Dabbing D8 vs. THC vs. CBD
In my latest Secret Nature package, I was very pleased to receive a gram of Slurricane D8 Live Resin. As any true cannabis aficionado knows, dabs are king, and this gram of live resin extract gave me a perfect excuse to dust off my electric nail and get to dabbing.
Along the way, though, I set out to answer a fundamental question: What’s the difference between dabbing delta 8, THC, and CBD? As someone who has tried all three, I know a little something about the subject, and in this guide, I’ll compare and contrast dabbing each cannabinoid.
What are D8 dabs?
D8 dabs are doses of delta 8 concentrate that you vaporize and inhale. Bearing significant similarities to dabs you may have taken that contained delta 9 THC, delta 8 is nonetheless an entirely different cannabinoid, so D8 dabs have understandably unique effects. Unlike CBD dabs, however, delta 8 dabs will certainly get you high.
What are the effects of D8 dabs?
Based on my personal experience, the effects of delta 8 dabs are very similar to the effects of delta 9 THC dabs. What’s missing, though, is the “intense” feeling that comes along with vaping conventional THC.
Sure, you’ll feel high, and if you dab enough delta 8, you might feel extremely high. The THC high and the delta 8 high are just different, however, in a way that can take a while to properly put your finger on.
What are THC dabs?
THC dabs are doses of cannabis concentrate that are high in the cannabinoid delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, which is the form of tetrahydrocannabinol that’s most commonly referred to as THC. These are the types of dabs you can only legally buy at state-run recreational or medical cannabis shops.
What are the effects of THC dabs?
Based on extensive personal experience, THC dabs deliver the effects of delta 9 THC much more strongly than any other ingestion method. For me, the effects were perhaps a bit too strong—these days, I prefer delta 8 anyway, and while I can tolerate huge dabs of D8 just fine, I prefer to take the more relaxed route.
Dabbing THC will make you feel higher than dabbing delta 8, but you’ll also open yourself up to some of the side effects that are specific to this form of tetrahydrocannabinol—including paranoia. No matter how much I dabbed, I never felt paranoid after dabbing delta 8.
What are CBD dabs?
CBD dabs are doses of cannabis concentrate that contain high percentages of CBD instead of THC or delta 8. Out of the three, CBD dabs are definitely the outlier since they won’t make you feel high no matter how much you inhale. Done right, however, CBD dabs can be just as flavorful and enjoyable as the best D8 or THC dabs.
What are the effects of CBD dabs?
Instead of making you feel high, CBD dabs enhance this cannabinoid’s naturally relaxing effects to the extreme. For me, dabbing CBD provides a feeling of total contentment. I’m not intoxicated, and my mood doesn’t dramatically change. I just feel at peace and relaxed—and maybe a little bit sleepy.
D8, THC, & CBD dabs compared
Now, let’s compare dabs containing delta 8, CBD, and THC. In a way, this undertaking is something like comparing apples and oranges, but I hope you’ll gain some insights regarding how the effects, quality, and availability of each dab option compare:
Effects
Personally, I prefer the effects of D8 dabs. As someone who has used—and enjoyed—delta 9 THC for years, I have thoroughly welcomed the arrival of a somewhat milder and less side effect-prone version of my favorite cannabinoid. The effects of delta 8 are similar enough to conventional THC to satisfy my craving, but this version of the cannabinoid seems to “pull the punches” slightly, offering a more relaxing effect profile.
Speaking of relaxing effects, that’s exactly what you’re in for if you vape CBD. While I like CBD in small doses, vaping this cannabinoid greatly enhances its sedative properties—at least for me. If I take a dab of CBD during the day, it’s likely you won’t see me again for a few hours. I’ll either have fallen asleep, or I’ll just be sitting on my favorite couch watching the clouds go by. Whenever I have trouble falling asleep at night, though, I load up a dab of Secret Nature Sour Kush CBD Live Resin.
Quality
Here’s the real clincher that made me switch from delta 9 THC dabs to D8 dabs for good. Even though shopping at dispensaries is easier than it used to be, dispensary owners still operate on the model of “buy a lot and hope it comes back.” Producers seem to operate the same way—they make a huge batch of products, sell it all, then do their best to make another batch.
If and when delta 9 THC becomes federally legal, supply chains will likely stabilize. I’m sick and tired, though, of having to switch to a new brand or strain whenever my favorite product disappears from the shelves of nearby dispensaries. Secret Nature products sometimes go out of stock due to ever-increasing demand, but at least I know I’m purchasing a high-quality product I can depend on whenever I fill my online cart.
Availability
That brings us to our third point of comparison—availability. I live in an undisclosed location where you can buy weed legally but can’t have it delivered. After a while, the annoyance of having to drive to the dispensary every time I wanted more cannabis truly started to grate on me.
Even though I have to wait a few days, I much prefer the surety of buying Secret Nature dabs online and knowing they’ll arrive at my door without any further effort on my part. Just based on my conversations with other cannabis users in the area, I know I’m not alone in this sentiment.
General comparison
Personally, I doubt I’ll ever find a need to move on from delta 8 dabs. It started as a desperate alternative to dispensary lines and freeway drives, but I’ve come to find that I like dabbing delta 8 better than I ever liked dabbing delta 9 THC.
Perhaps I’m a bit of a snob, but I don’t like how little information you can get from a dispensary on a delta 9 THC product before it’s in your lungs. State-based cannabis economies are haphazard at best, but buying delta 8 online provides all the same benefits of eCommerce that fueled the rise of the world’s biggest companies like Amazon and Alibaba.
Whether it's delta 8 or CBD, you can find all the details you want about a particular dab product before you even fill your cart. My health and safety are my top priority, and I don’t want to open myself up to potential dangers by vaping a dab I don’t trust.
D8 vs. THC vs. CBD dabs FAQ
Still have some questions about how D8, THC, and CBD dabs compare? I’ll do my best to answer them below:
Is delta 8 a form of CBD or THC?
Delta 8 is a form of THC. Its full name is delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, and it’s only a few chemical bonds separate from the most famous form of THC, delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol. D8 is different enough, however, to be classified as a thoroughly separate substance.
Is delta 8 stronger than CBD?
Yes, the effects of delta 8 are considerably stronger than the effects of CBD. Delta 8 gets you high, after all, while CBD does not—even if the high provided by delta 8 is significantly less intense than the effects of delta 9 THC.
Does dabbing delta 8 get you high?
Yes, dabbing delta 8 will make you feel high. For most users, the high you experience from dabbing delta 8 will be essentially indistinguishable from the effects of delta 9. For people who have used delta 9 THC extensively, however, the difference between the effects of D8 and delta 9 are much more noticeable.
Do you get as high with D8 dabs?
Here’s the honest answer: No, you don’t get as high when you vape delta 8. But, that might be exactly what you’re looking for. The effects of delta 8 are slightly less intense than the effects of delta 9 THC, and since some of the effects of delta 9 can be undesirable, it’s great to have an alternative.
Are delta 8 dabs any good?
Yes, delta 8 dabs can be excellent and well worth trying—as long as they’re made by the right people. The quality of delta 8 dabs available on the internet varies considerably, so do plenty of research before proceeding.
What are the best D8 dabs?
The best D8 dabs I’ve ever tried are Secret Nature’s Slurricane D8 Live Resin. There’s simply something better about live resin, and what I particularly love about this product is that it contains both delta 8 and CBD.
