Journal:Delta-8-THC: Delta-9-THC’s nicer younger sibling?
| Full article title | Delta-8-THC: Delta-9-THC’s nicer younger sibling? |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of Cannabis Research |
| Author(s) | Kruger, Jessica S.; Kruger, Daniel J. |
| Author affiliation(s) | State University of New York at Buffalo, University of Michigan |
| Primary contact | Email: jskruger at buffalo dot edu |
| Year published | 2022 |
| Volume and issue | 24 |
| Article # | 4 |
| DOI | 10.1186/s42238-021-00115-8 |
| ISSN | 2522-5782 |
| Distribution license | Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International |
| Website | https://jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42238-021-00115-8 |
| Download | https://jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s42238-021-00115-8.pdf (PDF) |
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This article should be considered a work in progress and incomplete. Consider this article incomplete until this notice is removed. |
Abstract
Background: Products containing delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC) became widely available in most of the United States following the 2018 Farm Bill, and by late 2020, those products were core products of hemp processing companies, especially where delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) use remained illegal or required medical authorization. Research on experiences with Δ8-THC is scarce, and some state governments have prohibited it because of this lack of knowledge.
Objective: We conducted an exploratory study addressing a broad range of issues regarding Δ8-THC to inform policy discussions and provide directions for future systematic research.
Methods: We developed an online survey for Δ8-THC consumers, including qualities of Δ8-THC experiences, comparisons with Δ9-THC, and open-ended feedback. The survey included quantitative and qualitative aspects to provide a rich description and content for future hypothesis testing. Invitations to participate were distributed by a manufacturer of Δ8-THC products via social media accounts, email contact list, and the Delta8 Reddit.com discussion board. Participants (n = 521) mostly identified as White/European American (90%) and male (57%). Pairwise t tests compared Δ8-THC effect rating items; one-sample t tests examined responses to Δ9-THC comparison items.
Results: Most Δ8-THC users experienced a lot or a great deal of relaxation (71%); euphoria (68%) and pain relief (55%); and a moderate amount or a lot of cognitive distortions such as difficulty concentrating (81%), difficulties with short-term memory (80%), and alerted sense of time (74%). Many did not experience anxiety (74%) or paranoia (83%). Participants generally compared Δ8-THC favorably with both Δ9-THC and pharmaceutical drugs, with most participants reporting substitution for Δ8-THC (57%) and pharmaceutical drugs (59%). Participant concerns regarding Δ8-THC were generally focused on continued legal access.
Conclusions: Δ8-THC may provide much of the experiential benefits of Δ9-THC with fewer adverse effects. Future systematic research is needed to confirm participant reports, although these studies are hindered by the legal statuses of both Δ8-THC and Δ9-THC. Cross-sector collaborations among academics, government officials, and representatives from the cannabis industry may accelerate the generation of knowledge regarding Δ8-THC and other cannabinoids. A strength of this study is that it is the first large survey of Δ8-THC users; limitations include self-reported data from a self-selected convenience sample.
Keywords: medical cannabis, cannabis, cannabinoid, delta-8-THC, subjective effects
Background
Among hundreds of cannabinoids, delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC) has rapidly risen in popularity among consumers of cannabis products. Δ8-THC is an isomer or a chemical analog of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the molecule that produces the experience of being high when ingesting cannabis. (Qamar et al. 2021) Δ8-THC differs in the molecular structure from Δ9-THC in the location of a double bond between carbon atoms 8 and 9 rather than carbon atoms 9 and 10. (Razdan 1984) Due to its altered structure, Δ8-THC has a lower affinity for the CB1 receptor and therefore has a lower psychotropic potency than Δ9-THC. (Hollister and Gillespie 1973; Razdan 1984) Δ8-THC is found naturally in the Cannabis plant, though at substantially lower concentrations than Δ9-THC.(Hively et al. 1966) It can also be synthesized from other cannabinoids. (Hanuš and Krejčí 1975)
The 2018 Farm Bill did not specifically address Δ8-THC, but it effectively legalized the sale of hemp-derived Δ8-THC products with no oversight. Its popularity grew dramatically in late 2020, gaining the attention of cannabis consumers and processors throughout the United States. As of early 2021, Δ8-THC is considered one of the fastest-growing segments of hemp derived products, with most states having access. (Richtel 2021) However, little is known about experiences with Δ8-THC or its effects in medical or recreational users. (Hollister and Gillespie 1973; Razdan 1984)
In 1973, Δ8-THC and Δ9-THC were administrated to six research participants. Despite the small sample size, researchers concluded that Δ8-THC was about two-thirds as potent as Δ9-THC and was qualitatively similar in experiential effects. (Hollister and Gillespie 1973; Razdan 1984) In 1995, researchers gave Δ8-THC to eight pediatric cancer patients two hours before each chemotherapy session. Over the course of eight months, none of these patients vomited following their cancer treatment. The researchers concluded that Δ8-THC was a more stable compound than the more well-studied Δ9-THC (Abrahamov et al. 1995), consistent with other findings (Zias et al. 1993), suggesting that Δ8-THC could be a better candidate than Δ9-THC for new therapeutics.
In recent months, 14 U.S. states have blocked the sale of Δ8-THC due to the lack of research into the compound’s psychoactive effects. (Sullivan 2021) However, all policies and practices, including those related to substance use and public health, should be informed by empirical evidence. The current study seeks to better understand the experiences of people who use Δ8-TH to inform policy discussions and provide directions for future systematic research. Because this is the first large survey of Δ8-TH consumers, we take an exploratory approach to describe experiences with Δ8-TH. We combine quantitative rating items with open-ended qualitative items, enabling participants to provide feedback which is rich in content.
Methods
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Notes
This presentation is faithful to the original, with only a few minor changes to presentation. Some grammar and punctuation was cleaned up to improve readability. In some cases important information was missing from the references, and that information was added.
