Though Delta 8 THC is still such a newly discovered cannabinoid to many people, the truth is that it has existed the entire time, yet just now being widely used. Years ago Delta 9 THC was overshadowing the fascinating cannabinoid, then as hemp became legal, it was being overshadowed by CBD, and finally, Delta 8 THC is getting the recognition it deserves. The question is, how did it get to this point, where we can legally use it, a psychoactive cannabinoid at that? In this article, we’ll give you a rundown of how the history of hemp led us to Delta 8 THC, which we believe to be one of the most beneficial compounds to ever exist.
The History of Hemp
Hemp first made its debut in 600 BCE, where it was used in southern Russia as hemp rope. Hemp eventually made its way to the United States in the form of hemp paper, which is what U.S. founders used to write their drafts for The Declaration of Independence, which took place in 1776. Hemp quickly became a valuable resource, which is why the USDA created the Hemp for Victory program in 1942 -- a program that allowed as many as 150,000 acres of hemp production.
While hemp has certainly come a long way and used for its valuable material throughout our ancestor’s lifetimes, there simply was no greater achievement than the Agricultural Improvement Act, more commonly referred to as the 2018 Farm Bill. The 2018 Farm was a giant leap forward for the cannabis industry overall, ultimately removing hemp (below 0.3% Delta 9), its seeds, isomers, derivatives, and more from the Controlled Substances Act, which places control in the hands of the USDA and not the DEA.
More Than Just One Hidden Gem
With the legalization of hemp, CBD became a gigantic market of its own. It was the hidden gem within the fascinating plant, and it opened the eyes of the public to become more accepting of cannabis. We’re far from the days where everyone told you to say no to drugs. Instead of being labeled as the devil’s lettuce, it is now being referred to as nature’s medicine. What many people weren’t aware of is that there was yet another gem hidden within hemp, and it’s called Delta 8.
The issue, however, is that Delta 8 is a form of tetrahydrocannabinol and produces psychoactive effects, just not quite as potent as Delta 9 (the part in marijuana that is known for producing the ‘high’). The question now becomes, how is Delta 8 legal? Well, the government made it very clear in the 2018 Farm Bill that “The Cannabis Sativa L. and any part of the plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extract, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis, is federally legal. And, Delta 8 is derived from hemp and an isomer of CBD, so there you have it.
