Delta 8 THC: Promising or Perilous?

WRITER OLIVIA KULANDER

Delta 8

MANUFACTURERS ARE SYNTHESiZiNG iT FROM CBD pyramid scheme

IT’S EASY TO SEE WHY PRODUCERS MiGHT GET EXCiTED ABOUT A WAY TO TURN A SURPLUS OF CBD OiL iNTO A SLiGHTLY PSYCHOACTiVE (AND THUS MORE VALUABLE) PRODUCT WiTH LESS LEGiSLATiVE OVERSiGHT THAN iTS MORE EFFECTiVE COUSiN.

Δ8-THC MAY BE SAFE TO CONSUME. BUT CAN WE MAKE THAT SAME ASSUMPTiON ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OTHER CHEMiCALS THAT MAY BE iN THE PRODUCT?

THE CANNABiS PLANT CONTAiNS HUNDREDS OF THERAPEUTiC BiOMOLECULES, iNCLUDiNG OVER 100 CANNABiNOiDS LiKE THC AND CBD

Within the cannabinoids, there are many analogs and isomers for each type—small differences that have big implications and real-world consequences. An extra carbon molecule or a double bond in a different position completely changes how a given molecule will interact with the body and with other cannabinoids and terpenes.

Δ8-THC is one such analog of the more familiar Δ9-THC. With a double bond on the eighth carbon atom instead of the ninth, Δ8-THC functions similarly to Δ9-THC. But other than being significantly

OH Δ9-THC

less psychoactive, the science is still out on Δ8-THC what that means to patients.1

CANNABiNOiD ANALOGS

For perspective, let’s look at some THC analogs that feature small differences with large consequences. Like most of the cannabinoids, THC has an acidic version, THCA, which is identical except for a small attached acid that’s cleaved off when it’s decarboxylated. Decarboxylation is a chemical reaction caused by heat or time that removes an acidic carboxyl group and releases carbon dioxide. Until decarboxylation, the molecule is not psychoactive, so consuming THCA won’t give patients THC’s characteristic high.

THCA THC

When THC or other cannabinoids are synthesized from precursor CBGV instead of CBG, they become varin cannabinoids (THCV, CBDV). Varin cannabinoids have two fewer carbons in their tail for a grand total of three. Having a three-carbon tail versus a five-carbon tail means that the varin cannabinoids have a harder time binding to cannabinoid receptors in the body, ensuring that THCV is not as potent as its THC analog.

On the other hand, the recently isolated and identified THCP has seven carbon atoms in the tail, giving it a more potent binding site, and likely the reason researchers found it to be 33 times as active as THC2. Extremely small changes in biochemistry have profound effects on how substances work in the body. A LiMiTED UNDERSTANDiNG OF Δ8-THC

One hurdle in the understanding of Δ8-THC is the same hurdle faced by all other minor cannabinoids.

A dearth of research means that primary sources on the efficacy of Δ8-THC are few and far between. A single clinical study in 1995 showed it to be a remarkably effective antiemetic for the eight children in the trial3. While this is fantastic news, it is one of the only studies to feature humans, and a sample size of eight juveniles does not constitute a solid framework of research.

Δ9-THC Δ9-THCV

Δ8-THC possesses exciting potential for helping patients with pain, inflammation, and nausea—with significantly less psychoactivity than Δ9-THC. Whether there is a corresponding decrease in efficacy with less psychoactivity has yet to be established, though it seems likely. Everybody with an eye towards the future in the cannabis space is keeping a close watch on Δ8-THC and is cheering for the eventual success of any cannabinoid as a therapeutic superstar. Other studies researching Δ8-THC in vivo (in a living organism) use rats and mice as study organisms to demonstrate Δ8-THC’s capabilities as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, and neuroprotectant in a variety of conditions.4,5,6,7 However, another study shows that Δ8-THC reacts differently in humans than in rodents, causing bradycardia (slowed heart rate) in rodents, while increased heart rate in humans.8 So, while Δ8-THC and other minor cannabinoids show real

promise in scientific studies, it is only prudent for the cannabis industry to proceed with caution and push for more clinical research and human trials before making claims or selling products to vulnerable patients.

A NATURAL DiSTiNCTiON

It is true that Δ8-THC is a natural product of cannabis, and humans have been consuming it for centuries.

It is without a doubt at least an occasional player in the Entourage Effect, and hasn’t been associated with significant negative effects when ingested at low levels. It is important to remember, though, that in most dried cannabis flower, Δ8-THC is undetectable, and for the 1 percent of cannabis samples that contain enough to register, there are only trace amounts. Patients are exposed only to extremely low levels of Δ8-THC in the cannabis plant.

Since Δ8-THC is naturally present in cannabis only at minute concentrations, production requires more than simple extraction. For such a minor cannabinoid to present at therapeutic levels, cannabis must undergo extensive processing with chemicals such as acetic acid and bleach used to convert CBD into Δ8-THC. Since Δ8-THC does occur naturally, it is often marketed as a natural substance, but lab-made Δ8-THC (and the residual chemicals from its derivation) are a far cry from anything you’ll find naturally in the plant. California lab, InfiniteCal, ran over 2,000 Δ8-THC samples through chromatographic testing in 2020. Of those samples, less than one percent (that’s less than 20 samples) tested as pure Δ8-THC. The vast majority showed chromatographic peaks of unidentified substances in the samples.11 Without manufacturing and clean-up regulations or testing parameters in place, there is nothing to ensure that patients and consumers are getting a safe, let alone effective, product. When more than 99 percent of products have unidentifiable substances in them, and there is no testing standard to hold manufacturers to, it is in the best interest of the consumer to exercise extreme caution when purchasing these products. Add into the equation the proliferation of vape cartridges containing Δ8-THC and possibly other unknown substances, and you have a tinderbox of hazardous potentiality.

Even if it’s accepted that Δ8-THC is safe to consume, one cannot make that assumption about other chemicals that may be in the product.

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