Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol, often referred to as delta-8-THC or simply delta-8, is a psychoactive, mind-altering cannabinoid with effects similar to those of delta-9 THC, the full name of THC. Delta-8 products are well established in the United States, where only delta-9-THC is prohibited at the federal level.
What is delta-8?
The legalization of hemp in 2018 in the United States launched a certain mode of production of minor cannabinoids from hemp and intended for markets where THC is still illegal for adult use. However, delta-8 is present in minute quantities in hemp. It is therefore synthetically recreated and then imbibes hemp flowers or distillate destined for cartridges.
How is delta-8 made?
If it exists in natural form in Cannabis plants, its presence is however minimal. Behind the “extraction” of delta-8-THC therefore actually exists a chemical reaction to acid from CBD. As we documented earlier, CBD is dissolved in an apolar solvent, such as pentane, for example, and Lewis acid, then heated to 100°C and mixed for 1-18 hours. It is then necessary to dry the whole with sodium bicarbonate, then to extract it with ether.
Nothing natural then, but a long chemical process.
What are the effects of delta-8?
Like delta-9 THC, delta-8 produces feelings of euphoria, relaxation, and potential pain relief, but is much milder. For people who don’t want to experience a pronounced “high”, the weaker effect can be an advantage.
It can produce the same side effects as THC (red eyes, dry mouth, rapid heartbeat, coordination problems, slow reaction time, anxiety, memory loss, etc.) without any decline in its long-term use, however.
Is consuming delta-8-THC safe?
Like all new hemp-derived cannabinoids (HHC, delta-10…), there is no standard dose and little or no research on the immediate or long-term effects of consuming delta-8.
Since hemp-derived cannabinoids are completely unregulated, there is no traceability of their origin, composition, presence of heavy metals or residues of the chemicals needed to synthesize them.
Is delta-8-THC legal in France?
Unlike the United States, where delta-8 and delta-10 are currently legal under the hemp law, and only delta-9-THC is federally banned, France bans all tetrahydrocannabinols. , delta-8-THC, delta-9-THC, delta-10-THC and only leaves room for 0.3% THC for hemp varieties and derived products.
Delta-8-THC is therefore illegal in France, regardless of its origin (hemp or CBD).
The list of narcotic substances is quite clear on this and includes “Tetrahydrocannabinols [ndlr : au pluriel, important !]their esters, ethers, salts as well as the salts of the aforementioned derivatives” without the possibility of derogating therefrom for isomers of delta-9-THC.
