According to data recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), public use of delta-8 products is greater in states where cannabis is criminalized. 12% of those who responded to the study admitted to consuming delta-8 products over the past year. Those who live in states without access to either medical or recreational cannabis were more likely to have used delta-8 THC.

In fact, those who reside where medical cannabis is legal had 56% lower odds of using delta-8 products, while those who have access to recreational cannabis were 55% less likely to consume delta-8. The study states that, “Higher delta-8-THC use in states without medical or adult-use cannabis laws suggests that cannabis prohibition may unintentionally promote delta-8-THC use.”

What is Delta-8 THC?

Delta-8 THC is a cannabinoid, like CBD, that can be found in hemp and cannabis plants. However, delta-8 is only naturally found in small quantities, so the majority of delta-8 products are made using CBD that is processed in a lab. This chemical process of converting CBD to delta-8 can be complicated, so all delta-8 products should be tested for impurities and cannabinoid levels to ensure user safety.

Delta-8 can provide superior “euphoria” effects to CBD, and it’s earned a reputation for sedation and deep relaxation. Many report that delta-8 produces a similar, but less intense, “high” sensation to the one produced by delta-9 THC. This similarity may be precisely the reason why so many people are turning to delta-8 THC when they don’t have access to legal delta-9 THC.

Is Delta-8 Legal?

According to the 2018 Farm Bill, delta-8 is federally legal, along with other hemp-derived products. A recent verdict from the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit even ruled that delta-8 products are legal on the federal level as long as they don’t contain more than 0.3% delta-9 THC. However, the Farm Bill isn’t a mandate that every state must follow: instead, many states have their own restrictions concerning this cannabinoid.

Many states have outright banned delta-8 because it is a psychoactive cannabinoid. The states which have banned delta-8 THC products are:

Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Colorado
Delaware
Idaho
Iowa
Mississippi
Montana
North Dakota
Rhode Island
Washington

Hawaii has also banned delta-8, but by an administrative rule, not by a law.

Find Delta-8 You Can Trust with Real Tested CBD!

As stated above, it is crucial that you verify the contents of a delta-8 product before purchasing it. Every trustworthy hemp product should be accompanied by a COA (Certificate of Analysis) which shows you exactly what cannabinoids it contains, and at what levels. These lab test results should also show you that the product in question contains no harmful solvents or pesticides.

If you are looking for safe, high-quality delta-8 products near you, check out Real Tested CBD. Our experts have lab tested products from many of today’s top delta-8 brands and published the results so you can review them before making any purchases. Our staff have also reviewed dozens of the best delta-8 and CBD products of the market, so you can discover the hemp products you need.