Does Delta 8 Affect Delta 9 Tolerance?

Delta Munchies' Peach Rings delta 8 gummies on a yellow background.

Many new users are trying out delta 8 THC as it becomes widely available in different states. However, some cannaseurs that have been in the scene for a while might feel dumbfounded when trying these new products after being a regular to old cannabis for a while.

Experienced or regular users might find themselves in a complicated situation called building up a tolerance to THC. This might happen if you’ve been smoking more than your regular dose to feel the same high.

For this, some users have started adding delta 8 THC to their routine. While being a little milder in potency, this cannabinoid might help to affect your delta 9 tolerance thanks to its natural mechanisms. And since delta 8 is more widely available, stronger presentations like edibles and tinctures could help the reset feel less aggressive.

Let’s explore together tolerance and breaks and if delta 8 can affect your delta 9 tolerance.

 

Key Takeaways

  • Delta 8 THC is a psychoactive compound with about 50% of regular THC potency.
  • Delta 9 THC is stronger and only binds to the proteins in the CB1 receptors of our endocannabinoid system, while delta 8 binds to both with a smaller affinity.
  • You can use delta 8 THC for a tolerance break even if it has a milder potency, as it affects other receptors in the system.
  • If you are starting to develop tolerance to a cannabinoid, you can switch up your routine by changing cannabinoids, your consuming method, or microdosing with other compounds.

 

What is Stronger: Delta 8 or Delta 9

Delta 8 THC is a cannabinoid you can naturally find in the hemp plant. This compound is an isomer of what we know as delta 9 THC, sometimes called “regular THC” or delta 9, which means it has a similar structure but a difference in the carbon chain.

While this might seem superficial, it changes how molecules interact with our nervous system. Delta 9 THC binds to the proteins in the receptor of our endocannabinoid system, mostly the CB1 receptors. In a nutshell, this is what makes weed psychoactive.

Delta 8 THC, on the other hand, interacts with both CB1 and CB2 receptors. While not as potently as delta 9 THC, it can still affect our bodies differently. Research on delta 8 THC is limited, but this paper compared both compounds and concluded that delta 8 THC could be considered a much milder psychoactive cannabinoid.

So, in general, delta 8 THC is considered to have around 50% of delta 9 THC’s potency thanks to being slightly less tightly bound to the CB1 receptors in comparison. It can have a similar effect in bigger doses, but it might require a heavier dosage or a different method, like edibles, for a full-on high.

 

Mixing Delta 8 and Delta 9: Can You Do It?

Yes! You can mix both cannabinoids, but it can be a little more complicated than just using one or the other. Delta 9 THC interacts mostly with the CB1 receptor, while delta 8 works with both CB1 and CB2.

Scientific research on both is limited, but from anecdotal experience, users have switched between them to keep their tolerance at bay. This happens as users tend to notice that they need a higher dosage or method to experience the same level of high they used to.

So instead of reducing the usage, some users switch between two cannabinoids like, delta 8 and delta 9, to have tolerance breaks. And by this, people can usually enjoy or even reset their tolerance without making huge cuts by switching up delta 9 for delta 8 THC. However, these results are mostly anecdotal.

 

Do Delta 8 and Delta 9 Have Cross-Tolerance?

This is a little complicated to answer, as research on tolerance with both cannabinoids is limited. In theory, the two cannabinoids affect similar receptors (mainly CB1), which could lead to cross-tolerance.

However, when switching between the two, thanks to the interaction with the CB2 receptors on delta 8 THC, you might feel different if you switch between them. Some people even say that while delta 8 is milder, the effects can go on longer and be used together with delta 9 THC.

 

Does Delta 8 Affect Delta 9 Tolerance?

In general, yes. Since delta 8 THC affects both endocannabinoid sensors instead of just one, your body might react differently for a euphoric high instead of a full onset of effects.

This means that if you’ve already had delta 9 THC tolerance, you will still need time for the CB1 receptors to regenerate at their own pace. However, since delta 8 binds pretty mildly to this receptor, the recovery process would go smoother than if you still consume delta 9 THC.

Some users switch from delta 9 to delta 8 THC to help them cope with their tolerance breaks, as many people out there also seek out cannabis and hemp for their wellness properties. And while recreational users might find it a bit more challenging, it is also a common strategy to balance out your endocannabinoid system without dropping hemp products altogether.

Can I Smoke Delta 8 on a Tolerance Break?

While switching from delta 9 THC to delta 8 might seem like a bad idea or “downgrade” due to the milder high, some users switch it up to power up their next delta 9 THC experience. By alternating to this compound, you can change your tolerance break strategy.

This is specifically useful for users seeking delta 9 THC for their wellness effects, as it can provide some sort of relief while your own CB1 receptors regenerate. However, if you want cannabinoids to have a hard reset, you might want to take a full-on break from psychoactive components to lower your built-up resistance.

For their wellness effects, CBD products can be a solution for users who use them regularly with health in mind. Still, recreative users might want to go for other reset strategies if cutting up cannabinoids from their diet is a no-go.

 

How to Reset Your Weed Tolerance

If you need to reset your tolerance, there are a few ways to change up and trick your system. You can switch your cannabinoids, change your delivery method, or change to smaller doses.

Let’s go with each of them.

Switching up Cannabinoids

This might be one of the easiest ways to endure a tolerance break. If you are a recurrent regular bud or delta 9 THC user, you could switch to delta 8 THC vapes instead. While the psychoactive effects are milder, the effects can last for much longer than your regular THC.

Our Dart XL 2g Delta 8 THC vapes are a great option if you want to switch up your pen routine. You can try the delicious grape and candy-like notes of the Grape Runtz or go for something kushy and fruity with the Melonado.  And with 2 full grams of strain-specific terpenes and our delicious delta 8 THC extract, you can switch up your hemp or cannabis flower for a few tokes now and then spice it up.

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Or if you are more of a cart person, switching from bud to the sativa-based Dutch Treat Delta 8 Cart is also a good call. With a full gram of our delta 8 THC formula, expect piney and fruity notes ready to boost your energy.

You could also go for CBD or other non-psychoactive cannabinoids on a break or try a full spectrum formula product to lower the built-up tolerance in your nervous system. With other compounds interacting in your system, you might even lower the general effects of THC so you could feel a stronger high in your next delta 9 THC session.

Changing Your Delivery Method

If alternating between delta 8 and delta 9 THC smoke is not an option, you can always try another delivery method. Products like edibles or tinctures can have much stronger effects and might help reset your tolerance.

Since edibles and tinctures take more time for the high and other effects to be absorbed, they can spice up your routine and change the amount of delta 8 THC metabolized. While more research would be needed to fully assess this, it could help to make up for the “milder” sensation of delta 8 THC.

You could also change up for some strong delta 8 THC products, like the Watermelon Runtz Gummies. These are infused with our top-shelf delta 8 formula, with 25mg per pack. Or, for something a little more manageable, our store’s iconic Grape Gushers Delta 8 Gummies are also infused with delta 8 THC. These are customizable with 10, 20, and up to 30mg of extract a piece in a 15-piece pack full of nostalgia with a twist.

Taking a Microdose Break

If cutting THC up from your day-to-day becomes too difficult, you could try microdosing. While this method works very well for beginners, some users have changed to slicing up gummies or taking tinctures in small, similar doses to help their system balance everything out.

This could potentially work with non-psychoactive compounds too, like CBD or CBN, which can help balance out your receptors from the stimulation of THC. Using full spectrum formulas with small psychoactive cannabinoids could also be helpful to make your tolerance break a little friendlier.