Delta-8 is a cannabis compound that has become popular because of its similarity to delta-9. Both delta-8 and delta-9 are cannabinoids and are similar in both their names and their chemical structures. THC is the part of the marijuana plant that produces the “high” associated with marijuana; the scientific name for THC is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or delta-9 THC, or just delta-9. Delta-8 is short for delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol, or delta-8 THC. Delta-8 causes effects for users similar to regular delta-9.
Delta-8 occurs naturally in small quantities in cannabis, however most of the commercially available delta-8 has been synthesized through a conversion process that uses a variety of chemicals to convert hemp-derived CBD into delta-8.
Delta-8 – like delta-9 (regular THC) – binds to the body’s endocannabinoid system, which causes a user to feel high. Chemically, delta-8 and delta-9 are similar in that they both have a double bond in their structures. Both cannabinoids have a chain of carbon atoms, but delta-8 has the double bond on the eighth carbon, whereas delta-9 has it on the ninth carbon. This double bond is thought to produce the intoxicating effects that make the user feel high. Delta-8 binds to the endocannabinoid system in a slightly different fashion because of the location of its double bond. This is what is thought to make delta-8 much less potent than regular THC. However, more research needs to be done on delta-8 and how it interacts with the body.
It is important to note that delta-9 is naturally occurring in relatively high concentrations in marijuana flower while delta-8 is naturally occurring in marijuana flower but in very low concentrations. When you see a delta-9 concentrate product, the cannabinoids in that product were likely extracted directly from the cannabis plant (marijuana) and concentrated. However, when you see a delta-8 concentrate product, the cannabinoids in that product were likely synthetized and concentrated through a chemical process. Nearly all delta-8 THC is derived from CBD which has been extracted from federally legal hemp, not cannabis, which is why it is currently sold in many states where cannabis is illegal.
Delta-9 marijuana products are produced from cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant and are strictly regulated and subject to stringent testing standards. Conversely, delta-8 products are created using unregulated, chemically synthesized cannabinoids that are, often, entirely untested. Because of this clandestine synthesis process, delta-8 products can contain harmful additives and byproducts.
Side effects of delta-8 may be similar to those of delta-9, including dry mouth, red eyes, getting the munchies, short-term memory, paranoia, or anxiety. Delta-8 hasn’t been studied extensively and more research is needed on the effects it has on the mind and body.
The federal Drug Enforcement Administration has – in a proposed rule that is not yet final – indirectly classified delta-8 as a Schedule 1 controlled substance, which would make it federally illegal. The state of Michigan recently passed legislation that classified delta-8 as marijuana and therefore the production, distribution, and sale of delta-8 will now be regulated by the state’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA).
Effective October 11, 2021, it is illegal for businesses to sell delta-8 without proper licensing from the MRA. Members of the public can report unlicensed commercial production or sale of delta-8 to the MRA by emailing MRA-Enforcement@michigan.gov.
The MRA has created a one-page document with information about delta-8 and has made it available on the website here.
Could change again. You know how the goal post keeps getting moved these days. Before you act on any information from the internet cnsult a human attorney and pay that attorney to tell you the right thing.
5 Things to Know about Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinol – Delta-8 THC
Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as delta-8 THC, is a psychoactive substance found in the Cannabis sativa plant, of which marijuana and hemp are two varieties. Delta-8 THC is one of over 100 cannabinoids produced naturally by the cannabis plant but is not found in significant amounts in the cannabis plant. As a result, concentrated amounts of delta-8 THC are typically manufactured from hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD).
It is important for consumers to be aware that delta-8 THC products have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA for safe use in any context. They may be marketed in ways that put the public health at risk and should especially be kept out of reach of children and pets.
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DISCLAIMER This post may contain re-posted content, opinions, comments, ads, third party posts, outdated information, posts from disgruntled persons, posts from those with agendas, private stuff and general internet BS. Therefore…Before you believe anything on the internet regarding anything – do your research on “Official Government and State Sites”, Call the Michigan State Police, Check the State Attorney General Website and Consult an Attorney – Use Your Brain. You’re on the internet.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has declared that two cannabinoids, delta-8 THC-O and delta-9 THC-O, which have recently emerged in state markets, do not meet the federal definition of legal hemp and are thus considered illegal controlled substances.
An Attorney had previously inquired about the legal status of these cannabinoids with the federal agency last year and followed up.
Since the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp containing up to 0.3 percent delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis, the cannabis industry has been abuzz with confusion. This reform has opened the door to a booming market for natural and synthetic cannabinoids in states across the nation.
One of the most popular cannabinoids is delta-8 THC, which can be synthetically produced from CBD, but also occurs in trace amounts naturally in the cannabis plant. As a result, several states have taken steps to regulate this product, which, unlike CBD, does have intoxicating effects.
Moving the Goal Posts
These two cannabinoids “do not occur naturally in the cannabis plant and can only be obtained synthetically, and therefore do not fall under the definition of hemp.”
On Feb 13, 2023, The DEA sent a response letter confirming that these two cannabinoids “do not occur naturally in the cannabis plant and can only be obtained synthetically, and therefore do not fall under the definition of hemp.” This ruling serves as a reminder that the federal government is still enforcing its laws on cannabis-related substances, even as more states move toward legalizing them.
If you or someone you know has been accused of a crime, DUI or Drugged Driving. Call Komorn Law and turn your defense into an offense. Call Now 248-357-2550
DISCLAIMER This post may contain re-posted content, opinions, comments, ads, third party posts, outdated information, posts from disgruntled persons, posts from those with agendas, private stuff and general internet BS. Therefore…Before you believe anything on the internet regarding anything – do your research on “Official Government and State Sites”, Call the Michigan State Police, Check the State Attorney General Website and Consult an Attorney – Use Your Brain. You’re on the internet.
April 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GW Pharmaceuticals announced today that it had received notification from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) confirming that EPIDIOLEX® (cannabidiol) is no longer subject to the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This change takes effect immediately.
“This notification from DEA fully establishes that EPIDIOLEX, the only CBD medicine approved by FDA, is no longer a controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act,” said Justin Gover, GW’s Chief Executive Officer. “We would like to thank DEA for confirming the non-controlled status of this medicine. Importantly, the descheduling of EPIDIOLEX has the potential to further ease patient access to this important therapy for patients living with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Dravet syndrome, two of the most debilitating forms of epilepsy.”
EPIDIOLEX, which was launched in the United States on November 1, 2018 after approval by FDA for the treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) or Dravet syndrome in patients two years of age or older, is the first prescription pharmaceutical formulation of highly purified, plant-derived cannabidiol (CBD), and the first in a new category of anti-epileptic drugs.
Following FDA approval, EPIDIOLEX was initially placed in Schedule V of the CSA. Following receipt of this DEA notification, GW has filed a post-approval supplement with FDA to remove Schedule V designation from EPIDIOLEX.
DEA’s letter means that all federal controlled-substance restrictions have been removed for EPIDIOLEX. The Company will now begin the process of implementing these changes at the state level and through the EPIDIOLEX distribution network. Once this process is completed in each state, prescriptions for EPIDIOLEX, like other non-controlled medicines, will be valid for one year and can be easily transferred between pharmacies. The descheduling of EPIDIOLEX also enables physicians to prescribe this breakthrough medicine free of the requirements of state prescription drug monitoring programs.
Descheduling will enable prescribing free of the previous Schedule V requirements
There’s a database maintained by the Drug Enforcement Administration that tracks the path of every single pain pill sold in the United States — from manufacturers and distributors to pharmacies in every town and city. The data provides an unprecedented look at the surge of legal pain pills that fueled the prescription opioid epidemic, which has resulted in nearly 100,000 deaths from 2006 through 2012.
Some of USA’s major drug companies that saturated the country with 70 plus billion hydrocodone and oxycodone pain pills from the years 2006 through 2012 as the deadliest drug epidemic in the nation.
Just six companies distributed 75 percent of the pills during this period: McKesson Corp., Walgreens, Cardinal Health, AmerisourceBergen, CVS and Walmart, according to an analysis of the database by The Washington Post. Three companies manufactured 88 percent of the opioids: SpecGx, a subsidiary of Mallinckrodt; Actavis Pharma; and Par Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary of Endo Pharmaceuticals.
Purdue Pharma, which the plaintiffs allege sparked the epidemic in the 1990s with its introduction of OxyContin, its version of oxycodone, was ranked fourth among manufacturers with about 3 percent of the market.
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The volume of the pills handled by the companies skyrocketed as the epidemic surged, increasing about 51 percent from 8.4 billion in 2006 to 12.6 billion in 2012. By contrast, doses of morphine, a well-known treatment for severe pain, averaged slightly more than 500 million a year during the period.
Those 10 companies along with about a dozen others are now being sued in federal court in Cleveland by nearly 2,000 cities, towns and counties alleging that they conspired to flood the nation with opioids. The companies, in turn, have blamed the epidemic on overprescribing by doctors and pharmacies and on customers who abused the drugs. The companies say they were working to supply the needs of patients with legitimate prescriptions desperate for pain relief.
See the rest of the story as well as an interactive map with some nice data info HERE
DEA to hopefully change CBD scheduling within 90 days.
The US Food and Drug Administration announced Monday June 25, 2018 the approval of the first cannabis based prescription medication.
The medicine is called Epidiolex and is a plant-derived oral solution of cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is a chemical component of marijuana that does not cause intoxication or a euphoric high. The London based GW Pharmaceuticals plc, is expecting another significant decision where the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reclassifies CBD.
This could unlock the opportunity to other marijuana-derived medications as well as ease restrictions on other cannabis research.
