Table of Contents
WHAT IS DELTA 9?
Tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as Delta 9 or Delta 9 THC, is found in cannabis plants like hemp and marijuana. Delta 9 is responsible for the "high" feeling that comes from smoking marijuana or consuming an edible, like psychoactive THC gummies. While Delta 9 isn't solely responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis, it is the most prominent and well-known psychoactive component.
There are more than 100 cannabinoids in cannabis like hemp plants and marijuana plants. Cannabinoids are naturally occurring compounds found in the Cannabis sativa plant.
Delta 9 THC works by attaching to the body's cannabinoid receptors, which are found throughout the brain and nervous system. These are all a part of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a recently discovered system in your body that regulates things like mood, sleep, inflammation and other bodily responses. The ECS is in every living thing – in plants as well as animals – and has existed in your body since you were in the womb.
THC can be detected by drug tests much longer than most other drug compounds, although the psychoactive effects only last for a few hours. Most drug tests that are testing for marijuana are really testing for the presence of THC metabolites. THC can be found stored in body fat for three or four weeks. Drug tests that test using hair follicles can detect THC up to around 90 days.
HISTORY OF CANNABIS AND DELTA 9 THC
According to one history of cannabis, "The use of cannabis originated in central Asia or western China. Cannabis has been used for its alleged healing properties for millennia. The first documented case of its use dates back to 2800 BC when it was listed in the Emperor Shen Nung's (regarded as the father of Chinese medicine) pharmacopoeia. Therapeutic indications of cannabis are mentioned in the texts of the Indian Hindus, Assyrians, Greeks, and Romans. These texts reported cannabis to treat a vast array of different health problems, including arthritis, depression, amenorrhea, inflammation, pain, lack of appetite, and asthma."1
William Brooke O’Shaughnessy introduced cannabis to Western medicine after living in India. Hemp came to America with European settlers, for uses such as rope, building materials, and paper. Later, its medicinal value was recognised and THC began to be used in medicine.
Delta 9 THC was first synthesized and isolated by chemist Raphael Mechoulam, "the father of cannabis research," in Israel in 1964. He and his team studied the therapeutic benefits of THC and other cannabinoids. As of 2022, Dr. Mechoulam is in his 90s and still actively researching cannabis in Israel.
IS DELTA 9 THC LEGAL?
As of March 2022, marijuana with Delta 9 THC is illegal – even for medical use – in the following states:
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Nebraska
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
The statuses of these states are changing fast as more research shows how valuable marijuana and THC are, medically. 4
Delta 9 THC gummies are legal when the amount of THC in the hemp derived product has less than 0.3 percent THC by dry weight volume. Legal THC gummies are available at CBD stores, online, and other places where you'd find CBD and hemp products. This is federal law introduced by the Farm Bill of 2018. As you can see above, the local legality differs state-by-state.
WHAT ARE DELTA 9 GUMMIES?
Delta 9 THC gummies are fun and familiar. They may remind you of gummy bears, gummy worms, gumdrops, or fruit chews. They are made with extract from hemp flowers. Generally, they are fruit-flavored small sweet bites that contain a particular dosage of Delta 9 THC.
Many of these legal Delta-9 THC gummies come in the form of a CBD gummy with a CBD-dominant ratio. The Delta 9 THC in a legal CBD gummy is less than 0.3 percent by dry weight. The best thing about choosing a CBD gummy is that, as long as you choose, a full spectrum CBD gummy, you get the full spectrum of all of the cannabinoids and terpenes that are in CBD-rich hemp, including naturally occuring Delta 9 THC.
ARE DELTA 9 GUMMIES SAFE?
Delta 9 gummies and other THC edibles are safest when you buy from the best THC gummy brands.
Overdosing is not an issue if you are choosing a gummy with a CBD-dominant ratio. The odds of you overdosing on CBD are minimal. But if you choose a gummy with THC and no CBD at all, it can be easy to take too much. If you take too many delta 9 thc gummies, you may experience drowsiness, diarrhea, or vomiting. You may feel paranoid if you overdo it on THC gummies without CBD.
It is also important to consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking prescription drugs with your Delta 9 gummies; some drugs may interact negatively with THC gummies.
Not enough research has been done on the effects of THC on pregnant people and nursing babies, so we do not recommend taking THC if you're pregnant or nursing.
WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING DELTA 9 GUMMIES
Finding the best THC gummy brands can be difficult in the very crowded hemp market. The best brands buy from carefully vetted growers.
Independent third-party labs' reports are critical for determining a brand of hemp products' reliability. High-quality gummies will have clean lab reports and will show that there is not too much THC and just the right amount of CBD and other cannabinoids and the purest terpenes. Third party lab testing should show that the CBD edibles are be free from all heavy metals.
The best Delta 9 gummies are those that come with a money-back guarantee. High-quality products speak for themselves, but also speak loudly in reviews. Read those reviews to find out whether consumers think this brand is producing high potency gummies with high-quality hemp.
Other questions to ask of reviews and articles include, Are they producing third-party lab testing results? Are the edibles made of organic ingredients and natural components? The best THC edibles are USDA certified organic. Does the brand use all-natural flavors or artificial flavors in their gummies?
What is the dry weight volume of the THC in the hemp flower gummies? Does the brand use chemical fillers? Do they source their THC from only the hemp flower and not the whole plant (with stems, leaves, and seeds)? Do they use animal gelatin, rendering the hemp products non-vegetarian and non-vegan? The best THC gummies are cruelty free and use fruit pectin instead of gelatin.
Remember that broad spectrum CBD products do not contain THC. Only full spectrum CBD products contain Delta 9 THC. Check the label and lab results to find the most THC-rich gummies you can.
