More and more hemp products, boasting the word “delta” on the label, have become big sellers in the world of cannabis and CBD enthusiasts. But what does it mean? Most people have heard of THC, of course—it’s the cannabis compound that gets you high. But is that delta 8 THC? Delta 9 THC? Delta 10 THC? It almost seems like having a scorecard is in order before you shop for THC products.
Well, we’re here to give you all the info you’ll ever need on THC and all those delta products. We’ll talk about where THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids come from, and discuss the benefits and effects of each compound. Lastly, you’ll learn how to find the best delta 8 and delta 9 products, so that you can shop with confidence.
What Are Cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are chemical compounds produced by the cannabis plant. There are over a hundred cannabinoids found in the legal form of cannabis, called hemp. Hemp differs from marijuana in its delta 9 THC content. Hemp has very low delta 9 THC content (less than 0.3%, by US law), and marijuana has considerably more. The products we’ll be discussing in this article are derived from hemp, and are compliant with the 2018 US Farm Bill. But let’s get back to those cannabinoids.
The cannabis plant produces these compounds in order to ward away insect predators and grazing animals. They also protect cannabis plants from harsh weather and attract pollinators. In short, they’re a lifesaver for cannabis hemp.
The Benefits of Cannabinoids
As it so happens, your body creates its own cannabinoids, called endocannabinoids, which have profound effects on your overall health. Endocannabinoids are part of a cell-signaling system called, you guessed it, the endocannabinoid system. Endocannabinoids send signals to receptors in systems and organs throughout the body to help them maintain homeostasis, or balance. This helps your body to regulate a number of crucial functions, including sleep, motor control, pain management, stress management, mood, appetite, memory, immunity, and more.
When you take a cannabinoid, like CBD, it mimics the body’s own endocannabinoids and helps to bolster these various functions. This is why CBD has become one of the most popular health supplements on the market. Other cannabinoids can have beneficial effects, as well. In fact, we generally think of THC (delta 9) for its intoxicating effects. But as you’ll see in a moment, THC can have beneficial effects for your health, too!
What Is Delta 8?
Delta 8 THC is what’s referred to as a “minor cannabinoid.” This is because delta 8 THC only occurs in the very tiniest of amounts in cannabis (certainly in hemp). It has a slightly different chemical structure from delta 9 THC, but delta 8 can still produce psychotropic effects if taken in large enough quantities. Just as with delta 9 THC, delta 8 can produce feelings of relaxation, mood elevation or euphoria, and can potentially help with pain relief. The difference is that delta 8’s effects are milder and less impairing than delta 9’s.
What Is Delta 9?
Delta-9 THC is the big boi. When people say “THC” or “tetrahydrocannabinol,” without any delta in front of it, you can pretty much assume they’re talking about delta-9 THC. Delta-9 is a major cannabinoid (one of two, along with CBD), meaning that it occurs in large quantities in cannabis, particularly marijuana. The 2018 US Farm Bill legalized the cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution of hemp products so long as they adhere to the THC limit of less than 0.3% by dry weight. When you see a hemp-derived delta-9 product, as with our Full Spectrum CBD + Delta-9 THC collection, you’re getting a product with the delta-9 levels pushed all the way up to the legal limit. This allows you to enjoy the maximum legal effects of THC.
Delta 9 THC absolutely produces psychotropic effects if you take enough of it. Depending on the cannabis strain, those delta-9 effects can include mood elevation and creativity, deep relaxation, and other pleasurable effects. Delta-9 THC also produces a wealth of health benefits, including relief for stress and pain, antihistamine and antioxidant benefits, prevention of nausea, muscle relaxation, and sleep support.
What Is Delta 10?
Like delta 8 THC, delta 10 is a minor cannabinoid that occurs in very small amounts in the cannabis plant (even less so in hemp). And like delta 8, delta 10 THC also produces a slightly subdued high (at least compared to delta 9 THC) if taken in large enough doses.
What About CBD, CBN, and Other Cannabinoids?
Most cannabinoids are non-intoxicating, and many of these cannabis compounds come with a wealth of health benefits. CBD (cannabidiol) is the most famous of these cannabinoids and is the star player in most hemp products. CBD produces a number of health benefits, due to its interaction with the body’s endocannabinoid system. CBD also has gentle calming effects that make it a great ingredient for calming the mind and providing focus in energy products, and make it a potent ingredient for many relaxation and sleep products.
Some notable minor cannabinoids include CBG (cannabigerol), commonly known as the “Mother of All Cannabinoids,” because other cannabinoids are derived from its acidic form. CBG benefits include pain relief and anti-inflammatory benefits, plus energy. CBN (cannabinol) is known as the “ultimate relaxation cannabinoid,” due to its deep sleep properties. CBC (cannabichromene) is believed to help with inflammation, pain, swelling, and depression.
Here’s a helpful table to help you remember your cannabinoids.
| Cannabinoid | Full Name | Intoxicating Effects? | Major or Minor Cannabinoid? |
| CBD | cannabidiol | No | Major |
| CBG | cannabigerol | No | Minor |
| CBN | cannabinol | No | Minor |
| CBC | cannabichromene | No | Minor |
| Delta-8 THC | delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol | Yes | Minor |
| Delta-9 THC | delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol | Yes | Major |
| Delta-10 THC | delta-10-tetrahydrocannabinol | Yes | Minor |
Shopping for Delta-based THC Products
There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a THC product. Foremost among them are purity and potency. In terms of purity with any cannabis or hemp product, organic farming is a must. This is because of cannabis’ propensity for soaking in everything from the soil that surrounds it, including pesticides and other potentially harmful chemicals. You’ll also want to shop with brands that use clean hemp oil extraction methods, such as carbon dioxide extraction, in order to avoid any solvent residues left behind in your oil. You can verify all of this by checking for an independent, third-party lab report (or, Certificate of Analysis), that will tell you exactly how much THC, CBD, and other cannabinoid content is in your product, as well as any toxins that may be present.
Once you’ve found a few brands that meet those standards, then you can begin to think in terms of which cannabinoids or other ingredients you’d like to see in your product. Are you looking for a delta 8 THC product? Delta 9? Perhaps you’d like to see a well-rounded THC product with delta 8 and delta 9 THC … and maybe even delta 10 THC, for good measure. Here are a few safe and effective options for each.
At CBDfx, we offer a massive line of Full Spectrum CBD + Delta-9 THC products, including delta-9 THC edibles (such as delta-9 THC gummies and delta-9 THC capsules), delta-9 THC oil tinctures, delta-9 THC vape pens, and delta-9 THC vape juice. Each of these top-of-the-line THC products delivers maximum legal hemp-derived delta-9 THC that’s organically grown, CO2-extracted, and backed by a Certificate of Analysis.
If you’re interested in stepping into the world of delta-8, delta-10, and other minor (legal) cannabinoids that cater to the recreational side of cannabis, consider TRĒ House. TRĒ House is a newer name in legal, recreational cannabis, with a variety of best-in-class products featuring delta 8 THC, delta 9 THC, delta 10 THC, THC-O, HHC, and more. They carry a variety of THC gummies, THC vape pens, THC cookies, THC live resin cartridges, and other quality products, all backed by a Certificate of Analysis.
Final Thoughts on Delta Products
Whether you’re shopping for THC gummies, THC pen vapes, THC oil or CBD products, like CBD gummies for pain, CBD capsules or CBD for dogs, it’s important to understand how the product was designed to affect you. Knowing the difference between CBD and THC, or delta-8 THC and delta-9 THC, can help you manage your expectations and pick the most effective product for your needs. Just make sure to follow our criteria for finding the safest and most effective THC products to ensure you’ll have the best THC experience. We wish you all the best on your THC and CBD journey.
Looking for a high-potency THC gummy? Try our Magic Melon Sativa Delta-9 THC Gummies!
