A Delta 8 Gummy May Be Yummy But It’s Not Delta 8 In Your Tummy
Cannabis headlines lately seem to be split between new states coming online with marijuana legalization and other states cracking down on delta 8 THC products being sold online and over the counter in retail stores and gas stations. It’s not because some of these products are from questionable sources and provide no third-party testing. It’s because they have discovered that while considerably less psychoactive than traditional delta 9 THC in marijuana, delta 8 is still a THC and as such can have psychoactive effects if consumed in high enough doses. Delta 8 edibles are particularly likely to give you a nice buzz which is likely how most of these over-the-counter products are being consumed.
But the real reason these folks are getting high from delta 8 gummies is not that the THC dosage is higher. It’s because delta 8 THC becomes 11-hydroxy-THC when digested and metabolized by your liver. This is exactly the same thing that happens when you digest a marijuana gummy with traditional (delta 9) THC. It too metabolizes to 11-hydroxy-THC. In other words, the effects are pretty much the same, a strong psychoactive effect with a delayed onset, and thus the understandable pushback in non-legal states.
There is an informative piece today about Delta 8 THC gummies at World Health.Net The Original Voice of the American Academy of Anti-Aging, Preventative, and Regenerative Medicine. We agree with pretty much everything in it and especially appreciate their presenting of current delta 8 research:
“From the research so far, we can confirm a lot of medical benefits of Delta 8 THC like:
- Cancer-fighting properties and reduction of tumor sizes.
- Good antiemetic properties to reduce nausea.
- Inflammatory properties to reduce pain.
- Anti-anxiety properties to reduce anxiety.
- Appetite increasing properties with potential for weight loss with a lower dosage.
- Lower psychotropic effects compared to Delta 9 THC.”
The only thing missing in their article is the all-important part about delta 8 becoming 11-hydroxy-THC when digested. If you’re only looking for a traditional marijuana high, a delta 8 gummy can give that to you (make sure you ask for the third-party testing/COAs). But if you are looking for the unique properties of delta 8 THC as noted in the article or just want what we affectionately call, “Peace of Body. Presence of Mind.” stick with delta 8 products that don’t involve your digestive system. Tinctures are absorbed quickly and efficiently under the tongue and offer immediate bio-availability as do vaporizers. And besides being able to enjoy the unique benefits of delta 8 THC, you are better and more quickly able to adjust dosages to accommodate your body’s needs and tolerances.