Georgia medical marijuana patients can possess up to 20 ounces of cannabis oil with less than 5% THC. But as of right now, Georgians can legally purchase one specific cannabis product with or without a medical marijuana card.
Delta-8 took the Country by storm when its arrival as a somewhat-legal alternative to THC became widely known in the public. While some states have outrightly banned the cannabis-based product, others, including Georgia, have embraced it. In this article we’ll cover everything you need to know about Delta-8 in Georgia.
What is Delta-8?
Delta-8 (Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol) is a cannabinoid similar in name and chemical structure to the more commonly known Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.
It is an organic compound that occurs naturally in the cannabis family, including hemp.
Delta-8-THC is chemically similar to Delta-9-THC in that they both have double bonds in their molecular chain. The key difference being that the bond in Delta-8 is on the 8th carbon chain, and the bond in Delta-9 is on the 9th carbon chain.
This might seem like a minor difference for those not brushed up on their high school chemistry, but in reality, this small change in the order of carbons makes a massive impact on what the cannabinoid does, and how our body can interact with it.
What Does Delta-8 Do?
Because Delta-8 is similar to Delta-9, how it works and what it does is also very similar.
Like it’s cousin Delta-9-THC, Delta-8 produces a euphoric “high”, although often with a shorter duration and less efficacy than THC.
Effects from Delta-8-THC are often reported as:
Decrease in nausea
Elevated Mood
Feeling of relaxation or sedation
Increased Appetite
Delta-8 is often introduced to the body by way of edibles or vapor inhalation. Smoke inhalation is far less common, as most flower does not contain a high enough amount of Delta-8 to experience any significant effects.
Once consumed, Delta-8 works its way into the endocannabinoid system and starts to bind to CB1 receptors the same way Delta-9-THC does.
However, because of the difference in shape between the two compounds, Delta-8 is not as efficient in fitting into the CB1 receptor as Delta-9-THC and is therefore less effective at the same job.
Why Delta-8 Doesn’t Work as Well as THC
This challenging fit for the compound at the molecular level is likely why the effects from Delta-8 are slightly different than those from Delta-9-THC.
Delta-9-THC might produce strong effects that can last for a few hours, and often it is the case that Delta-8 produces less intense effects for a shorter duration.
Although Delta-8 reportedly has lighter effects than Delta-9-THC, that doesn’t mean it should be taken haphazardly.
Delta-8 should be treated the same way all cannabis products are treated, dosages should be small and manageable until tolerance or familiarity is built for the substance.
Is Delta-8 Legal in Georgia?
Delta-8 is legal in Georgia and can be bought at many retail stores.
Because Delta-8 can be synthesized from both hemp and marijuana plants, it can fall under a federal grey area after the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill.
Under the bill, production of Delta-8 derived from marijuana would be illegal, and production from hemp would be technically legal, even though the compound is identical regardless of its origins.
Georgia considers Delta-8 as derived from the hemp plant legal as of right now.
Is Delta-8 Safe?
While cannabis is not known to have any overtly dangerous compounds, the primary concern with Delta-8 is in concentrate production.
Because Delta-8 is not federally regulated, even retail markets can have inefficient labeling, measurements, or even equipment.
As we’ve seen, black market or underregulated extract production can be dangerous and deadly if not handled in a serious and safety-conscious manner.
Vape cartridges that are not purchased from a safe and reliable retailer with a history of high-quality products should be regarded as unsafe unless tested.
Delta-8 is absolutely no exception to this rule, and the same dangers of Vitamin-E Acetate and other harmful additives or cutting agents will have detrimental health consequences.
Why Medical Marijuana Patients Stick with THC
Outside of the dangers of unsafe extraction or Delta-8 production, there aren’t as many studies available on Delta-8 being used medicinally.
While research will likely surface in the future, as of right now there is only limited knowledge of Delta-8 as a potential medication.
Meanwhile, research on Delta-9-THC and it’s efficacy as a medication is much more available. Although we still need more detailed investigation of the complex parts of the cannabis plant, the knowledge of THC as a prescribed medication is more advanced, and as such more reliable.
Especially in the case of chronic and terminal illness, Delta-8 is still a very new retail substance without the medical and scientific foundation required to be prescribed from a doctor as an alternative medication.
Get Your Georgia Marijuana Card
As a Georgia marijuana patient, you can legally purchase up to 20 ounces of low THC cannabis oil. For Georgians, this means getting the relief you need naturally and organically, and Georgia Marijuana Card is here to help.
Reserve your appointment today and get $25 off when we start processing applications!
Feel free to give us a call at (866) 781-5606, and we can help answer your questions about getting medical marijuana in Georgia
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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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