There are more than one hundred cannabinoids that have been identified in the cannabis plant, and there are merely two of them that have gained the most attention and popularity, and they happen to be psychoactive. Both compounds, Delta 8 and Delta 9 present their own medicinal benefits, yet they’re backed by pleasing cerebral euphoria and a relaxing body buzz. They’re nearly identical compounds, yet there are a few key characteristics that differentiate one from the other. In this addition to our blog section, we’re going to compare Delta 8 vs Delta 9, showing the traits they share and ones that make them different from one another.
What Is Delta 8?
Delta 8 is a compound or cannabinoid that exists within the cannabis plant, namely Hemp. It naturally occurs in small concentrations and binds to the CB1 receptor, delivering mild psychoactive effects, along with a range of benefits. Delta 8 is also an isomer of CBD, so it maintains the same chemical formula as CBD but the structures between the two differ.
What Is Delta 9?
Delta 9 THC is a compound or cannabinoid that exists within the cannabis plant as well, yet identified as marijuana due to the higher levels of THC (above 0.3%). Delta 9 naturally occurs in large concentrations and binds to the CB1 receptor, presenting potent psychoactive effects, accompanied by a variety of benefits.
Delta 8 vs Delta 9
When comparing Delta 8 vs Delta 9, there aren’t many differences to point out. In fact, both Delta 8 and Delta 9 contain double bonds. However, what separates them is that Delta 8 contains the bond on the 8th carbon chain, while Delta 9 contains the bond on the 9th carbon chain. Despite their different placement, they both have a very similar structure and contains many of the same properties.
In fact, both Delta 8 and Delta 9 bind to the receptor that is directly responsible for the psychoactive effects they’ve become most known for, which is the CB1 receptor located in the body’s own Endocannabinoid System (often referred to as the ECS). While both compounds bind to the CB1 receptor to present a pleasing level of psychoactive effects, they differ from one another when it comes to the potency of those effects. To see Delta 8 reach above 1% is scarce, though Delta 9 has been seen in levels as high as 25% in some strains. The purpose of both are the same, as they can and have been used for medicinal and recreational use. Another distinctive part that separate these two is that Delta 8 is derived from hemp, while Delta 9 is derived from marijuana.
The Benefit of Delta 8 vs Delta 9
While Delta 9 has been proven to and does treat patients with a variety of conditions, there is a benefit of Delta 8 vs Delta 9. Delta 8 can act as a medium between CBD and Delta 9 THC, providing a range of benefits and including more tolerable psychoactive effects as a bonus. Delta 8 can act as an alternative to Delta 9 users, as it continues to offer psychoactive effects and medicinal benefits while remaining federally legal.
