If you’re planning to use Delta-8 THC products for some much-needed relief from stress, you would naturally wonder how high you could get after consuming Delta-8.
That means you’re probably worried about getting completely stoned.
Well, the answer is yes – but to a certain extent.
Delta-8 THC does get you high, but not as intensely high as Delta-9 THC, i.e., it won’t get you stoned like if you smoked raw marijuana herbs.
All Delta-8 THC products that are made from hemp – not marijuana.
But unlike cannabidiol (CBD), it does get you a bit high. The main difference between CBD and Delta-8 is that Delta-8 has a lot in common with the Delta-9 THC with which most of you are more or less familiar.
You would get a subtle euphoria. But it won’t be so potent as to give you anxiety, hallucinatory effects, or paranoia.
Nevertheless, it’s quite natural for you to have some doubts and questions regarding Delta-8 THC’s psychotropic potency, especially if you’ve never tried it before.
This guide will try to address some of those doubts and suspicions.
How High Can You Get by Taking Delta-8 THC?
Delta-8 will help you feel relaxed. The feeling will be pretty similar to that of a small dose of marijuana. Unlike, marijuana, however, many Delta-8 users have professed that after using the product, their thinking got sharper and did not make them anxious, nervous, or paranoid.
The science behind this euphoria while taking hemp-infused products is that these items bind with the CB1 receptors in our endocannabinoid system (ECS). These receptors play a huge role in numerous bodily functions.
However, not all cannabis products affect everyone in the same way. It depends on the amount of THC used in the product. So, the answer to the question of whether Delta-8 can get you high and with what intensity would vary from person to person, as well as, from product to product.
The Delta-9 THC levels in Delta-8 products sold legally are well within 0.03% by dry weight of the hemp. Unlike raw cannabis, for most people, Delta-8 helps them remain in control of their senses.
How Much Time Before Delta-8 Takes Effect?
Delta-8 may not produce intense euphoria, but it will take effect pretty quickly. Depending on your mode of intake, of course, the time of impact will vary.
If you vape Delta-8, you will experience the effects within 1 to 6 minutes. If you use a tincture, you will get the first effects after half an hour.
In the case of Delta-8 gummies, you may not experience the effects until an hour has passed.
In cases of vaping and smoking, the compound is directly absorbed into the bloodstream through the lungs.
However, with edibles, the process of Delta-8 hitting the bloodstream takes longer as it has to be metabolized in your digestive system before it can reach the bloodstream. This is known as the first-pass effect.
In the case of tinctures, it is somewhat in the middle. When you use tinctures or oral sprays, the sublingual glands under your tongue allow quicker absorption of the cannabinoid into the bloodstream than edible consumption could. But that is still not as quick as the absorption capacity of your lungs. Then again, these durations are not exact for everyone.
Note: The endocannabinoid system regulates the physiological and chemical balance of your body. Anything that impacts this system depends on your internal balance or homeostasis.
What are the Effects of Delta-8 on Different Types of Users?
The effects of Delta-8 depend a lot on the ECS of the user. The ECS, or the endocannabinoid system, of your body, will allow you to experience the effects of Delta-8 in a certain way.
All Delta-8 users will not share the same experiences. Moreover, the difference in the intake method is among numerous other factors that play a role in it.
For first-time and experienced users, the difference in the effects of Delta-8 is quite noticeable.
The typical experience of a first-time user
If you have never taken marijuana but have experienced different CBD products, you will have a more intense experience with Delta-8 compared to those who have experienced the D-8 or D-9 high.
Although Delta-8 is a form of THC, it does not (legally) come from marijuana. Reputable brands make sure to breed and cultivate Hemp, and not marijuana, to manufacture Delta-8 products.
That is why many people do not get an intense sensation after using it. But if you are a first-time Delta-8 consumer, you will experience a slight euphoria.
Effect on experienced users
If you have had experience with marijuana, you will get a mellow high from Delta-8. You will find some similarities between the effects of Delta-8 and regular marijuana. Unlike hardcore cannabis, this product will not cloud your thought process or judgment.
Delta-8 will keep you focused, yet energized, while making you feel somewhat relaxed and refreshed. That is also partly due to the terpenes present in these hemp strains that Delta-8 is usually extracted from. So, experienced consumers feel energized and chilled.
How Long Does the Effect of Delta-8 Last?
How long the effects of Delta-8 will last would depend on several factors. That would include a user’s gender, age, body type, and health conditions, among others. But in most cases, the effect of Delta-8 stays for at least five hours.
If you vape, the effect will last for around five hours. In the case of tinctures, sprays, or edibles, the effects could last for over six to seven hours.
In the case of smoking or vaping, the peak effect of Delta-8 will happen between 30 minutes and 2.5 hours. The peak effect duration depends on the user, and it might differ from one person to another. But if you take Delta-8 through vaping or gummies, you would hit the peak between 1 and 2 hours.
Similarities Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC Share
The most obvious similarity between these two substances is that they can get you high. But there are other similarities, too.
- Both Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC can bind with the CB1 receptors of your ECS. But their propensity to bind varies. Nevertheless, they can both regulate the same parts of the human body that is responsible for pain sensitivity and other immune system responses. However, D-9 can bind more effectively with the CB1 receptors than Delta-8 due to the latter’s minute difference in its chemical structure with D-9. [Note: The C=C double bond in the D-8 THC is placed on the eighth position, instead of the ninth, as in D-9 THC, making all the difference in effects!]
- Delta-9 and Delta-8 can both be detected on drug tests, as they both share similar metabolites. In other words, despite their differences, the body breaks them down to the same metabolites (well, almost the same!).
- Both have similar benefits. Although these effects are still being studied.
Final Words
In this Delta-8 guide, we have tried to clarify some of the typical doubts people have about Delta-8 THC high. Now, whether or not you think it is a good idea to try it is up to you.
You can take Delta-8 in different forms, i.e., different kinds of products consumed through varying delivery methods. Many people prefer to vape or smoke it, whereas others like to take it through tinctures, oral sprays, gummies, or capsules.
If you have never experienced Delta-8, it would be best to start low – and go slow. After using it for a while, you can increase the dose. Owing to its amazingly mild high and seemingly therapeutic effects, it has become quite popular among a lot of people.