Weed isn’t a single drug, it’s a complex plant that contains many psychoactive compounds called cannabinoids. The best known and (probably) most intoxicating of these is what’s commonly called THC, technically delta-9-THC, though over 100 others have been identified so far. Some of these are highly (pun intended) psychoactive while some appear, at least to the user, to be pharmacologically inert. Regardless, a hastily-written 2018 federal farm bill which was partially intended to legalize commercial hemp essentially legalized all of them including even tiny (<0.3%) concentrations of delta-9. That has allowed for a massive market of legal (in states which haven’t since passed their own laws saying otherwise) weed. It’s not the same weed sold by regulated recreational/medical dispensaries in legal states, though. Rather, these are the products you may have seen in gas stations and head shops, most of which contain at least some delta-8-THC, a compound that is very closely chemically related to delta-9. The key thing to understand, though, is that despite very similar chemical structures, two related drugs can vary substantially in terms of their potency and subjective effects.
I think that’s about as simple as I know how to make it but I’ll be over here spending my Thanksgiving evening in bed with my dogs and a bottle of wine if anyone has questions.
Eh, kind of but not really. This is where it starts to get complicated and where I’m out of my chemical depth.
While (some) cannabis does contain at least trace amounts of many of these compounds, all of the intoxicating cannabinoids produced other than (most of) the delta-9 is actually semi-synthetic, originating from hemp-extracted CBD. Now, as long as the product of the reaction (iirc isomerizarion involving heat and something like citric acid) is pure, the fact that it was synthetically produced does not in and of itself make that resulting compound unsafe. Where it gets hairy is the fact that even delta-9 remains poorly studied today thanks to over five decades of prohibition, and we have basically no idea what ingesting large quantities of any one of these 100+ minor (think something on the order of <1% in the average plant) cannabinoids is actually doing to our bodies.
The real issue, though, is that the lack of any regulatory oversight whatsoever allows shady, greedy distributors to cut an already dirt cheap product with even cheaper and potentially deadly chemicals like vitamin K. You’ll likely hear a disproportionately loud amount of “delta-8 bad” talk (and I’m not trying to promote its use, either) but the most serious harm probably has less to do with the compound itself and more to do with such toxic adulterants. That said, scientifically tested or not, there are reputable and entirely legal sources for many of these substances, although they aren’t necessarily gas stations.
It’s definitely far less potent than ∆9 and it doesn’t do nearly as much to me in terms of the head fuckery but it will absolutely put even the most seasoned stoner on their ass for a solid day if they take enough of it in one sitting, especially in edible distillate form. I say that having smoked for over 25 years. The diluted vapes are shit, though.
I’ve tried to explain what delta 8 vs delta 9 is too many times so I’m trying to simplify it.
Well that clears that up
Weed isn’t a single drug, it’s a complex plant that contains many psychoactive compounds called cannabinoids. The best known and (probably) most intoxicating of these is what’s commonly called THC, technically delta-9-THC, though over 100 others have been identified so far. Some of these are highly (pun intended) psychoactive while some appear, at least to the user, to be pharmacologically inert. Regardless, a hastily-written 2018 federal farm bill which was partially intended to legalize commercial hemp essentially legalized all of them including even tiny (<0.3%) concentrations of delta-9. That has allowed for a massive market of legal (in states which haven’t since passed their own laws saying otherwise) weed. It’s not the same weed sold by regulated recreational/medical dispensaries in legal states, though. Rather, these are the products you may have seen in gas stations and head shops, most of which contain at least some delta-8-THC, a compound that is very closely chemically related to delta-9. The key thing to understand, though, is that despite very similar chemical structures, two related drugs can vary substantially in terms of their potency and subjective effects.
I think that’s about as simple as I know how to make it but I’ll be over here spending my Thanksgiving evening in bed with my dogs and a bottle of wine if anyone has questions.
edited because grammar and ADHD are hard
So like keeping sugar illegal but legalizing all the artificial sweetners.
Eh, kind of but not really. This is where it starts to get complicated and where I’m out of my chemical depth.
While (some) cannabis does contain at least trace amounts of many of these compounds, all of the intoxicating cannabinoids produced other than (most of) the delta-9 is actually semi-synthetic, originating from hemp-extracted CBD. Now, as long as the product of the reaction (iirc isomerizarion involving heat and something like citric acid) is pure, the fact that it was synthetically produced does not in and of itself make that resulting compound unsafe. Where it gets hairy is the fact that even delta-9 remains poorly studied today thanks to over five decades of prohibition, and we have basically no idea what ingesting large quantities of any one of these 100+ minor (think something on the order of <1% in the average plant) cannabinoids is actually doing to our bodies.
The real issue, though, is that the lack of any regulatory oversight whatsoever allows shady, greedy distributors to cut an already dirt cheap product with even cheaper and potentially deadly chemicals like vitamin K. You’ll likely hear a disproportionately loud amount of “delta-8 bad” talk (and I’m not trying to promote its use, either) but the most serious harm probably has less to do with the compound itself and more to do with such toxic adulterants. That said, scientifically tested or not, there are reputable and entirely legal sources for many of these substances, although they aren’t necessarily gas stations.
Thanksgiving with dogs, wine, and Lemmy. You’re living the dream, man. Drink a bunch of water too, though. For tomorrow you.
Tbf Delta 8 doesn’t do anything.
It’s definitely far less potent than ∆9 and it doesn’t do nearly as much to me in terms of the head fuckery but it will absolutely put even the most seasoned stoner on their ass for a solid day if they take enough of it in one sitting, especially in edible distillate form. I say that having smoked for over 25 years. The diluted vapes are shit, though.
It does, you just need more of it. A lot more.
Well it doesn’t matter to me personally, anymore. I quit all of it nearly two years ago.