There’s a newer wave of THC products hitting shelves these days that just so happen to be federally legal. It’s name is Delta-8 THC, or D8 for short. How is it federally legal you ask? Well it’s legal because of some lucrative wording in the 2018 Hemp Farm Bill that was signed by President Trump. Long story short, the hemp bill legalized all cannabinoids that are found in the hemp plant…and guess what? Delta-8 THC happens to be one of those cannabinoids found in hemp, albeit in small quantities.

The hemp plant is rich in cannabidiol (CBD) and since the molecular properties of CBD and D8 are so similar, scientists are able to manipulate the molecular structure of CBD, thus turning what was CBD into an abundant source of D8 through a process called isomerization. Delta-8 THC is considered by many to be the “little sibling” of Delta-9 THC because of it’s lighter effects that don’t typically cause the anxiety many people feel when using D9.

After doing my due diligence and research of this product, I decided I would give it a try so that I could experience it’s effects and understand the popularity surrounding it. I took a drive to my local reputable smoke shop and saw a crisp display of various D8 products in the form of vapes, edibles, and more. I decided to keep it simple by purchasing a disposable D8 vape pen and went on my way.

Upon arriving back to my apartment, I decided it was time. I grabbed a seat and then took a 5-second drag of the vape to absorb a helping of D8 into my bloodstream. After some light coughing, the effects were felt almost immediately. I was presented with a warm, euphoric feeling in my body that radiated from head to toe that just made me want to lay on the couch. It felt like I had a fuzzy blanket of warmth that just wanted to hug me tight for the rest of the night. I decided to watch Zack Snyder’s Justice League to ride this thing out and that’s when the elevated level of consciousness began to hit me. I began to appreciate the cinematography and art direction of the film to a degree I would not have felt previously. The D8 effects began to taper off about halfway through the movie, but there was still a noticeable afterglow that made me feel slightly refreshed followed by some light hunger.

There’s no long-term study of the effects of Delta-8 THC at this time, but many urge consumers to shop reputable brands that provide a third-party Certificate of Analysis (COA). The COA displays various test results to ensure your product is free of potentially harmful solvents, pesticides, and other types of unwanted substances.