What Are Delta 9 Gummies?
Delta-9 edibles are orally ingested hemp products that contain high concentrations of the cannabinoid delta-9-THC. These products are available in the form of gummies or baked goods. It’s unclear how the federal government actually feels about these products being sold online, but the internet’s “Delta-9” companies claim their products are legal due to an imaginative interpretation of the 2018 Farm Bill.
Delta-9 gummies are one of the more popular types of Delta-9 edibles. As the “original cannabinoid,” delta-9 still has the mystique of being more beneficial for certain conditions. Compared to more-legal cannabinoids like delta-8 and CBD, though, it’s unclear how the benefits of delta-8 shape up.
How does delta-9 make you feel?
Delta-9 provides that classic THC feeling, complete with the anxiety and paranoia that can sometimes accompany the delta-9-THC experience. Since delta-9 products sold online must be low-dose to even convey the appearance of compliance with federal law, though, they usually aren’t potent enough to offer profound effects of either a positive or negative nature.
Even if they’re low-dose individually, delta-9 gummies can still deliver a large dose of this cannabinoid if you take enough of them. If you take 3-4 10 mg Delta-9 gummies at once, for instance, you’ll definitely get high, even if a single gummy on its own was hardly enough to cause a buzz.
Potential Benefits
Potential advantages of consuming delta-9 THC include:
- Happiness or elation
- the state of being joyful or ecstatic
- Improved sensory perception
- Decreased anxiety
- Relaxation
- Increased appetite
Potential Risks
- Confusion
- Sedation
- Increased anxiety
- Paranoia
- Anxiety, sadness, or dissatisfaction (dysphoria)
- Dry mouth
- Low blood pressure
What are the benefits of delta-9 gummies?
Delta-9-THC has long been studied for its potential to help with pain, and most delta-9-THC gummies sold online are designed to provide pain relief. Compared to other cannabinoids, though (most notably CBD), it’s generally established that THC is not that efficient at reducing pain, even if it makes you feel pretty awesome. Pain was generally easier for them to tolerate.
A tasty way to consume THC is through delta-9 gummies. They work well to relieve stress and are powerful. However, people use the cannabinoid for many other purposes besides just to help them relax. For instance, you might want to use it to get more rest, feel less anxious, or get pain relief.
This applies to all kinds of THC. Even delta-8, which mimics the effects of delta-9 in a slightly milder form, loses to CBD when it comes to pain-relief potential. Some people respond extremely well, while others do not at all or even perform poorly. While we still don’t know exactly how good CBD is at relieving pain, this cannabinoid remains a major target of international pain research, while THC is usually studied in other contexts these days.
What dosage of Delta-9 edibles should I use?
A typical Delta-9 THC dose ranges from 5 to 25 milligrams. However, you'll probably experience it more strongly in your body and as feelings of euphoria. This dosage is for you if you have some prior experience with edibles or are certain that you want to experience some sort of effect. Knowing how much delta-9 is contained in each gummy will help you ensure that you are taking the appropriate dosage.
Are delta-9 gummies stronger than delta-8?
Compared to Delta-8, Delta-9 is significantly more powerful. Some estimate that it is roughly twice as powerful overall, but Delta-9 gummies are almost always weaker than Delta-8 gummies in terms of total cannabinoids per gummy. That’s because producers of delta-9 gummies have to keep the ratio of THC to the other ingredients in their gummies below 0.3%. Delta-8 producers are not held back by this restriction, so they can offer gummies with much higher THC concentrations.
Can you buy delta-9 gummies online?
Yes, delta-9 gummies are widely sold online. These gummies contain less than 0.3% THC on a dry weight basis, meaning you have to eat a lot more gummies to enjoy the same intensity of effects. It’s unclear if delta-9 gummies offer any benefits above and beyond delta-8 gummies, but they have a few unique detractors compared to other types of hemp edibles.
Do you need a prescription to buy delta-9 gummies?
No, a doctor’s prescription is not required to buy Delta-9 gummies or any other type of hemp product. The only time you need a physician’s recommendation to buy cannabinoids is in the context of state-specific medical cannabis programs.
In some states, you can legally possess Delta-9 products of any potency as long as you’re over 21 years old. State-specific recreational cannabis laws shouldn’t have any bearing, though, on the Delta-9 gummies you can buy online since they contain less than 0.3% THC on a dry weight basis.
Are delta-9 gummies legal?
The legal status of delta-9 gummies is somewhat complicated. While producers claim that delta-9 THC molecules making up less than 0.3% of a gummy’s total weight make a gummy a hemp product instead of a cannabis product, it’s unclear whether the FDA or DEA would uphold this position. Delta-9 THC gummies sold online are in the shadiest part of the hemp legal gray area, and despite this increased risk, it’s unclear how delta-9 gummies offer any unique benefits.
Is Delta-9 FDA approved?
No, Delta-9-THC is not federally approved in any capacity. This substance is considered a Schedule I drug by the DEA, and in any case, the FDA only approves products, not natural substances. So, cannabinoids like CBD, CBG, and delta-9 will never be “approved” even though specific products containing these cannabinoids may one day receive FDA approval as prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.
Efforts are ongoing in the US Congress to lobby for comprehensive federal cannabis reform, but it’s unclear when these legislative proposals will receive approval. Until such a point that cannabinoids are federally legalized by future legislation, the 2018 Farm Bill’s stance on cannabinoids will remain the law of the land.
Delta-9 gummies vs Delta-8 gummies
How do delta-9 gummies shape up to their delta-8 equivalents? Let’s break this question down into three categories:
Effects
The effects of delta-9 gummies will always be less potent per gummy than the effects of delta-8 edibles. That’s because delta-9 gummy producers are strictly limited in the cannabinoid concentrations they can include in their products, while delta-8 producers are not.
Quality
Eating gummies was never the healthiest way to consume cannabinoids. When you increase the ratio of gummy ingredients to cannabinoids, this inherent flaw of sugary gummies becomes exacerbated. Since they’re on the very periphery of the legal cannabinoid market, delta-9 gummies are also often hastily slapped together, while delta-8 gummy manufacturers are free to take a more cautious artisan approach.
Legality
It’s not just you—it should feel weird to buy Delta-9-THC on the internet. THC analogs like delta-8 are one thing, but delta-9-THC is notorious as a federally illegal substance. Most hemp producers work as hard as they can to keep concentrations of this cannabinoid in their products as low as they can, so you should certainly be cautious of any company that does the exact opposite.
Alternatives to THC gummies
For some hemp users, gummies are more convenient than other products, and we can all agree that well-made hemp gummies are tasty and satisfying. You might not always want to consume a bunch of coloring ingredients and sweeteners whenever you indulge in the benefits of hemp-derived THC, though.
If you’re feeling ready to try a more natural method of using delta-8, we have a few options for you to consider:
Delta-8 flower
Consisting of hemp flower bred to contain another cannabinoid (usually CBD or CBG) that’s been sprayed with delta-8 isolate or distillate, delta-8 flower mimics the benefits of CBD or delta-9 THC flower while delivering high concentrations of delta-8 directly into your lungs.
Bypassing the digestive tract, inhaling delta-8 provides effects that are much more potent and immediate than the slow, mild effects of delta-8 or delta-9 gummies. Delta-8 flower is highly potent while offering a more natural experience than Delta-8 vapes.
Delta-8 vapes
With delta-8 concentrations as high as 90%+, delta-8 vapes offer the most-effective way to consume this THC analog. Delta-8 vape cartridges vary widely in quality, but the best D8 carts contain nothing more than naturally converted delta-8 distillate combined with live resin terpenes.
Combining convenience and potency, Delta-8 vapes are convenient to take with you on the go or leave at home on your desk or by your bed. Just remember to store your Delta-8 vape pen upright to prevent leaks and clogs.
Delta-8 pre-rolls
Delta-8 pre-rolls offer all the benefits of delta-8 flower but spare you the pain of rolling joints yourself. Convenient to take with you on the go for the day or share with a loved one at home, Delta-8 pre-rolls take advantage of the pulmonary administration route to offer high potency and quick-acting effects.
The bottom line: is Delta-9 bad?
Hemp users around the nation want to know whether delta-9 is one of the cannabinoids they aren’t supposed to use. Is delta-9 a bad cannabinoid to buy online? Perhaps, but the law on the subject truly isn’t clear.
We certainly advocate for comprehensive cannabis reform, and that reform should include a revised stance on delta-9 THC. At the same time, hemp and cannabis products should be strictly regulated to promote product quality and consumer safety. Inasmuch as delta-9 products sold online circumvent certain interpretations of the law without seeming to offer any unique benefits, they might not be the right THC edibles to choose.
References
https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Marijuana-Cannabis-2020_0.pdf
https://secretnaturecbd.com/blogs/cbd/delta-8-vs-delta-9?_pos=1&_sid=81cf9caf7&_ss=r
https://www.healthline.com/health/marijuana-paranoia
https://hometownherocbd.com/collections/delta-9-edibles
https://www.27fchileanway.cl/what-is-the-difference-between-delta-8-and-delta-9-gummies/
https://www.forbes.com/health/body/delta-8-vs-delta-9/
Weber J, Schley M, Casutt M, et al. Tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-9-THC) Treatment in Chronic Central Neuropathic Pain and Fibromyalgia Patients: Results of a Multicenter Survey. Anesthesiol Res Pract. 2009;2009:827290. doi:10.1155/2009/827290
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/254454#2
https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-drug/def/delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol
https://secretnaturecbd.com/blogs/cbd/top-8-ways-to-use-delta-8?_pos=1&_sid=732c48c2c&_ss=r
https://secretnaturecbd.com/collections/cbd-hemp-flower
