Demand Is Booming For Delta-8 In 2021
Delta-8 has become one of the fast-selling cannabinoids of 2021. The 2021 January report from the Hemp Benchmarks indicated a significant increase in the consumer demands for D-8 products.
Since the compound is found in very low amounts in the cannabis, people are extracting pure concentrations of D-8 from the hemp plants.
Which in turn is now helping in the sale of other hemp products such as CBD isolates, Oils, Edibles, Cigarettes, and many more. In combination with both compounds, the hemp industry is now booming like never before.
However, despite all the growth, delta-8’s trading volumes are still at modest percentages as compared to the CBD goods, it is still the rising hemp product of the year 2021.
According to another report, Tennessee manufacturers saw a whopping 20% drop in CBD consumers who later switched to Delta-8 products.
Delta-8 is one of the most prominent cannabinoids found in hemp and has seen a surge in demand in the United States. The 2018 Farm Bill approved broad hemp farming and distribution, paving the way for the production and distribution of a wide range of hemp products.
Delta-9 is an exception. Delta-9-THC concentrations must be less than the legal amount of 0.3 percent THC. The hemp plant must also be used to make the products. Other cannabinoids, such as Delta-9-THC and Delta-10-THC, were never mentioned in the bill.
Why Delta-8 Is The Fastest-Selling Hemp Product?
More companies were able to access services to research and experiment with cannabis thanks to the new Farm Bill. These firms discovered that Delta-8-THC, the ‘brother’ of Delta-9-THC, exhibited similar effects to the popular cannabinoid Delta-9-THC, when experimenting with it.
As more people are getting to know of Delta-8, demand is growing, and additional forms are being released. Delta-8 was first sold as a vapor, but it is now accessible in the form of gummies, flowers, oils, sweets, concentrate, liquid drinks, and biscuits.
The significant growth of D-8 is outstanding given that the legality of the substance is still in a haze. The unresolved issues appear due to the psychotropic nature of the compound.
The THC content might be low, but it can get you high. There were also legal issues regarding the DEA’s complaint to ban delta-8 on the basis of its THC compounds. However, no further action was taken.
Which makes this an uncertain situation and the reason why manufacturers proceed with caution. The future of the D-8 products is uncertain.
As a result, researchers and manufacturers are maintaining a cautious work environment on the production of delta-8. The lack of clear standards for compliance and purity of products that contain delta-8 THC adds to the ambiguity.
The Setback For D-8 Products
The Oregon Liquor Control Commission’s Compliance Specialist and Hemp Processing Technician, Stephen Crowley, commented in an email to the Hemp Benchmarks report that one of his worries is “what else might be in these products other than delta-8 THC.” This can contain a variety of chemical contaminants produced during the isomerization process.
What To Expect of Its Future?
Delta-8 THC is a bright spot in a floundering market right now. It depends on the way the regulation wind blows after the grey areas in the 2018 Farm Bill regarding synthesized forms of THC are resolved and whether it can maintain that increasing trajectory.
Until then, this contentious molecule is finding its way into a wide range of hemp-based products, fetching top pay for those willing to gamble on its uncertain future.
We can anticipate that the hemp sector will appeal to a wider range of clients in the coming years. High performers who are interested in nootropics will begin to experiment with delta 8.
And, similar to how many influencers attempted to develop personal brands when CBD was authorized, the same is expected to happen with Delta 8. Athletics, entrepreneurs, and celebrities are expected to endorse delta 8 products and develop collaborations with them in the near possible future.
Why Was Delta-8 Classified As A Controlled Substance By The DEA?
During the War on Drugs in the 90s, the DEA classified marijuana and all forms of it, including Delta 8 THC as a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance, making it almost impossible for anyone to be able to use it unless they had a prescription from a doctor. And in most cases, the doctors would only prescribe marijuana to patients that were undergoing chemotherapy and no one else. There were no exceptions made to this rule.
Since These products can cause intoxication, they require a regulatory structure in line with state medical and adult-use marijuana programs. Despite these claims from the DEA, they remain legal on the federal level and the Delta-8 products have taken off as the newest way to get legally high.
These D-8 products are highly popular due to their “NO THC” tags. All the major companies use organic hemp for the production of these D-8 products.
How Will Delta-8 Impact The Hemp Industry In The Coming Future?
The hemp business, in general, takes pleasure in being a separate industry from marijuana. Hemp is used to manufacture anything from clothing to food to CBD.
Marijuana and hemp are the same plants, but hemp is classified as marijuana with less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC. However, when it comes to psychotropic effects, D-8 carries trace amounts, while CBD carries none.
However, the Food & Drug Administration [FDA], has already produced a CBD infused medication for treating chronic epilepsy. Which gives hope for the future of D-8 products and the hemp market.
Many businesses selling Delta-8, online and offline, are abiding by the farm bill’s concentration terms, which makes a positive impact on its future.
The health benefits that D-8 carries will be seen as a major breakthrough chemical property of delta-8 in its immense popularity amongst cannabis users.
However, the potential market for D-8 products is still a bit hazy. But in general, since this cannabinoid carries some amounts of THC, the expected consumer base for these would be the regular Delta-9 users, rather than the broader CBD users.
For users who already smoke weed or marijuana, this would be the best next thing for them. It may not be as potent as weed, but it still carries enough beneficial properties to improve one’s health over time.
Final Thoughts
Overall, everything regarding Delta-8 is hazy at the moment. Even the legal status of the substance. The legal developments will determine whether the hemp market will soar or crash.
Until that happens, the full potential of the hemp market and its supply chain cannot be utilized, hence resulting in lower production quantities.