Research into consumer interest in delta-8 THC has revealed something that is not particularly surprising: interest is the highest in states where recreational marijuana is still illegal. And why not? Delta-8 offers psychoactive effects, though they are not as intense as those associated with delta-9 – the form of THC most commonly associated with marijuana’s feelings of euphoria.
The interesting thing is that anyone who follows the legal marijuana industry could have predicted the results of the study even before it was completed. Delta-8 occupies a no-man’s land within the larger marijuana landscape. And until some action is taken to officially outlaw it, CBD distributors will continue selling it – even in states where recreational marijuana remains illegal.
An Isomer of Delta-9
So, what is delta-8 and why do people want it? Delta-8 is a naturally occurring cannabinoid found in both hemp and marijuana. It is also a delta-9 isomer, meaning it shares the same molecular makeup. The only difference between the two substances is how their molecules are arranged.
Delta-8’s molecular makeup is such that it reacts with a human endocannabinoid system differently. Users experience a less intense high, but a high, nonetheless. What makes it so attractive to consumers is the fact that it is not explicitly prohibited by federal law. And in fact, one could argue that federal law expressly allows its manufacture and sale.
Derived From CBD
One of the more interesting things about natural delta-8 is that it does not occur in high enough volumes to make extraction commercially viable. So processors don’t bother. Instead, they synthetically derive delta-8 from CBD. Here is where it gets interesting: CBD and products derived from it are legal throughout the United States.
Even though the DEA insists it has final authority to rule on delta-8 – and they have deemed it illegal, by the way – legal scholars disagree. So do proponents of alternative cannabinoids. They insist that the DEA does not have the authority to outlaw something that Congress has legalized by statute gba333.
Searches Higher in Prohibitionist States
Getting back to the study mentioned earlier in this post, a company known as CBD Nationwide looked at search data in both legal and prohibitionist states. They discovered a higher search volume for delta-8 in the latter. Consumers in prohibition estates are nearly twice as likely to search for delta-8 products then their counterparts in permissive states. Strangely, consumer interest in delta-9 is also higher in prohibitionist states werdaan.
The one thing that is not clear is how any of this relates to states with medical-only programs. Utah is one such state. According to the folks at Utah Marijuana, delta-8 is also not allowed in the Beehive State. But that probably doesn’t stop people from searching for it. Yet if it occupies the same legal ground as delta-9, wouldn’t consumers just find a way to get cheaper recreational marijuana instead?
Difficult Decisions Need to Be Made
Personally, I couldn’t care less where delta-8 and other alternative cannabinoids come from. What I do know is that we are learning things about marijuana and hemp we never knew before. And as we learn, we are opening the door to growing confusion. There are some difficult decisions about marijuana and hemp that have to be made. The longer we put those decisions off, the more confused things will become tvplutos.
I am not surprised that interest in delta-8 is higher in prohibition states. Likewise for delta-9. Tell people they can’t have something, and their natural inclination is to want it. The real question is whether we should throw off all the chains and give it to them dreamchaserhub.
