There are limited studies on delta- 8 as a cannabinoid, and its safety remains questionable. Studies point out the lack of regulation and information on delta- 8, all the more making things complicated. Herein discussed is everything you know about the safety of delta- 8 gummies in the UK.
Marijuana remains largely illegal in the UK, and the legality of delta- 8 remains in the gray zone. Still, people buy delta- 8 products, including gummies and other edibles, primarily because the cannabinoid has much milder effects than its cousin, delta- 9. Some cannabis fans also believe that delta- 8 in any form helps them boost their quality of life despite the potential ‘high’ effects, and they opt for its deliverable methods anyways. Still, it is worth noting that the safety of delta- 8 gummies in the UK has not been confirmed, and it is more than possible to consume dangerous chemicals in the form of mold, heavy metals, mycotoxins, and more. Find out more about the safety of delta- 8 gummies in the UK from this article.
Understanding Delta- 8
Before looking at the depth of the article about the safety of delta- 8 gummies in the UK, you want to understand it. Delta- 8 THC is a cannabinoid or one of the many active compounds in cannabis plants. Hemp and marijuana are two strains of cannabis plants, and both have delta- 8 THC, although the percentage varies. Hemp plants have more CBD than THC, and most brands genetically modify their hemp seeds to produce extracts with more CBD minimal THC. Meanwhile, marijuana is a cannabis strain with more THC than CBD. In fact, provided a hemp plant has more than 0.3% THC, it ceases to be hemp and is then called marijuana. THC is one of the cannabinoids in these plants, and the others include CBC, CBN, CBT, and CBG. It occurs in two forms; delta- 9, known for the ‘high effect (Schlienz et al., 2020) that makes it psychoactive, and delta- 8, which is intoxicating (Akpunonu et al., 2021) but is milder in effects. As such, people like them for being balanced; not non-intoxicating as CBD, and not mega high as delta- 9.
Delta- 8 Delivery Methods
With the craze around delta- 8 increasing almost every day, you may want to experiment with its products. After all, many people consider delta- 8 products for improved life quality, as Mccoy et al. (2018) pointed out. Whether you want delta- 8 now or in the future, you may want to know the various deliverable methods you can explore to enjoy the high effects of this cannabinoid. You can opt for the following to enjoy delta- 8;
- Edibles; you can choose to take delta- 8 mints, gummies, and edibles to reap the cannabinoid’s expected effects. The edibles mask the earthy taste of the cannabis products in the cannabinoid.
- Tinctures; like CBD, many people sublingually administer delta- 8 tinctures to reap the purported benefits of delta- 8 THC. However, they might not be the best if you are after something that guarantees taste.
- Topicals; if you don’t want delta- 8 to interact with the bloodstream, you may want to try D8 topicals like creams and balms for your hurt joints.
- High-THC cannabis flowers; the other way to explore delta- 8 THC in cannabis plants is by smoking high-THC cannabis flowers. While this method encourages bioavailability, it might not be the best since it may expose the lungs to carcinogens, increasing your chances of suffering from cancer.
Are Delta- 8 Gummies in the UK Safe?
Even though you may be a great delta- 8 fans, you don’t want to go about consuming delta- 8 products without worrying about their safety. If anything, you must be alive to enjoy delta- 8 items; hence safety of the cannabinoid is a concern. According to Dotson et al. (2022), the safety of delta- 8 products, including gummies, remains in the gray zone. This basically means that it is not clear how safe delta-8 is. In fact, Kruger & Kruger (2022) admitted that CBD research is limited, and the FDA looked forward to appointing a team to conduct studies on delta- 8, including its safety.
Should You Buy Delta- 8 Gummies in the UK?
Consuming cannabis products, including delta- 8 gummies, is your choice. Still, it is worth noting that the cannabis industry is largely unregulated, and it is not unusual to come across products that do not meet the required standards. Most CBD brands conduct 3rd party tests and upload the test results on their website for client viewership, and people can look them up to confirm the cannabinoid profile and their purity against standard contaminants. Even so, not every company does this, creating loopholes in the industry and high chances of encountering low-quality items. The same is true of delta- 8 gummy manufacturers; while some test the products in liaison with 3rd parties, others do not. Therefore, other than focusing on the mild ‘high’ effects of delta- 8, look beyond and pay attention to the safety of what goes into your stomach.
How Does the FDA View Delta- 8 Products?
Are you anticipating joining the delta- 8 bandwagon following the recent craze around it? You may want to know what the FDA says about this cannabinoid. According to the 2021 FDA report, there is much that people do not know about the cannabinoid. For instance, while it is milder than delta- 9 in effects, it is still intoxicating (Babalonis et al., 2021) and will make you ‘high.’ One should not offer it to children. Besides, some delta- 8 products, including gummies, may contain contaminants like industrial solvents, heavy metals, filth, molds, and organic matter. It is no wonder that most countries consider THC in either form illegal.
Conclusion
Delta- 8 is a milder form of THC that is intoxicating but not as powerful as delta- 9, another THC form. Because of the mild effects, many cannabis fans like it since it guarantees them a modulated ‘high’ sensation without making the mega euphoric. Even so, the safety of delta- 8 products, including gummies, remains uncertain. The FDA released a report in 2021 focusing on the risks of delta- 8 in various forms. Besides, additional studies point out the knowledge gap and lack of regulation of delta- 8 and its production.
References
Akpunonu, P., Baum, R. A., Reckers, A., Davidson, B., Ellison, R., Riley, M., … & Gerona, R. (2021). Sedation and Acute Encephalopathy in a Pediatric Patient Following Ingestion of Delta-8-Tetrahydrocannabinol Gummies. The American Journal of Case Reports, 22, e933488-1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc8594112/
Babalonis, S., Raup-Konsavage, W. M., Akpunonu, P. D., Balla, A., & Vrana, K. E. (2021). Δ8-THC: Legal Status, Widespread Availability, and Safety Concerns. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 6(5), 362-365. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/can.2021.0097
Dotson, S., Johnson-Arbor, K., Schuster, R. M., Tervo-Clemmens, B., & Evins, A. E. (2022). Unknown risks of psychosis and addiction with delta-8-THC: A call for research, regulation, and clinical caution. Addiction. https://www.safetylit.org/citations/index.php?fuseaction=citations.viewdetails&citationIds[]=citjournalarticle_712011_13
Kruger, J. S., & Kruger, D. J. (2022). Delta-8-THC: Delta-9-THC’s nicer younger sibling?. Journal of cannabis research, 4(1), 1-8. https://jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42238-021-00115-8
McCoy, B., Wang, L., Zak, M., Al‐Mehmadi, S., Kabir, N., Alhadid, K., … & Snead III, O. C. (2018). A prospective open‐label trial of a CBD/THC cannabis oil in dravet syndrome. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, 5(9), 1077-1088. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/acn3.621
Schlienz, N. J., Lee, D. C., Stitzer, M. L., & Vandrey, R. (2018). The effect of high-dose dronabinol (oral THC) maintenance on cannabis self-administration. Drug and alcohol dependence, 187, 254-260.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376871618301844
I believe that nutrition science is a wonderful helper both for the preventive improvement of health and adjunctive therapy in treatment. My goal is to help people improve their health and well-being without torturing themselves with unnecessary dietary restrictions. I am a supporter of a healthy lifestyle – I play sports, cycle, and swim in the lake all year round.
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