Delta 8

The common THC that we all know and love is scientifically known as Delta 9 Tetrahydrocannabinol. The ‘delta’ in the name indicates where a specific double bond exists on the molecule.  Delta 8 THC is an isomer of Delta 9 THC, meaning it has the same number of atoms in the molecular structure. Delta 8 THC is different than Delta 9 THC only by the exact position of this double bond which is shifted slightly on the molecule. This means that Delta 8 is subtly different than Delta 9 THC, and thus researchers speculate that it interacts with cannabinoid receptors differently than Delta 9. While both Delta 8 and Delta 9 are thought to activate CB1 and CB2 receptors, researchers are still studying precisely how the compounds differ in their impact on the overall endocannabinoid system.