An old Buddhist saying emphasizes that pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional. Living with chronic pain may make one desperate to be free from pain and live a carefree life. For this reason, they might resort to using products recommended by others, something they may have read on social media or watched on the news.
Recently, the hot topic on pain relief is CBD or cannabidiol. Because of this, people tend to assume that all products related to marijuana can help with pain relief. That's not precisely accurate.
Cannabis has two natural compounds people use today, CBD and THC. CBD is a non-psychoactive compound with plenty of health benefits. At the same time, THC is the primary psychoactive compound that could give you a high and a feeling of euphoria, typically used by people for leisure.
In the past two years, you might have been hearing Delta 8 on the news with warnings given by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about its consumption since there have been several incidents of intoxication for many users who took it for various reasons.
What Is Delta-8?
Delta-8 is a type of THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, a psychoactive compound of cannabis. Not to be confused with Delta-9, which is another psychoactive compound of marijuana. Delta-8 has a pretty similar structure, a less potent version of Delta-9.
The euphoric and relaxing effect of Delta-8 is much milder than Delta-9. Today, you can buy it anywhere, including in gas stations and online. Small dispensaries offer it in various forms, including gummies, vape carts, disposables, and designer dabs. But since there's little regulation in its production, many low-quality and dubious Delta-8 products are sold in the market, which can be potentially dangerous. If you want to know what people say about these products, check out this delta 8 Reddit review.
But first, Is Delta-8 Legal?
Since Delta-8 can't be found in high quantities in cannabis, manufacturers have found a way to create it by converting CBD and mixing it with Delta-9 THC. By law, any hemp product containing less than 0.3 percent of Delta-9 THC and any hemp-derived CBD is legal.
It’s legal to use Delta-8 for medical purposes in some states. Some states have restrictions on its use, while some, like New York and Colorado have banned its use completely. To be sure of the regulations about this product, make sure to check out the updated approved list in your state.
Who Can Use Delta-8?
People use Delta-8 to help with nausea and vomiting during cancer treatments. The most common and potent side effects of chemotherapy are nausea and vomiting. It’s because these drugs are powerful and are considered antagonists and play around with the brain's dopamine and serotonin receptors.
Some cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy have noted that Delta-8 significantly lowered the unpleasant feeling in the back of their throat, but this has no scientific backing. Some think it could just be a placebo effect.
Another notable illness that benefited from Delta-8 is glaucoma. It's a condition that damages the eye's optic nerve that can cause permanent vision loss. Again, no studies were done to attest to this.
Lastly, people have used delta-8 to aid in sleeping. Many said that when they use Delta-8, they feel a sense of calm, their heart rate and breath normalize, and they can sleep well. There are not enough studies to support this either. So, it's still best to approach it with caution.
Many users have mentioned that Delta-8 has helped them manage pain. It could potentially be true since Delta-8 could give you a mild feeling of euphoria. Users may have dismissed the pain because they're a little high from it.
Potential Risks Of Using Delta-8
As with any synthetic drug that’ll be used excessively, Delta-8 has some potential risks too, including the following:
- Rapid heart rate
- Memory loss
- Anxiety
- Dry mouth
- Slow reaction times
If you have any of the symptoms mentioned above, know that they are momentary and will alleviate over time. And suppose you’ve accidentally taken too much delta-8 in edible form; you can wait up to 12 hours to be back in your normal self again.
However, if you're still experiencing some serious effects, such as difficulty breathing, it’s time that you call for the help of Poison Control or the emergency department.
Conclusion
Trying something without knowing its potency and effectiveness can be potentially dangerous. If you're curious about the effects of Delta-8, hold that thought and wait until you get advice from your physician.
You may be desperate to have something to take away the pain, but ingesting something that could have an adverse effect on your body should be something you need to be wary of.
