Baltimore, MD: Orally ingested delta-8 THC produces dose-dependent psychoactive effects that are similar but milder than those associated with equivalent quantities of delta-9 THC, according to clinical trial data published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
Researchers affiliated with Johns Hopkins University assessed the effects of delta-8 THC and delta-9 THC in a cohort of 19 healthy adults. Study participants consumed brownies infused with standardized dosages of either synthetic delta-8 THC or synthetic delta-9 THC. The trial is the first study in over five decades to assess the effects of delta-8 THC in human subjects.
Investigators reported: “Overall, ingestion of delta-8 THC produced dose-dependent increases in subjective, cognitive performance, and physiological outcomes that were qualitatively similar to delta-9 THC. Consistent with prior findings, delta-8 THC exhibited lower potency compared to delta-9 THC at equivalent doses, though this reduced potency was overcome by increasing the delta-8 THC dose. Together, these findings demonstrate that delta-8 THC products have the potential to produce psychoactive and physiological effects that are comparable to delta-9 THC.”
The study’s authors concluded, “With the widespread availability of retail delta-8 THC to consumers as a byproduct of the 2018 Farm Bill, the findings from the present study underscore the importance of establishing regulatory frameworks that address safety, labeling, and consumer education related to delta-8 THC products.”
Although delta-8 THC occurs organically in the cannabis plant, it is only produced in nominal quantities. By contrast, elevated quantities of delta-8 THC in commercially available products are typically the result of a chemical synthesis during which manufacturers convert hemp-derived CBD to delta-8 THC.
NORML and others have urged the FDA to establish regulatory guidelines governing the production, testing, labeling, and marketing of hemp-derived cannabinoid products. In 2021, NORML issued a report on delta-8 THC and other novel, synthetically derived cannabinoids, cautioning consumers that these products are unregulated and may contain impurities.
Full text of the study, “A within-subject cross-over trial comparing the acute effects of oral delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol and delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in healthy adults,” appears in Drug and Alcohol Dependence.