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What Is Delta 9?
Reviewed by | Raven Ariola, Cannabis Science Educator and Professor of Cannabis Agriculture
Cannabis may be getting its legal moment in the sun (finally, right?), but this pretty amazing plant has actually been grown, used, and appreciated for more than 6000 years now. Every year
brings more scientific breakthroughs on what makes cannabis so wonderful and powerful (and natural!) — although you don’t need to be into its many health effects to enjoy it recreationally!
Of the hundreds of components — and there are literally hundreds — that make up cannabis, one that gets plenty of attention is delta-9. You may have never heard of it before, but it’s the driving factor behind most of the “fun” parts of using cannabis.
Learning a little bit about how it works isn’t going to change how much you can enjoy cannabis (and the new cannabis-based products out there — like those from the crew at Gigli), but it may give you a greater appreciation of how incredible this natural wonder has changed life as we know it.
What To Know About Cannabis
Before we talk about delta-9, let’s break down cannabis for a second.
Cannabis consists of hundreds of different chemical components, with most of them known collectively as cannabinoids. It also contains flavanoids and terpenes, aromatic compounds that help determine the exact flavor and odor each specific strain has (and, they all differ slightly, if you’ve ever been around someone smoking cannabis you’ll know the odor we’re talking about).
Plus, we’re constantly learning and identifying more all the time.
Together, these chemical components work together to trigger specific responses from the body’s endocannabinoid system (yes, our body has a system specifically designed to respond to these compounds). This is known as the “entourage effect,” where they all work together to craft the perfect benefits.
Of these cannabinoids, the one we’re going to focus on so we can understand delta-9 better is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).
THC is “the” compound that makes you feel high, known scientifically as being “psychoactive.” For most of us, THC and its benefits are the main reason that we seek out cannabis, but CBD and other cannabinoids certainly have their benefits, too.
Raven Ariola, Cannabis Science Educator and Professor of Cannabis Agriculture, notes that “THC binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain, indirectly influencing the release dopamine, known as a “feel-good” chemical.” A higher amount of dopamine in your system is usually directly correlated to being in a good mood. On the flip side, depression is related to (among other things) a lack of dopamine and other feel-good chemicals produced in the body.
What Is Delta-9?
Delta-9 is the short name for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol — which makes it part of the “THC” family. There are multiple forms of THC that can be found in cannabis, but delta-9 is the most abundant.
When it enters your body (whether you inhale it, eat it, drink it, vape it, etc.), it uses its connections with your endocannabinoid system to head directly to your… head. As it interacts with all the different neurotransmitters and receptors in your brain, it focuses on specific receptors called CB1 (basically the “traffic cops” of the brain). “These receptors are part of a larger signaling network involved in various processes beyond just regulating brain activity,” Ariola highlights.
Delta-9 tweaks the responses, supporting a release of dopamine and contributing to “downstream” effects that feel relaxing.
Other ways people have described the feelings associated with using delta-9 THC specifically include words like “euphoric,” “relaxed,” sociable,” “giggly,” and “creative.” Some people even experience more tactical feelings — colors might look brighter, food tastes better, and music sounds amazing. Sounds pretty good, right?
How To Enjoy Delta-9
Ok, enough with the science. Let’s talk about how you can actually enjoy the psychoactive properties of delta-9.
Back in the day, cannabis was nearly always consumed in inhaled form — aka, people used to pretty much only be able to smoke it (although there were definitely plenty of ways to do that).
While there may have been the occasional edible to pass around (like cannabis brownies), most people just simply smoked it. It was the easiest and most direct way to get cannabis into the system, and it wasn’t exactly legal so there weren’t stores you could just stop by to pick some up.
Luckily, just like our scientific understanding of cannabis and delta-9 has expanded (as has the legality for most of us), so have the different types of ways we can enjoy it. Smoking is still definitely an option, as are edibles, but the ways you can enjoy them have exploded exponentially.
Because delta-9 has the ability to interact directly with the brain, the “best” way to use it is whatever works best with your plans and timeframe. Inhaled cannabis is going to hit quicker, but edibles are going to last longer.
What Are Some Delta-9 Edible Options?
As a culture, we’re obsessed with food, so it makes sense that the edible cannabis game has taken several enormous steps in the last decade or so. Edibles have gone from something you quickly put together in your kitchen to something being created by chefs and culinary professionals.
For example, a lot of people are starting to use cannabis in place of alcohol, and THC seltzers are the perfect way to do that without feeling like you’re missing out on the “drinking” experience.
Our THC seltzers are alcohol-free as well as gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, and calorie-free, but they sip just like a cocktail. You can do all the same things with a can of THC seltzer that you can with a boozy drink, but without that next-day hangover that leaves you feeling awful. Plus, you can make mocktails with them if you want even more pizzazz.
If seltzer isn’t your thing, there are also THC teas, THC gummies, and THC chocolates that you can explore to give you the same hit of THC — when it comes to edibles, the world is your oyster and you have so many more options to choose from now than ever before. This also allows you to cater your dosage according to your plan.
How To Consume Delta-9 Safely
Although, in a lot of ways, cannabis tends to be way safer than alcohol (and without leaving you with a day-ruining hangover), it’s still considered a “drug” and needs to be consumed mindfully.
A big part of doing that is knowing your limits. If you’re not familiar with using cannabis products, you don’t want to just dive right in without having a good understanding of what you’re getting into.
As a general rule of thumb, we’ve got a quick guide for edible cannabis newbies:
- 1-2.5 mg: At this level, edibles contain a “microdose” of psychoactive cannabis (AKA you may not feel “high,” but most people will notice an improvement in their mood and relaxation status without impairing too much of their cognition). It’s a good place to start if you want to get a feel for how long it may take edibles to kick in and how you can feel, without being totally out of it.
- 3-5 mg: After 2.5mg, you get into low-dose territory. In addition to improving your mood and making you feel even more relaxed, you’ll also start to feel impaired. Most newer users say that 5 mg is usually the magic number, but everyone is different. Start low and slow. Most edibles will sit in this range as well, but make sure you’re checking packages before going all in.
- 10-15 mg: Next up are the moderate-dose edibles. This dose will likely be too much for newer users but is often the sweet spot for more experienced users. At this level, you’ll definitely have an alteration of cognition and mood.
- 20-30 mg: This is a high dose and, unless you’re experienced with cannabis consumption, high doses are not recommended for newbies. They can significantly impair both your mental and physical status, and make you incredibly altered (which is a selling point for the more experienced).
Ultimately, the “ideal” dosage is going to be different for everyone. It’ll take into account your body weight, metabolism, and personal tolerance. Two people can use the exact same edible and have completely different experiences — so always start slow until you know how you’re going to react.
Remember, edible cannabis, like inhaled cannabis, can impair your ability to operate a car, make decisions, and think clearly. Always use them when you are in a safe environment and never drive while you’re under the influence.
Wrapping Up
What is delta-9? Only one of the most “fun” chemicals in an arguably already pretty fun plant called cannabis.
Delta-9 is one of the forms of THC in cannabis, so if you enjoy feeling high when ingesting it, you have delta-9 to thank.
If you plan ahead, know your limits, and ingest it in safe amounts (and with safe people around you), you can have an amazing time without having a less-than-amazing hangover the next day — and Gigli is ready to be your wingman.
Sources:
Cannabis, a complex plant: different compounds and different effects on individuals | PMC
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