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Delta-9 vs Delta-10

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If you are confused with all of these cannabinoids floating around, then you aren't alone. There are currently over 110 known cannabinoids, and knowing what they all are can be a real challenge. For instance, there are various forms of THC to be familiar with, with Delta-9 THC being the regular one contained in most cannabis plants.

However, many other minor forms of THC can be found in cannabis and hemp plants, albeit in very small quantities, with one of them being Delta-10 THC.

Today, we want to do a side-by-side comparison of Delta-9 THC and Delta-10 THC to figure out what exactly is in store for you with both of them.

We'll be taking a look at their effects, benefits, and side effects, and then compare them on a side-by-side basis. By the end of this article, you should have a clear understanding of both Delta-9 and Delta-10 THC, so you can make an informed decision between them.

Key Takeaways

  • Delta-9 THC is considered a major cannabinoid, whereas Delta-10 THC is considered a minor cannabinoid.
  • Delta-9 THC occurs in high quantities and cannabis plants and therefore can be extracted or synthesized through CBD, whereas Delta-10 THC occurs in such small quantities that it is usually always derived from CBD.
  • Delta-10 THC, in general, enjoys a much more relaxed and less restrictive legal status than Delta-9 THC. Click here to find out more about Delta-10 gummies.
  • Delta-10 THC is a much milder form of Delta-9 THC, one that produces a more uplifting and energetic high, without the general sedation associated with Delta-9 THC.

What Is Delta-10 vs Delta-9 In Cannabis?

Delta-10 and Delta-9 are both forms of THC. Delta-9 THC is the number one occurring major cannabinoid found in cannabis plants, with Delta-10 THC only being present in very small quantities, hence why it is known as a minor cannabinoid.

That said, these forms of THC are both considered to be psychoactive and intoxicating; in other words, they get you high. However, they don't just get you high, because they also have many potential benefits that you can reap. Let's move on and take a closer look at each of them.

What Is Delta-9 THC?

First, we have Delta-9 THC, which is one of the two major cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, with the other one being CBD. Delta-9 THC is considered to be one of the most psychoactive and intoxicating forms of THC.

It is also one of the only forms of THC found in large doses in cannabis plants, hence why it is known as a major cannabinoid instead of a minor one, unlike Delta-10 THC, which we will discuss further below.

Delta-9 THC is the compound that everybody looks out for when they buy cannabis. When the packaging on cannabis says that it contains 20% THC, or whatever that number may be, Delta-9 is what is being referred to.

How Is Delta-9 THC Made?

Generally speaking, Delta-9 THC does not have to be made. This is the most abundant form of THC president cannabis plants, and it can be found in very large quantities. Therefore, it is easily extracted through a variety of methods, both including solvents and not including solvents.

For instance, THC can be extracted from cannabis plants using a butane solvent method that sees butane being sprayed through plant matter, and the THC then adheres to that butane, which is then baked off in a vacuum chamber, leaving behind just the THC concentrate.

However, due to legal reasons in the USA, this version of Delta-9 THC is usually not used. For cannabinoid products to be legal in the USA at the federal level, they must be derived from the hemp plant, or in other words, made out of CBD.

Through a scientific process known as isomerization, which replaces one molecule with another, CBD can be turned into Delta-9 THC, which is technically legal, so long as it is not present in products in dry weight concentrations over 0.3%.

What Are The Effects Of Delta-9?

Delta-9 THC is fairly potent, a psychoactive substance that will get you high. Exactly how Delta-9 THC makes you feel often depends on the strain that it comes from, whether a Sativa or an Indica. This could also be from a hybrid or a combination of a Sativa and an Indica. To provide you with a full picture of the effects of Delta-9 THC, let's assume that the THC in question came from a hybrid strain.

Delta-9 THC should produce both a cerebral or head high as well as a body high. Sativa strains are generally known for producing more of a head high, whereas Indica strains are known for producing more of a body high. Sativa strains also tend to be a bit more uplifting and energetic in nature, whereas Indica strains tend to be a bit more sedative and relaxing in nature.

On one hand, if we are talking about the cerebral head high, you might feel mentally relaxed, calm, euphoric, happy, elated, feel less stressed out and anxious, and in the case of a Sativa, more energetic, creative, giggly, talkative, and social. If we are talking about an Indica, that head high will be less energetic and creative, and more relaxed and calmer. Remember that a Sativa will produce more of a euphoric high than an Indica, which is more relaxing.

We then have the body high, which is generally characterized by potential pain relief, heaviness of the limbs, tingling of the extremities, and general sedation. Many people report feeling like they are sinking into the couch. Of course, another one of the big effects of Delta-9 THC is the munchies. It makes you hungry.

What Are The Benefits Of Delta-9?

The great thing about Delta-9 THC is that it has many possible benefits that you can reap. Let’s take a look at the biggest ones.

Anti Inflammatory

THC is thought to be anti-inflammatory in nature. It has the potential to limit or reduce the amount of pro-inflammatory markers in the human body, therefore reducing instances of inflammation, which could be localized or body-wide inflammation. This should in turn lead to increased mobility and decreased pain.

Analgesic

Not only is Delta-9 THC considered a strong anti-inflammatory, but also a relatively strong analgesic agent. This means that it is a painkiller, and it functions by blocking your nerves from sending pain signals to the brain. It may not take care of the underlying cause of the pain, but it limits your perception of that pain.

Antiemetic

Delta-9 THC is also thought to be a strong antiemetic, which means that it prevents nausea and vomiting from occurring. At the same time, it is also considered a strong hunger-inducing substance. It is believed to increase the amount of hunger hormones in the human body, therefore spurring your appetite.

Mood Regulation

Delta-9 THC may also have the ability to regulate your mood by affecting the way that serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitters function in your brain, as well as by affecting cortisol production. By increasing the functionality of serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitters, while simultaneously reducing the amount of cortisol your adrenal glands produce, Delta-9 THC has the potential to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.

Sedation

Delta-9 THC is also considered to be a strong sedative, so it should be able to help you get a good night's sleep.

Potential Side Effects Of Delta-9

Just like with anything out there, there are some potential side effects of Delta-9 THC. Very high quantities of Delta-9 THC are known to cause paranoia and anxiety in people. This is interesting seeing as Delta-9 THC may also reduce anxiety, albeit in lower quantities.

Some other side effects of Delta-9 THC include being very sleepy and groggy, feeling hungry, red eyes, dry mouth, feeling thirsty, and in rare cases nausea and headaches.

It is interesting that some people like mixing CBD with THC because so many people note that CBD tends to reduce the paranoia and anxiety that can be caused by high doses of Delta-9 THC.

Best Way To Take Delta-9

The best way to take Delta-9 THC depends on what you are looking to achieve. If you just want a very fast and moderate high that hits you instantly, we recommend smoking THC flower. If you want a high that hits you instantly but is much stronger, vaping cannabis concentrates is recommended.

If you are looking for the strongest possible high, but you don't mind waiting a while, then edibles such as gummies, lollipops, and chocolates are recommended.

If you want a very strong high that hits you relatively quickly, and you don't mind tasting a bit of hemp and greasiness, then a tincture or cannabis oil is recommended. Each delivery method has different pros and cons to consider, so we recommend doing some additional research on this front.

What Is Delta-10 THC?

We then have Delta-10 THC, which is of course another form of THC found in cannabis and hemp plants. Albeit, Delta-10 THC only occurs in very small quantities, which is why it is considered a minor cannabinoid. Delta-10 THC is also psychoactive and intoxicating, although it is not considered nearly as strong or potent as Delta-9 THC.

Interestingly enough, Delta-10 THC was discovered by accident. A batch of CBD-rich hemp in California was coated with fire retardant to prevent it from going up in flames due to local wildfires.

Once this hemp was harvested and examined, a weird crystalline structure was found, which turned out to be Delta-10 THC. Scientists then reverse engineered it, so to speak, and figured out that isomerization could turn CBD into Delta-10 THC. Let's move on and figure out everything there is to know about this awesome cannabinoid.

How Is Delta-10 Made?

Unlike Delta-9 THC, where there is the possibility to extract it straight from cannabis plants because it occurs in such high quantities, this is not really an option with Delta-10 THC, because it only occurs in minor quantities.

Extracting it from plant matter would prove to be economically unfeasible. This is why Delta-10 THC is usually always made through a process known as isomerization, which changes CBD molecules into Delta-10 THC molecules. Isomerization is a very complex chemical process that requires a chemistry degree to understand, but in its most basic form, it takes the CBD molecule and alters them into Delta-10 THC molecules.

Because Delta-10 THC is generally made out of hemp-derived CBD, it is considered legal at a federal level. There are also at this time no milligram limits on Delta-10 THC unless imposed by individual states.

What Are The Effects Of Delta-10?

Delta-10 THC is considered a fairly mild psychoactive substance, much milder and less potent than Delta-9 THC, although it does still produce a noticeable psychoactive high. That said, unlike Delta-9 THC, which tends to be much more sedative and calming in nature, Delta-10 THC is usually much more energizing and motivating in nature, almost like a very mild Sativa high.

Most people say that Delta-10 THC makes them feel very euphoric, happy, elated, talkative, energetic, and creative. People also say that it makes them feel calmer and mellow but without the tiredness and sedation of Delta-9 THC. The lack of sedation could be due to its lack of potency, although this has not been confirmed. It's just a very mild, happy, euphoric, and energetic high.

What Are The Benefits Of Delta-10?

Unlike Delta-9 THC, the research behind Delta-10 THC is thus far very limited. There is some anecdotal evidence and indications that Delta-10 THC may help relieve stress, anxiety, and depression. It is believed that it interacts with your serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitters in much the same way as Delta-9 THC, although this has not been confirmed.

It is also believed that Delta-10 THC has the potential to be an analgesic painkiller, just like Delta-9 THC, although not nearly as powerful. Furthermore, Delta-10 THC is also believed to be an appetite stimulant, which may be beneficial for people having trouble eating.

Although there is a lot more research required on this front, many people also like that Delta-10 THC produces an energetic and creative high, almost a stimulating high. This is the case without being sedating in nature, and particularly without producing paranoia or anxiety like Delta-9 THC can. Unfortunately, there is still much more research required on Delta-10 THC in terms of its potential medical or therapeutic benefits.

Potential Side Effects Of Delta-10

At this point, there have been no notable or severe side effects documented from Delta-10 THC. There are some minor side effects that some people have noted experiencing, although there is no real research on this front. Some people say that they get red eyes and dry mouth, and some people develop slight headaches. However, it certainly does not appear to be dangerous in any way.

Best Way To Take Delta-10

Delta-10 THC can be consumed in more or less all of the same ways as Delta-9 THC. Once again, whether you smoke, vaporize, ingest edibles, or use tinctures, these methods all have their advantages and disadvantages, so doing some more research on this front is recommended.

That said, most of the products out there at this time come in the form of some type of edible, whether this be a capsule, gummy, or anything in between. People seem to prefer taking Delta-10 THC orally.

The Difference Between Delta-9 And Delta-10

Now that we have broken down both of these forms of THC on their own, let's do a quick side-by-side comparison, just so you know how they stack up against each other.

One of the biggest differences here is in chemical or molecular structure. In Delta-9 THC, the carbon double bond is located at the 9th carbon bond, whereas in Delta-10 THC, the carbon double bond is located at the 10th carbon bond. This then leads to the other differences that we're about to discuss.

Delta-9 vs Delta-10: Effects

Delta-9 THC produces much stronger effects than Delta-10 THC. If we were to compare, the high Delta-10 THC resembles a very mild Sativa high. Delta-10 THC is said to be very uplifting, motivating, energetic, and creative in nature. It may also make you feel a bit calmer and mellower, but without the sedation as is associated with Delta-9 THC.

Delta-9 THC also produces a very strong head, although this is generally characterized more by calmness and relaxation, along with a bit of euphoria, rather than feeling energetic and creative.

Delta-9 THC tends to be a lot more sedative in nature, which could be due to its much stronger potency. Delta-9 THC is much more psychoactive and will make you feel much more intoxicated than Delta-10 THC. Delta-9 THC is also the one that produces a strong body high that could make you feel like you are sinking into your couch.

Delta-9 vs Delta-10: Potency

Although there is a bit more research required to confirm exactly how potent one form of THC is compared to another, it is assumed that Delta-8 THC is about half as potent as Delta-9 THC, with Delta-10 THC once again being anywhere from 1/2 to 2/3 as potent as Delta-8 THC.

Therefore, you can expect Delta-10 THC to be roughly 20% to 40% as potent as Delta-9 THC, although likely on the lower end of that spectrum. Delta-10 THC is therefore ideal for beginners because it's not overly potent and doesn't produce a super strong light.

Delta-9 vs Delta-10: Legality

As long as Delta-10 THC is derived from the hemp plant, made out of CBD, and does not contain levels of Delta-9 THC over 0.3%, then it is considered legal on a federal basis. Based on our research, at this time, Delta-10 THC should also be legal in about 38 states in the USA.

On the other hand, the legal status of Delta-9 THC is questionable at best. This is because according to the 2018 farm bill, any cannabinoid product is only legal so long as it is derived from the hemp plant and does not contain more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC. This means that cannabis and cannabis that are high in Delta-9 THC are considered illegal.

Furthermore, any kind of edible, tincture, or oil may contain Delta-9 THC, but only up to 0.3% in terms of dry weight concentrations. To put this in perspective, an edible that weighs 1 gram may only contain up to 3 milligrams of Delta-9 THC. There are a select few states that have legalized cannabis or cannabis for recreational use, which effectively takes away this restriction on Delta-9 THC.

However, there is always a conflict between federal Delta-9 THC laws and the laws of individual states that have legalized it for recreational use. The bottom line is that Delta-10 THC is generally legal at a federal level, whereas the restrictions around Delta-9 THC are far stricter.

Delta-9 vs Delta-10: Cost

You can expect to pay somewhere around $0.02 and $0.08 per milligram of Delta-9 THC, whereas Delta-10 THC may cost up to $0.12 per milligram. Due to its relative rarity, Delta-10 THC tends to be a little bit more expensive.

Delta-10 vs Delta-9: Which One Is Right For You?

If you are looking for a very strong high that produces potent psychoactive effects and is generally more sedative in nature, then Delta-9 THC is right for you.

Also consider that Delta-9 THC has many more potential benefits than Delta-10 THC, although this could just be because Delta-10 THC has not been researched as extensively.

On the other hand, if you want a much milder, mellower, energetic, uplifting, and creative high, kind of like a very mild Sativa, then Delta-10 THC is probably best for you.

Where To Buy Delta-9 THC

If you are looking to buy some Delta-9 THC, as well as Delta-10 THC, then there is really no better place to be than right here at Botany Farms. We have an absolutely massive selection of completely legal, safe, and tested products for you to try out.

For instance, we have these Delta-9 Blue Raspberry Microdose Gummies with 5mg apiece, or these slightly stronger Strawberry Delta-9 THC Gummies with mg apiece. These Delta-9 gummies are great for sleep!

In case you’d like to try some Delta-10, our very own Botany Farms Pineapple Haze Delta-10 Vape Cart could be right for you.

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