Does Delta 8 Stay in Your System Longer Than Delta 9?

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Delta 8 THC is currently known as the milder, legal cousin of delta 9 THC. Thanks to this, users have compared to a little sibling due to the shared characteristics and therapeutic potential of both compounds. And well, because they can get you high.

While not as strong as delta 9 THC, delta 8 is still considered psychoactive and can potentially aid with antiemetic and pain relief effects. It also has fewer unwanted effects than delta 9, thanks to having about half its potency.

Now, the real question old-time weed consumers will ask: Will it show in a drug test? How long will it stay in your system? Well, we’ve made a small guide with this article to let you understand what delta 8 is, how it compares to delta 9 THC, and if it can stay longer in your system than its “regular” form.

We’ve got a lot to unpack, so let’s start by exploring what delta 8 is. But before we begin, make sure to try our best-in-class delta 8 products:

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Key Takeaways

  • Delta 8 THC is a naturally found cannabinoid in hemp that is psychoactive and holds several potential benefits.
  • Delta 8 is chemically similar to delta 9 THC, or actually called an isomer, meaning it has similar effects with subtle differences that give this cannabinoid its unique properties.
  • Both forms of THC are metabolized and stored in similar ways, meaning they can still be detected as commercial drug tests won’t be able to tell the difference between the traces of one and the other.
  • How long delta 8 can stay in your system depends on factors like your metabolism, preferred consumption method, and dosage.

 

What is Delta 8?

Delta-8-Tetrahydrocannabinol is a cannabinoid that can be naturally found in cannabis and hemp plants. Currently, it is one of the hemp-derived cannabinoids that is considered to be psychoactive.

Chemically speaking, it’s considered an isomer of delta 9 THC. This means they are like siblings, similar but have slight differences that change their behavior and interaction with our endocannabinoid system.

Is it believed that delta 8 THC has about 50% of delta 9’s potency. Users that have tried delta 8 THC have benefitted from several therapeutic and recreational benefits. Some of the most important potential effects include feeling relaxed, aiding with inflammation and pain relief, aiding with mood, and much more.

You can try delta 8 in different products, like tinctures, vaping pens, edibles, and much more. One of the most friendly ways to start with this cannabinoid is to try out tinctures, like the Grape Runtz 8 THC Disposable at the Delta Munchies store.

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Is Delta 8 Psychoactive?

Yes, delta 8 THC is considered to be psychoactive. This is because it interacts and binds to the proteins of the CB1 receptors of our endocannabinoid system. To be more precise, it affects the pathway of this network and can have different effects.

First, unlike delta 9 THC, it does not bind to the CB2 receptor’s proteins. Delta 8 THC has a mild affinity to the proteins of the CB1 receptor, which is in charge of certain signaling of your nervous system, like pain, hungriness, and inflammation.

This interaction is the reason why delta 8 THC has psychoactive properties. It can get you high and relax while pushing some analgesic and sedative effects when consuming it. But we’ll go further into detail about the potential effects of this cannabinoid in the next section.

 

What are the Effects of Delta 8?

As we’ve mentioned above, delta 8 THC is structurally similar to delta 9 THC. Sort of like a sibling, delta 8 THC is a psychoactive compound that can produce a mild and euphoric high. Besides this high, there are a few potential therapeutic and wellness effects that users have reported.

First, let’s address the psychoactive effects and benefits. While milder, the relaxed and euphoric feelings can have a general sedative effect on different users. This high can also cause a few side effects like dry mouth, dry eyes, and even increased appetite, but these are less common compared to delta 9 THC.

That said, delta 8 holds the potential for several wellness effects. Research has found that delta 8 holds antiemetic effects, meaning it can reduce nausea and vomiting. 

Other benefits include aiding with inflammation and pain relief. This study concluded that users could find potential relief from day-to-day stressors, pain, and inflammation due to the properties of this cannabinoid. The research mentioned how it could aid from minor stress symptoms to general anxiety feelings, which could have the potential for full-on treatments.

So to sum it up, delta 8 THC has several effects, like aiding with inflammation or pain relief. However, more clinical research is needed to fully understand this cannabinoid.

 

What are the Differences Between Delta 8 Compared to Delta 9?

Well, the most basic one you’ll notice is the change between 8 and 9. And while it might seem obvious at first, it has a pretty important connotation as it translates to the number of carboxyl groups in each molecule. This changes completely how each cannabinoid interacts with our endocannabinoid system.

Another main difference is that delta 8 THC is considered a minor cannabinoid. This means it is not as widely available as delta 9 in the hemp plant naturally. Most delta 8 in commercial products comes from the processing of hemp-derived CBD due to the extraction process being far too expensive in comparison.

A key difference between both THC isomers is the potency. Delta 8 is considered to have about half the potency of delta 9 THC due to its affinity to the proteins in the CB1 receptors. In practical terms, this results in a milder high.

Some people even describe having delta 8 THC as a sativa-like experience, with a focus on the euphoric feeling and high rather than full body relaxation. Users have also reported having their mood lifted as well, mainly due to this interaction with our system.

Lastly, delta 8 is more available to the public in general than delta 9 THC. The legal status of delta 8 THC is in flux in many states, but at a federal level, it remains legal thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill. On the other hand, delta 9 is a little more complicated as some states have regulations on medicinal cannabis or full bans on this compound.

 

What are the Similarities Between Delta 9 and Delta 8?

Much like siblings, these two cannabinoids share a few things. One similarity between both compounds is that they bind to the proteins of the CB1 receptor in the ECS. These receptors are associated with the psychoactive effects of both cannabinoids, which result in feeling relaxed, drowsy, and euphoric.

The second prominent similarity is that both cannabinoids have strong therapeutic potential. While delta 9 THC holds a few benefits by potentially aiding with sleep and mood issues, delta 8 can aid by being anti-inflammatory, antiemetic, and even pain relieving.

In third place is the possible detection due to how they are processed. Thanks to their absorption and processing through the liver, delta 9 and delta 8 THC are both detectable by a drug test. This is complicated, as even though one substance can be legal (delta 8 THC) and one can not (delta 9 THC) in the same state, the drug won’t differentiate between both cannabinoids.

This is a pretty important similarity, as users have reported that this cannabinoid can get detected pretty much the same way as its isomer. We’ll delve more into detail about this later on in this article. Just make sure to note this down when consuming delta 8.

If you want to try a few tokes of delta 8 THC, we fully recommend trying the hybrid-inspired Watermelon Gushers Dart XL vape pen. This vaping device comes with a hefty two full grams of delta 8 THC extract, ready to use and enjoy without any trouble. These are also pretty discreet, with auto pull and USB charging, you’ll be ready to get some watermelon and candy puffs on the go.

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Does Delta 8 Stay in Your System Longer than Delta 9?

While there’s a lack of scientific research on this topic, most users and anecdotal evidence suggest that both compounds stay in the body for similar timespans. These cannabinoids are metabolized in the liver and eventually excreted through urine and feces.

The time both cannabinoids stay in the body depends on many factors, including your own metabolism, frequency of use, method of consumption, and dosage. Furthermore, cannabinoid metabolites (traces of that compound) are stored in fat cells, meaning that both of them can stay in your system for a while if used constantly.

Typically, both delta 8 and delta 9 THC can be detected in urine for up to 30 days. Blood tests are usually detectable for up to 24 hours. That said, this varies depending on the test used and what metabolites the test looks for. Due to how much delta 8 and delta 9 THC are alike, chances are the test will detect cannabinoids, ignoring whether they are hemp-derived or not.

In the end, it is important to note that drug test is not reliable, and there is always a chance of false positive or negative results. Blood tests tend to be more accurate, so prepare beforehand if you know a test is coming up, even if you are a delta 8 THC consumer only.

 

Does the Delta 8 Dosage Matter?

Yes, as with other cannabinoids, the amount of delta 8 you consume can affect how long it takes your body to flush the THC out.

If you want to change up your cannabinoid routine, trying some Delta 8 Gummies could help. These come in many different flavors or sizes. You can either try a classic with a twist with the Delta 8 Gummy Bears, available in 10, 20, and up to 30mg of our delicious delta 8 extract. 

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Or go for something more potent, like the Berry Blue Sour Belts, which have 300mg per roll candy, perfect to dose or share. These kinds of products are best for veteran or accustomed users, as higher doses risk potentially adding unwanted side effects to the mix.

Now, the delta 8 dosage on each of these gummies affects how long it stays with your system. Stronger doses like the belts will have a stronger effect and onset, while the metabolites get stored for longer.

 

Will Delta 8 Test Positive on a Drug Test?

While this depends on the frequency of use and type of drug test used, the answer most likely is yes. Commercial drug tests look for metabolites, essentially cannabinoid leftovers, in your system.

Urine tests will find these small particle traces for up to 30 days of use, while blood tests can find them for up to 24 hours. Other tests that check other parts, like hair follicles, can find metabolites for up to 3 months of use. 

This changes depending on the frequency you consume, but also the methods. Edibles have a stronger bioavailability in your body when absorbed, which is why they are far more potent than vaping pens or joints. This also allows your body to store metabolites in fat tissue for longer.

It is also important to mention that delta 9 tolerance does not transfer to delta 8 THC or the other way around. Since both bind differently to the receptors of the ECS, they work differently enough to have their own tolerance limit.

Some users have shared that their test came back negative when consuming delta 8. That said, testing can be irregular, and some people can get lucky based on their individual metabolism. So to be safe, try to stop consumption if you know you have a drug test coming up soon.

 

Is Delta 8 Legal?

At a federal level, all hemp-derived products that contain less than 0.3% of delta 9 THC are fully legal, according to the 2018 Farm Bill. That said, some states have strict legislation about THC, hemp, and cannabis in general.

States like Hawaii have a full ban on all weed and hemp products, even CBD and non-psychoactive products. Other states like Massachusetts have legislation that allows for certain products to be over the counter, like CBD edibles, but also require packaging specifications and other restrictions like showing an ID and being over 18.

That said, most states abide by federal law. Just a few states might have specific laws for hemp-derived cannabinoids that have been altered or are synthetic. But in general, delta 8 is more accessible than medicinal cannabis and weed in general.

 

Is Delta 8 FDA Approved?

As of now, delta 8 THC is not approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA has not evaluated the safety or efficacy of delta 8 THC for medical use and has issued a warning about unsafe labeling on certain edibles that might make certain products with extreme claims.

It is important to note that delta 8 THC has a complicated legal status, to say the least, which complicates the evaluation from the FDA even more complicated. While, in general, it keeps being legal at a federal level, as we mentioned above, certain warnings could change this at the state level.

Furthermore, CBD, another major cannabinoid found in hemp, was recently approved by the FDA for treating two forms of epilepsy. This approval does not apply to other hemp-derived compounds like delta 8 THC or HHC.

In summary, the FDA has not approved any specific delta 8 THC products for medical use, dietary supplements, or food additives. More research is needed, as delta 8 has the potential for several treatments to aid the consumer’s general wellness.

 

In Conclusion

So, in a nutshell, delta 8 THC is a psychoactive cannabinoid that holds many properties, including therapeutic and recreational ones. It is fully psychoactive due to how it interacts with the CB1 receptors and is processed pretty similarly to delta 9 THC. Due to this, it can be detected pretty similarly to delta 9 THC in a drug test since most commercial ones will look for general THC traces.

Delta 8 THC is currently not FDA-approved, but it is still legal in most states thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill. While we recommend stopping consumption previous to any test, the method, dosage, and your own metabolism might play a role in whether this cannabinoid is detectable or not.