In 2015, Georgia lawmakers recognized medical marijuana as a legitimate treatment for a wide variety of conditions. However, it still remains illegal to cultivate and purchase cannabis within the state.
Meaningful reforms to Georgia’s medical program are finally underway, and individual cities have adopted progressive decriminalization policies for all.
However, the slow, piecemeal approach has motivated savvy entrepreneurs to develop more ways to bring cannabis to people in need. One of these is the introduction of products made with delta 8 THC.
While delta 8 may feel like a great solution to Georgia patients, there are currently no regulations surrounding its production. Similar to CBD, this means you have no real way of knowing exactly what you’re getting in most products.
When you have an official marijuana card, you will soon have access to Georgia dispensaries, which are poised to provide an increasingly comprehensive variety of high quality cannabis products.
Georgia Marijuana Card can help you through every step of the process of qualifying for your official medical marijuana card in Georgia.
Meanwhile, we’re also a top source of information on the state’s latest cannabis news, including the rising popularity of the controversial cannabinoid delta 8 THC. Read on to learn 8 facts about delta 8.
1. You can still get “high.”
Delta 9 THC is known for creating a psychoactive “high.” However, it can also provide relief from serious medical conditions.
Delta 8 THC differs from delta 9 THC only in the placement of a single double bond. The medical value of delta 8 remains unknown, but virtually everyone who’s tried it agrees that it produces a high.
2. Despite what marketers say, delta 8 THC may not be gentler than delta 9 THC.
Even though brand managers claim that delta 8 THC produces a milder high than delta 9 THC, this is easy to change by increasing the dosage of delta 8.
Meanwhile, individual people may be more or less sensitive to one form of THC than the other. If you try delta 8 THC, it’s important to start with a low dose and slowly increase it based on the effects.
3. Availability does not equal safety. Delta 8 THC is currently illegal in some states, including Colorado.
People seeking a classic delta 9 THC “high” can get closer with delta 8 THC than with anything else. However, large quantities of delta 8 THC are associated with panic attacks and hospitalizations. Adults should use it with caution and be sure to keep it carefully stored away from children’s reach.
As an added sign that availability does not necessarily equal safety, some states with the most progressive marijuana laws have actually banned delta 8 THC products.
These states include:
Colorado
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Delaware
Idaho
Iowa
Mississippi
Montana
Rhode Island
Utah
Even though Georgia has no current laws limiting the use of delta 8 THC, it’s possible this will change.
4. Naturally occurring concentrations of Delta 8 THC are very low.
Delta 8 THC is naturally present within all cannabis varieties, but the concentrations are extremely low. As a result, it’s considerably more difficult to extract delta 8 THC than the more plentifully occurring cannabinoids delta 9 THC and CBD.
5. Hemp-derived CBD is used to synthesize most delta 8 THC.
Since delta 8 THC occurs in such low concentrations, it’s usually not placed directly into gummies, tinctures, and capsules. Rather, it’s first synthesized from other cannabinoids.
The most popular cannabinoid used for synthesizing delta 8 THC is hemp-derived CBD. Thanks to the Farm Bill of 2018, hemp is defined as cannabis that contains less than 0.3 percent delta 9 THC. Likewise, hemp and hemp-derived products are legal throughout the USA. Since most delta 8 THC manufacturers synthesize the cannabinoid from legally hemp-derived CBD, they argue that delta 8 THC should be legal as well.
6. The federal status of delta 8 THC will remain unclear until October 2021.
While The Farm Bill currently offers a loophole through which delta 8 THC production can thrive, the Interim Final Rule (IFR) has the potential to reverse whatever level of protection the Farm Bill offers.
Issued by the DEA in August 2020, the IFR claims that all synthetically derived forms of THC will remain schedule 1 substances. As a result, most delta 8 THC will likely be outlawed once the IFR goes into full effect.
7. Consuming delta 8 THC instead of delta 9 THC will not help you pass a drug screen.
Employer-mandated drug tests are becoming a thing of the past, but they haven’t vanished entirely. As far as these tests are concerned, THC is THC. Delta 8 will show up as clearly as delta 9, so it’s best to avoid delta 8 prior to taking a scheduled drug test.
8. Vape cartridges and gummies are the most popular forms of delta 8 THC.
Even though trace amounts of delta 8 THC are present in full spectrum, whole plant preparations of cannabis and hemp, there isn’t enough to get you high. As a result, vape cartridges and gummies are the best way to consume a potent dose of delta 8.
When dosing delta 8 products, follow the best practice of starting with less and adding more. With vaping, the onset of delta 8’s effects is about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, it may take up to two hours to feel the effects of edibles infused with delta 8.
The Take-Away
While checking lab reports of delta 8 THC products is a best practice, purchasing only well-regulated products from legal medical marijuana dispensaries is even better.
Georgia Marijuana Card will help you register for Georgia’s medical marijuana program and will provide ongoing guidance about using cannabis to enhance your health.
Give the team a call at 866-781-5606, or visit our website, to schedule an appointment about qualifying for a Georgia medical marijuana card today.
Doctors Who Care. Relief You Can Trust.
At Georgia Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (866) 781-5606, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
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