After his shifts as a 911 dispatcher, Nickolas Jarosh began consuming marijuana. He'd go back and forth between working days and nights, making it tough to fall asleep. He claims that the euphoric element in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, helped.

Jarosh, 29, who now resides outside of Houston, is no longer employed in a position that requires him to work irregular hours. He also lost access to marijuana, which he claimed was helping him cope with his anxiety and sadness.

He discovered an alternative four months ago: Delta 8 THC, a legally permitted form of the psychotropic chemical. He now gets it from a company in Boston that makes sweets, chocolates, and vape cartridges out of it.

"Delta 8 THC has made a significant difference in my ability to relax, clear my mind, and fall asleep. I feel more rested when I wake up," said Jarosh, who has also tried cannabidiol (CBD) products, which he claims help a little but not enough.

"Making the switch to CBD products that also include Delta 8 THC has made a significant effect. It's not quite as powerful as delta-9, but it's close," he explained.

When people mention THC, they're usually referring to Delta 8 THC. That's the molecule that gives you the high you get from marijuana. However, it isn't the only substance contained in cannabis.

What is the Difference Between Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC?

Both Delta 8 THC and Delta 9 THC are naturally found in cannabis, and chemically, the two molecules are quite similar. The position of a double bond on the eighth carbon in Delta 8 THC and the ninth carbon in delta-9 THC is all that divides them.

All types of THC, according to scientists, bind to cannabinoid receptors in the body's endocannabinoid system, causing a high. Delta 8, on the other hand, attaches to those receptors in a slightly different manner than delta-9 THC due to the placement of its double-bond, making it less powerful. Scientists aren't clear how the two molecules differ beyond that.

Raphael Mechoulam, a professor of medicinal chemistry at Hebrew University of Jerusalem and past president of the International Cannabinoid Research Society, said, "No one has taken delta-8 and delta-9 and given them to healthy persons and monitored the difference." "Even the effects of delta-9 are highly dependent on the dose."

Is There any Medicinal Benefit to Delta 8?

Delta-9 is the most well-known kind of THC, and it's been used in clinical trials for anything from multiple sclerosis to memory retrieval. Because delta-8 and delta-9 THC have such a similar molecular structure, Piomelli believes the two molecules could theoretically have equal medical effects, but there isn't enough evidence to back this up.

"Only a few people have reported taking pure delta-8. People take it for a variety of diseases, but clinical trials are uncommon," Mechoulam said.

Clinical studies are the gold standard in medical research, and only one minor clinical experiment on Delta 8 THC has been undertaken so yet. In 1995, Mechoulam and his colleagues delivered the chemical to eight pediatric cancer patients two hours before each chemotherapy treatment. The study discovered that none of these patients vomited after their cancer therapy throughout the course of eight months. Other compounds in the cannabis plant may be at play, according to a newer study, which has investigat

Many States have Legalized Delta 8 THC, Although Some Wish to Outlaw It.

ed cannabis' capacity to reduce nausea in cancer patients with promising findings.

Delta 8 THC, according to Mechoulam, is a more stable molecule than delta-9 THC, which has been examined more extensively. If the future study demonstrates Delta 8 THC to be therapeutically useful, it may be a better candidate for novel medicines than delta-9 THC.

Should I Be Wary of Items Containing Delta 8 THC?

Yes, in a word. Delta 8 Product is still poorly understood, and in an unregulated market, items containing the molecule can readily be laced with dangerous compounds that customers are unaware of.

Aside from delta-9 THC, individual cannabinoids have received far less attention than the cannabis plant as a whole.

When someone smokes marijuana, for example, they inhale all of the plant's components. One of these molecules is Delta 8 THC, and scientists don't know much about how the isolated chemical operates in the body, especially in high quantities.

One of the reasons cannabis is widely regarded harmless, according to Piomelli, is that its diverse mix of components acts as a sort of checks and balances mechanism. Although certain plants are designed to have larger levels of THC, "a plant can only create so much THC," he explained.