What is delta-10 THC?

What is Delta-10 THC? In nature, the cannabinoids Delta-10 THC, CBL and CBC occur in fairly small quantities. Until recently, they  have often been mistaken for one another. Very recently in fact. So, what sparked the interest?  

The Happy Accident

Once upon a time, a company in California called Fusion Farms bought some outdoor cannabis for the production of concentrates. The wildfires throughout California that year were terrible and without realizing, they purchased fire retardant contaminated biomass. After distilling the extract from the biomass, they noticed some strange, unfamiliar crystals.

Although the analysis suggested the crystals were CBC, they weren’t an exact match. Testing at a third-party lab took months.  Finally, they were able to confirm the crystals as Delta-10 THC. They concluded the presence of the fire retardant is what caused the formation of the Delta-10 crystals. Before you think the only way to get your Delta-10 is by spraying your cannabis with a fire extinguisher, HOLD UP! Labs have already created clean food-grade ways of creating Delta-10 THC from hemp.

3 Types of THC

Here’s the low down on what we know about Δ10 so far. It is the sibling to Δ8 and Δ9 THC with the differences between all 3 being the location of a crucial double bond in the molecular structure. That double bond determines the shape of the molecule and in turn, affects the way it interacts with the endocannabinoid receptor.  It is that interaction between the molecule and the receptor that produces the intoxicating effect.

We assume that each THC compound  followed the same metabolic pathways. In fact, they can actually vary quite a bit from one another. In lay terms, Δ8, Δ9, and Δ10 THC are similar to each other in that they react with the endocannabinoid system to produce an effect. However, each molecule has  varying results. It has been reported that the effects of synthesized Delta-8 THC, in most cases, is milder than Delta-9. Delta-10 THC has been described being just as mild as Delta-8, but more energizing. Those who have tried it account it as an uplifting effect, perfect for daytime use, offering up feelings of euphoria and focus without any of the paranoia that can be associated with Delta-9 THC.

How Do CBD and CBG Compare to THC?

The most notable differences between hemp derived cannabinoids like CBD and CBG  compared to THC, is that the THC isomers produce an intoxicating affect. So, if you are suffering from feelings of anxiety etc., the affects of CBD or CBG might cause you to notice an absence of those feelings rather than a heightening of emotions or highness. However, if you are looking for a bigger bang for your buck,  Delta-8 THC and the increased availability Delta-10 THC  may be what you’re looking for. There is also evidence of the entourage effect when combining CBD and CBG cannabinoids and terpenes. So there’s that too.

The Real Low Down

I know you have some questions, so let me sort those out for you. Is Δ10 legal? In short, long as it is hemp derived. It falls under the same umbrella as delta-8 THC and is federally legal. However, some states that are discussing making all forms of THC illegal, hemp derived or not. Will Delta-10 THC get you high? Yes, Δ10 THC, just like Delta-8 THC & Delta-9 THC does have intoxicating effects so it will get you high. Will you fail a drug test? Absolutely, yes, you will fail a drug test if they are testing you for THC.

So why should you care about delta-10? The long and short of it is that you don’t have to care about it. If you are happy with the buzz you get from D8 and for those of you lucky enough to have legal access to D9, D10 might be a non-starter. But for those who find Delta-9 a bit too intoxicating and Delta-8 a bit too sleepy, delta-10 may exactly what you are looking for. Especially for the states that have not yet legalized D9 THC and D8 has been the only product available, D10 could be a fun experiment. Since the cannabis industry in general is on the rise, you can bet that no matter what your preference might be, Delta-10 will be available in every conceivable form before you can even  say tetrahydrocannabinol.