The Lowdown on Delta 9 - Is It Real Weed?
Is delta 9 real weed? It might seem like an odd question, but it has come up quite a bit thanks to the rise of specialty products like delta 8 and delta 10. These terms have become a source of tremendous confusion among some buyers of cannabis products, so we’d like to clarify, once and for all, what delta 9 THC actually is and what role it plays for loyal weed aficionados.
What Is Delta 9?
Delta 9, to put it simply, is the familiar form of THC. In fact, the full term for THC is trans-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (or just delta 9 THC). It’s the prominent psychoactive compound in cannabis—the cannabinoid that gets you high and gives you the munchies.
The confusion comes from the fact that there are other THC isomers, the best-known of which are delta 8 and delta 10. Delta 8 and delta 10 have the same molecular structure as delta 9 (so it’s definitely possible to fail a THC drug test with delta 8 or delta 10 in your system), but whereas delta 9 has its double bond on the ninth carbon atom and delta 10 has its double bond on the 10th carbon atom, delta 8 has it on the eighth carbon atom (hence the names).
While this might seem like a subtle distinction (almost like shuffling cards in a deck), it can have a significant impact on the effects. For instance, delta 8 is known for being about half as psychoactive as delta 9, and delta 10 is noted for effects that are more energizing and cerebral. Delta 8 and delta 10 might also have their own unique medical benefits, though most of the existing cannabis research focuses on the more prominent cannabinoids like delta 9 and CBD.
When it comes to weed, delta 8 and delta 10 occur in very small amounts. Most of the intense effects you experience are because of delta 9. It is the real deal.
What’s the Difference Between Delta 9 and Weed?
Delta 9 THC is just one of over 100 cannabinoids (compounds) in marijuana. But it happens to be the most abundant and the most psychoactive. It also appears to have the most medicinal properties.
To understand how impactful delta 9 is, just try taking CBD oil for comparison. CBD oil is made from hemp, which is identical to cannabis except for the fact that it contains only trace amounts of delta 9 THC (and sometimes no THC at all, as in the case of broad-spectrum and isolate products). The cannabinoids found in hemp flowers and leaves will offer some therapeutic benefits, but they won’t give you a deep psychoactive experience.
With that said, there are plenty of delta 9 products on the market. A delta 9 product is simply any cannabis product where the THC is extracted and isolated. For example, if you buy a THC tincture at your local cannabis dispensary, you’re getting a delta 9 product. It’s just THC isolate contained in a carrier liquid that you drop under your tongue. It has many of the same effects as whole-plant cannabis, and it will probably get you high (depending on the THC concentration), but it might not give you as much of a well-rounded experience because most of the other cannabinoids are missing.
Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. If you buy a full-spectrum THC product, you’re getting the delta 9 plus all other cannabinoids present in cannabis plants. It may be a higher concentration of THC than you’d get naturally, but you’ll still benefit from the entourage effect since all cannabinoids are present.
How Delta 9 Entered the Conversation
Until recently, the term “delta 9” was barely on people’s radar. People just called it “THC.” It became a hot topic, interestingly, because of its cousin delta 8. After the passing of the 2018 farm bill (which made industrial hemp federally legal), some processors realized that there was a market for delta 8 THC in places where cannabis is not technically legal (except for medical use, if that). That’s because delta 8 can be sourced from hemp and doesn’t require a medical marijuana card to access.
It’s not practical to extract delta 8 from whole-plant cannabis because this minor cannabinoid exists in very small amounts. But processors can synthesize delta 8 by altering the chemical composition of CBD using solvents. That’s how most delta 8 products are made, and—because they’re hemp-derived—they’re legal in many states where cannabis is illegal.
It’s important to note, though, that some states are cracking down on delta 8, and the FDA might also be getting involved. If delta 8 marijuana laws are tightened at the federal level, it could close a major loophole that has allowed delta 8 to be sold largely without restriction.
Because of the widespread attention received by delta 8 (and later delta 10), people naturally began wondering how delta 9 plays into the whole equation. But there’s no mystery to it. Delta 9 is just plain-old THC. You enjoy delta 9 THC every time you bite into one of our Seattle edibles or light up one of our infused cannabis pre-rolls. But you might or might not have known it by name.
Is Delta 9 Synthetic?
Part of the concern around delta 9 also stems from the fact that most delta 8 products are at least semi-synthetic. Processors use strong acids to convert CBD into delta-8 THC because there’s just not enough natural delta 8 in the product to extract at scale (and because hemp plants are subject to far less stringent regulation than cannabis plants).
This process isn’t necessary for delta 9 THC products because delta 9 THC is the most abundant compound in cannabis. In fact, it would be counterproductive to subject delta 9 to unnecessary processing because it’s already plentiful in its natural form.
Delta 9 Is the Real Deal
To break it all down, the terms “delta 9” and “THC” are interchangeable. Yes, there are other THC isomers in the cannabis plant, but those are minor cannabinoids that fall into their own categories. Delta 9 is the main compound in cannabis, the source of all your psychoactive bliss and even a few therapeutic benefits.
So whether it’s your first time smoking weed or you’re already giving Cheech and Chong a run for their money, take a moment to appreciate all the benefits that delta 9 has to offer. Life would be boring without it.