If you’ve been following along with the hemp market, or you’re currently farming hemp . . .
You may have heard about the latest distillate stealing the spotlight from CBD and CBG:
Delta-8 THC.
According to a report from Hemp Benchmarks, Delta-8 THC is far exceeding the price point of both CBD distillate and CBG distillate. And for sellers who add Delta-8 THC to their smokable hemp flower, they’re spiking prices much higher than what a pure CBD pre-roll would cost.
Will it be a cash cow for farmers looking to rake in profit . . .
Or will it crash and burn, never fully making its way into the legal market?
Let’s take a look at some of the biggest questions surrounding Delta-8 THC and hemp.
How Do Hemp Farmers Achieve Delta-8 THC?
Delta-8 THC does not come directly from the hemp plant.
Instead, growers synthesize the compound from extracted CBD.
And if you’re wondering if Delta-8 THC will produce a high like its cousin cannabinoid, Delta-9 THC . . .
The answer is yes, but not in the same fashion.
Delta-8 THC is less psychotropic than Delta-9 THC, so most consumers report more of a sedative high and less of a head-in-the-clouds cerebral buzz.
What’s more, scientists are beginning to tap into its many therapeutic benefits.
For example, The National Cancer Institute has defined the distillate as “an analogue of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) with antiemetic, anxiolytic, appetite-stimulating, analgesic and neuroprotective properties.”
And in a study conducted by Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, Delta-8 THC treatments fully prevented vomiting in eight children suffering from hematologic cancers.
We’re still on the brink of discovering just healing this distillate can be . . .
But Is Delta-8 THC Even Legal?
Since it’s a psychoactive compound, there’s clearly a lot of talk around the legality of Delta-8 THC.
Right now, it’s not illegal.
And because of that, tons of hemp farmers and scientists are using it as a tool for innovation . . .
Making discoveries that could fuel huge game-changers for multiple industries.
However . . . That could all change soon.
The DEA is currently proposing regulations that will clamp down on Delta-8’s gray legal status, making it fully federally illegal and putting the kibosh on attempts to synthesize and sell it.
On August 20, they released an Interim Final Rule that would apply to CBD and any other hemp derivative. If the rules outlines in “Implementation of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018” are passed, the DEO’s regulations would mean that “all synthetically derived tetrahydrocannabinols remain schedule I controlled substances.”
Now, this is important to note.
You can take action on the ruling by sharing your opinion before October 20. Go here to comment on the ruling before it is finalized.
And if you still need more info, you may want to consider . . .
The Pros of Delta-8 THC for Hemp Farmers?
While the jury’s still out on the distillate’s future legal status, farmers and industry advocates are growing very curious about its potential benefits.
Because here’s the thing . . .
If you’re sitting on a ton of CBD extract with no market right now, you could actually extract Delta-THC from your surplus and sell it an even higher price.
The key, of course, is educating the public on its effects . . .
Otherwise, it may suffer the same fate as CBG.
While droves of hemp farmers have attached themselves to the promise of a CBG boom, the public interest hasn’t yet caught up.
And this is a mistake too many people in our industry are making.
A lot of them are blindsided by the excitement that comes with constant opportunities for innovation. And because of that, they’re falling victim to a product-first mentality.
But we must remember . . .
This is a new market. One that has the potential to disrupt many industries . . . If the needs of the consumer are understood and properly met.
Simply put, the longevity of Delta-8 THC depends not just on regulations, but also on its ability to generate market demand.
At the end of the day, however, a bright future for this distillate will not be possible if it becomes an illegal substance.
Act now by sharing your opinion before the ruling is finalized. Leave your comments here.
Sources:
Hemp Benchmarks
http://www.druglibrary.net/olsen/HEMP/IHA/iha02210.html
