with less of a punch than Delta-9 THC.

Side effects may also be similar to those of Delta-9 THC, including dry mouth, red eyes, getting the munchies, short-term memory, paranoia, or anxiety.

For most people 20-25mg of Delta 8 is a proper dose, whereas a safe manageable dose of Delta-9 is roughly 10-12 mg. That is often the dose in most edibles( gummies or capsules) and roughly 2 -4 puffs of a vape cartridge. This should last for a couple of hours but -take into consideration that we are all physically and chemically different beings form one another so what works for your friend or partner may not exactly work for you.

As a general rule, especially if cannabinoids are new to you, start slow and build up if need. Vaping offers a faster onset so you should know how you’re feeling pretty quickly, 5-10 minutes. However with edibles please take your time and allow the ingestion period to pass (approx 45 min to 1hour, maybe upto 2 hours with some people) and see where you are before consuming more. Keep and eye on the people that you are with, just in case.

Last elephant..Is delta-8 legal?

According to the site CBD Thinker, there are 11 states where Delta-8 is currently believed to be illegal according to state law.

Delta-8 is currently legal in 31 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and in Washington D.C.

In two other states, delta-8 is regulated the same way as recreational cannabis: Connecticut and Michigan.

Meanwhile, delta-8’s legality is unclear in 3 states: Arizona, California, and Mississippi.

  • https://cbdthinker.com/is-delta-8-thc-legal/

Finally, Delta-8 THC is illegal in 14 states: Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, New York, Nevada, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Utah, and Washington.

Always check your state laws, or any state that you may be traveling to or thru, to fully understand what your hemp rights and privileges are.

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has, in a proposed rule, indirectly classified delta-8 THC as a Schedule I controlled substance, which would make it federally illegal. This rule is not yet final.

We welcome your stories!! Let us know if you have tried Delta-8 THC, particularly if you are a regular consumer we would love to hear your feedback &/or opinions! It helps us help others. Please feel free to send us your comments, your reviews or just talk about your experience!

CategoriesHeath & Wellness Hemp/Cannabis Education How Can Hemp Help Me
by 0

My Friends Are Vaping CBD, How Can It Help Me?

I had a very interesting conversation with a young lady named Amanda who was inquiring about CBD, the cannabinoid compound found most commonly in hemp. She claimed that she was taking something, and anxiety medication, that wasn’t making her feel like the best version of Amanda. She came to us looking for something different, more natural yet effective. Amanda claimed that several of her long time friends had started using it for number of different reasons, with success and she was curious to see she could get relief from CBD also.

Naturally she had questions concerning its safety & effectiveness but more-so about the specific, yet different symptoms that each one of these friends were using CBD to help treat! She could not wrap her head around the fact that this singular cannabinoid, that has been basically illegal for 80 years had the power to help people in so many different ways. Yes Amanda, it is so.

Then it hit me that Amanda was not alone. Amanda is probably like most people out there who don’t fully understand CBD and it’s reach and may be in search of something else, more natural yet effective, to treat specific symptoms. What are those symptoms you may ask and how did the CBD hemp them? to give it some perspective let me give you a few excerpts from our conversation

Read More

CategoriesDabs & Vapes Heath & Wellness Hemp/Cannabis Education How Can Hemp Help Me
by 0

Live Resin vs Distillate – What’s the Difference?

Over the last decade, the form factors in the hemp & cannabis spaces have shifted dramatically, and with it comes terms like full-spectrum, isolate, live resin, distillate, and broad-spectrum. These are all slightly different kinds of cannabis extracts, with some common denominators.

When it comes to vaping & edible inputs, distillate and live resin are the predominant forms. So what are the differences when it comes to a live resin vs. distillate cartridge? Is one better than the other?

Live resin is made from fresh flowers of the hemp or cannabis plant. At the peak of harvest, the plants are cut down and flash-frozen to preserve the valuable trichomes. The trichomes are the essence of the plant – it’s where the terpenes and cannabinoids are born and live. The frozen hemp flowers are extracted into what is known as live resin. The plant’s terpene profile remains intact when using fresh flowers, providing a rich flavor and complex aromatic extract. It’s bursting with terpenes, tasting like fresh fruit, musky mangoes, or astringent herbs. The terpenes are genuinely alive in live resin in that they were never “cured” or dried.

Once a hemp plant is cut, dried, and cured, it can be extracted into oil. Distillate is made from another type of extract. When making distillate, the crude oil undergoes a process called fractional short-path distillation. Using heat and pressure, you can extract all of the cannabis compounds individually since they each have a different boiling point. Usually, the goal of distillation is to separate the desired cannabinoid (CBD, THC, etc) to make a highly potent product in the form of a clear, odorless liquid.

In short, Live Resin = a vast array of terpenes, flavonoids & cannabinoids. Better taste + broader high. Live Resin is also a product that has the ability to provide a strain-specific experience. This experience would be the closest resemblance of the effects that you would get from smoking hemp flower. Distillate = high potency, specific cannabinoid and has the benefit of being clear & odorless (terpenes are distilled out during the extraction process), making it highly valuable as an edible input for those seeking something that doesn’t taste like cannabis.

The Vaping Experience

When debating live resin-infused distillate vs. pure distillate, it ultimately comes down to the user’s preference for taste and experience. Sometimes you want to vape a vibrant, juicy live resin that leaves you salivating with taste and an experience left more well-rounded by the additional cannabinoid content. Sometimes you need to be a little more discreet and want an odorless distillate or crave botanically derived (non-cannabis/hemp) flavors such as fruit flavors.

When it comes to the experience associated with each, live resin-infused distillate tends to produce similar effects to what you would feel if you smoked the dried hemp flower. In the case of Live Resin infused distillate, it provides the most cannabis-like experience while still maintaining compliance. The distillate will produce a more intense experince at first, but it tends to be short-lived since there is a lack of other beneficial cannabinoids and terpenes to engage the entourage effect.

Cherry Blossom Hemp’s Live CBD

Our live resin is made from curated cultivars selected from top breeders and chosen for their beneficial cannabinoid and terpene profiles. After processing our fresh frozen, whole plant material, we then potentiate it with live CBD distillate. Our reasoning for this is that it creates a product that gives you the best of both worlds. High potency, high terpene content, variety of cannabinoids & directed and a strain-specific experience.