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Delta-9 edibles are being made from hemp, making them federally legal and totally skirting the federal ban on Delta-9-THC. You can find these legal THC products both in stores and online, but not everyone is convinced by their market status.
How is it possible? What are hemp-derived Delta-9 edibles and what exactly makes them legal? And if they truly are legal, what are the effects like?
All great questions! Here’s what you need to know:
Table of Contents
What is Hemp-Derived Delta-9
What Makes Hemp Edibles Special?
Are Hemp Delta-9 Edibles Legal Everywhere?
What are the Effects of Hemp Delta-9 Edibles?
Hemp Delta-9 Edible Dosage
Are Hemp Delta-9 Edibles Safe?
Where to Buy
Hemp-derived delta-9 is exactly what it sounds like–Delta-9-THC that’s made from federally legal hemp material. How is that possible?
Well, like all cannabis, hemp cultivars naturally contain Delta-9-THC, just in much smaller amounts. Actually, in really tiny amounts, and that’s what separates hemp from marijuana. By legal definition, hemp must contain less than 0.3% Delta-9-THC by dry weight.
Obviously these tiny amounts make it difficult (and costly) to produce any THC products from hemp material–until manufacturers realized that Delta-9 was a natural byproduct of certain CBD products. More specifically, when CBD isolate products are made, that small amount of Delta-9-THC was sucked away and thrown out.
But not anymore. Now, this byproduct, a concentrate of all of hemp’s minor cannabinoids called “mother liquor,” is being used to make hemp-derived THC products. More specifically, the mother liquor is refined to concentrate and purify the Delta-9-THC, making a THC concentrate that’s legal to make and add to certain hemp products.
Mainly, it’s used to make hemp-derived Delta-9 edibles, because that’s the easiest way to stay in compliance with federal laws, producing a hemp-derived THC edible that is 100% legal to manufacture and sell. Let’s discuss that further:
So, we know that hemp material can only contain 0.3% Delta-9-THC in order to remain compliant with federal laws. That’s true for both the starter material and the final product. In other words, a Delta-9-THC hemp product must contain less than 0.3% Delta-9-THC by dry weight in its final form
If that seems like a miniscule amount, just do the math. 0.3% of 5 grams is 0.15 grams, or 15 milligrams. So an edible that weighs only five grams can legally contain a 15 milligram dose of hemp-derived THC. For perspective, a single gummy bear weighs 3 grams, so that means a pretty average size edible can legally contain a sizable THC dose.
By why edibles? Why aren’t we seeing hemp-derived Delta-9 flower, vapes, and tinctures popping up all over. Key words: dry weight.
Hemp delta-9 products must contain less than 0.3% Delta-9-THC by dry weight.Since products like vape oils, beverages, and tinctures are not able to be accurately measured by dry weight, they don’t fall into this category.
Other products, like concentrates, simply don’t fit the mold. A gram of concentrate like wax or dabs, which usually contains up to 900 milligrams of THC, can only legally contain 3 milligrams of Delta-9-THC. That wouldn’t make for a suitable consumption method. So. edibles are the hemp THC hotspot–offering just enough mass to allow manufacturers to stay within this legal threshold while still containing a significant dose of THC.
So, given the right concentrations, Delta-9-THC products are legal by federal law. But what about state laws? Are hemp delta-9 edibles legal in every state?
Not quite, and navigating where they are and aren’t legal is a real challenge that almost requires a law degree. Simply put, state hemp laws are confusing.
In some places, all hemp-cannabinoids are legal, but certain dosing styles, like edibles or smokable hemp flower, are banned entirely. In other states there are no restrictions on product types, but hemp-derived THC (including Delta-8, THC-O and more) is illegal. Some states fall in between, where there are specific laws that apply to Delta-8, but nothing to address hemp-derived Delta-9.
One thing is certain, hemp laws are changing constantly, and you need to familiarize yourself with your local hemp laws to determine if hemp-derived THC edibles are legal near you. In most cases, hemp-derived Delta-9 will fall into the same category at the state level as hemp-derived delta-8. So, you may want to read “Where is Delta-8 Legal?” to learn more.
So, hemp THC edibles are legal–but what are their effects? Can you expect them to feel the same as traditional THC edibles? And for those who are inexperienced with traditional THC edibles, what does that even feel like?
The answer is yes–hemp THC edibles produce the same effects as traditional THC edibles. After all, the THC molecules are exactly the same–the only difference is the legal concentration.
For most people, hemp THC edibles offer potent psychoactive effects that are somewhat dose dependent. Smaller doses may be uplifting and energizing, while larger doses can be relaxing.
Some people even use THC edible to improve sleep, get relief from physical discomforts, boost creativity, or ease social anxiety. Because it’s the exact same molecule, hemp-derived THC edibles are a great substitute for traditional weed edibles and can be used in all of the ways that traditional edibles are used.
We mentioned that smaller and larger doses of hemp-derived THC may have different effects. This is because THC is biphasic, meaning that after a certain dosing threshold, the effects change entirely. Another example of a biphasic substance is alcohol–In small doses, it can get you up on the dancefloor, but in larger doses you become lethargic and disoriented.
So, where’s that dosing threshold for hemp-derived THC? Unfortunately, there’s no magic number. You have to experiment with different doses to understand how it will affect you.
If you’re new to THC altogether, you may start with 2-5 milligrams. 2 milligrams would be considered a “microdose,” or a dose that’s small enough so as to only produce very mild effects. 5 milligrams is a standard “beginner dose” for those who want to feel the full effects of THC but have little or no THC tolerance.
For experienced consumers, you can take the same amount of hemp THC as you would weed edibles. Doses may range from 5-50 milligrams, with the latter end being appropriate only for those with a high THC tolerance who want to experience THC’s heaviest effects.
If you don’t know where to start, just start small. Increase your dosage by 2-5 milligrams each time, and allow plenty of time (1-2 hours) to feel the effects before you evaluate how you feel.
Hemp products are available in stores and online, though it may be more difficult to find hemp-derived Delta-9 products in local stores. Luckily, shopping online for hemp THC products is the best way to compare product quality, dosing styles, and prices to ensure that you get exactly what you’re looking for–high-quality, lab-tested, federally legal hemp-derived THC edibles.
Ready to try it for yourself? Check out our hemp THC collection.
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