JULY 2, 2018
INTRODUCING DELTA 8 THC - THE NEWEST CANNABINOID IN COLORADO
By Noel Palmer, Ph.D., Chief Scientist, Evolab & CBx Sciences
You probably already know that cannabis contains 100+ cannabinoids, but until recently, only a couple (THC & CBD) have been available in large enough quantities to be extracted for regular use. Understanding that there are so many other components with so many potential benefits drives us to find new ways to unlock all of these ‘other’ rare cannabinoids.
After crafting a number of products with CBN and THCA, then introducing CBG to Colorado, we’re pleased to unveil our newest innovation - Delta 8.
So how is Delta 8 THC different from ‘regular’ THC?
The common THC that we all know and love is scientifically known as Delta 9 Tetrahydrocannabinol. The ‘delta’ in the name indicates where a specific double bond exists on the molecule. Delta 8 THC is an isomer of Delta 9 THC, meaning it has the same number of atoms in the molecular structure. Delta 8 THC is different than Delta 9 THC only by the exact position of this double bond which is shifted slightly on the molecule. This means that Delta 8 is subtly different than Delta 9 THC, and thus researchers speculate that it interacts with cannabinoid receptors differently than Delta 9. While both Delta 8 and Delta 9 are thought to activate CB1 and CB2 receptors, researchers are still studying precisely how the compounds differ in their impact on the overall endocannabinoid system.
While Delta 8 THC can be found naturally occurring in most cannabis plants, it typically doesn’t appear in quantities sufficient to extract at scale, so our lab team created a simple and elegant heat and filtration process that modifies regular Delta 9 THC with a simple conversion that relocates the double bond on the molecule - converting it from Delta 9 to Delta 8.
In much of our internal testing, Delta 8 is very similar to 'THC Classic' but it has slightly different effects - which our testers generally describe as more upbeat, energetic and productive. As the first to market in Colorado with a Delta 8 product, we recognize that this is breaking new ground. Very few cannabis users have had the opportunity to enjoy Delta 8, so this is an exciting opportunity to better understand this formerly rare compound. We invite you to participate and share your experience through our Survey at bit.ly/Delta8 (and an opportunity to win free stuff). Please tell us what you think!