For years, the only Cannabis compound (cannabinoid) the public knew about was THC. Today, however, it is not so simple. CBD has only been legal for a few years, yet there are suddenly all sorts of new cannabinoids to keep track of. Even with the classic THC we need to now distinguish between the illegal (in some states) Delta 9 THC versus the not illegal (for now) Delta 8 THC. Confused? We haven’t even started yet…
This all came to be because of the 2018 United States Farm Bill, which legalized hemp and defined it as “the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.” The fact that only delta-9 THC was specified, and not any other cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant, effectively legalized all these other compounds.
It was not long before CBD stores started popping up everywhere, and now these stores sell a variety of hemp related products with new ones all the time. The vagueness of the Farm Bill has allowed for the study and release of other cannabinoids, including CBN, CBG, and Delta 8 THC. We are very aware of how confusing this is for consumers, retailers, and everyone in between, so we tried to break down the basics of the most popular cannabinoids for you:
CBD (Cannabidiol): The second most prevalent of the active compounds in cannabis. If you are reading this, there is a good chance you have already taken it or are curious. We are a little biased here, but we think it is a wonderful product that has helped a lot of people. CBD does not cause a high like THC does and contains many wellness benefits.
CBN (Cannabinol): A compound that comes from aged or degraded THC, but unlike THC, it is only mildly psychoactive. Some say it is not psychoactive at all. Was the first cannabis compound to be isolated in 1896. CBN has calming properties, but its reputation as a sedative is questionable, as it is based on minimal scientific evidence.
CBG (Cannabigerol): Sometimes referred to as the mother of all cannabinoids because all the other cannabinoids come from cannabigerolic acid, an acidic form of CBG that is abundant early in the life of a cannabis plant. In the end, though, CBG makes up less than 1% of the mature cannabis plant, so it is considered a “minor” cannabinoid. CBG helps promote mood support and has our vote for the cannabinoid with the coolest name.
Delta 9 THC: The cannabinoid that gets you high. The one your mom told you to stay away from. The one that is still illegal in 13ish states. According to Federal law, cannabinoid products legally must contain no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight. You may have heard of Delta 9 as marijuana, weed, pot, grass, green, reefer, Mary Jane, doobage, bud, herb, dank, skunk, nugs, schwag, hydro, etc.
Delta 8 THC: Has been called marijuana-lite and diet-weed. When the 2018 US Farm Bill only directly listed Delta 9 THC, Delta 8 effectively became legal by omission. Lawmakers are aware of this oversight and therefore the future of Delta 8 is murky. (Remember to keep yourself informed) So, what’s the big deal? The issue is that like Delta 9 THC, 8 is a psychoactive compound that occurs naturally in the cannabis plant, and it produced a similar, though less intense, “high” sensation. Unlike Delta 9, it is only found in small traces, so it usually needs to be extracted and manufactured from CBD. Delta 8 products usually produce a less potent, but similar experience to Delta 9.
Delta 10 THC: We swear we are not just making up random cannabinoids, Delta 10 actually exists. Like Delta 8, Delta 10 is only found in trace amounts in the cannabis plant, is less potent than Delta 9, and is generally extracted and manufactured from CBD. Whereas Delta 8 gives you more of a body buzz, 10 gives you a head high, though both are milder than the similar effects from Delta 9.
We hope this helps explain some things! By the way, we didn’t even get into THC-O, THCV, and other potential new versions. Just remember, if you ever need help selecting the right product for you, give us a call at 262-875-6886, send us an email at contact@partneredprocess.com, or stop in our Waukesha store at 402 Travis Lane in Waukesha, WI. As always, make sure you stay informed on the cannabis laws in your state. Thanks for reading!
