Delta 8 has been on the market for some time now and can easily be regarded as the second most popular hemp derivative after CBD (cannabidiol). Known for its multitude of valuable effects, it’s understandable why so many people have incorporated delta 8 into their daily routines. But, with any fast-growing industry comes a need to be particularly selective when it comes to buying delta 8 products. It’s crucial to know how to spot a quality product that’s pure, lab-tested and authentic.
Delta 8: The BasicsDelta 8 is a federally legal, naturally occurring cannabinoid found in the flowering buds of the hemp plant, and it takes up about 0.1% of the plant’s chemical composition. It was first discovered in 1965, just one year after the discovery of delta. What makes delta 8 fascinating is that its predecessor is delta 9, which oxidizes in the plant and transforms into this new cannabinoid with its own distinctive properties.
Are All Delta 8 Products Created Equally?Since delta 8 has been on the market for a few years now, its popularity has soared beyond the industry’s wildest dreams. What began as a niche product is now quite mainstream, and many people have tried all kinds of delta 8 products at this point.
Because the cannabinoid is so popular, there’s a higher risk of low-quality products making their way onto the market. In such a trendy industry, companies with less-than-pure motives may try to release subpar products that simply don’t have what it takes to offer a satisfying delta 8 experience.
The good news, however, is that there are ways in which the delta 8 industry regulates itself, so that customers can easily look for specific quality indicators that tell them that they’re about to purchase the real deal.
What are the Different Types of Delta 8 Products on Today’s Market?Before we talk about the things to look for when shopping for delta 8, it’s good to know about the different kinds of products that are available on the market, as there are certain quality factors that apply to each specific product type.
Delta 8 Vape CartridgesDelta 8 vape cartridges are pre-filled, disposable cartridges that attach to 510-threaded devices. Within them is a vape oil that contains an active serving of delta 8, and in most cases, terpenes as well. Delta 8 vape carts usually come in a rich selection of strains that users can choose from.
What to Look for:With delta 8 carts, you want as pure of a formula as possible. This means looking at the ingredients to see if any additives are present. The best vape cartridges contain nothing but pure delta 8 distillate and terpene extracts.
Delta 8 Vape PensDelta 8 vape pens are disposable devices that contain the same formula as above. The difference is that these are all-in-one vaping systems, consisting of a fully attached pre-charged battery and pre-filled cartridge. At no point does the battery need to be recharged or the cartridge refilled.
What to Look for:Again, you want to look for a formula that contains zero additives of any kind, such as the disposables from iDELTA8 that offer only pure hemp formulas available in three distinctive options: Silver, a 2:1 CBD to delta 8 ratio, Gold, a 1:1 CBD to delta 8 ratio, and Diamond, a 100% delta 8 option. Each one consists solely of cannabinoid and terpene extracts, for an ultra-pure and clean delta 8 vaping experience.
Delta 8 EdiblesDelta 8 edibles are another popular choice, since ingesting the cannabinoid offers up to 8 hours of effects that many find to be extremely soothing. Gummies are the most popular type of edible, as they offer a mouthwatering fruity flavor that’s hard to resist on a daily basis.
What to Look for:Always look through the ingredients when shopping for edibles. You want to go with edibles that contain clean, natural ingredients and avoid artificial additives and fillers. Delta 8 Gummies from iDELTA8, for example, are formulated with clean ingredients that are gentle on the body and derived from natural sources.
Delta 8 TincturesDelta 8 tinctures are oils that are administered sublingually (below the tongue), offering a nice middle-ground between the fast-acting, potent effects of vapes, and the more slow-acting, long-lasting nature of edibles. They come in dropper bottles to make portioning easy. Plus, they are available in a variety of milligram strengths for control over the potency of each serving.
What to Look for:Delta 8 tinctures should contain very few ingredients, with most consisting solely of delta 8 extract and a carrier oil. Some contain flavoring as well, but overall, you’ll want to look at the ingredients thoroughly as they should not contain preservatives and other unnecessary chemical additives. Also, make sure that the carrier oil itself is clean and plant-based. MCT oil and hempseed oil are the most common carrier oils used in hemp tinctures.
Delta 8 Flower Delta 8 flower refers to raw hemp flower buds that have been infused with a pure delta 8 distillate. Flower comes in a few different forms, such as loose buds and pre-rolls. Flower is also available in a wide variety of naturally occurring strains of indica, sativa and hybrid varieties.
What to Look for:Delta 8 flower should never consist of anything but pure, raw flower buds and pure delta 8 distillate, with the exception of moon rocks, a specialty flower product that rolls the flower in a concentrate as well as kief.
How to Choose the Best Quality Overall When Shopping for Delta 8Besides reading ingredients, there are some general things to look for in order to know that you’re getting the best-quality delta 8 possible.
Tip #1: Look for Lab Reports from a Third PartyAll delta 8 products should first undergo third-party analysis through a state-authorized laboratory that tests samples of hemp. Companies that produce delta 8 use this to ensure that they’re selling only high-quality, pure and federally compliant product that’s free of harmful impurities and other unwanted compounds. A company should make these lab reports easy to find on their website.
Tip #2: Choose from a Source with a Good ReputationIt’s important to be strict about who you’re buying your delta 8 from. Always opt for a company that has a good reputation for the quality of products that they offer. Most will tell you that it’s better to buy delta 8 from an online retailer than in person, since online companies generally maintain higher standards due to their high visibility.
Tip #3: Read ReviewsYes, it can be helpful to read a product review before purchasing, in order to then make sure that other customers have been satisfied with a particular delta 8 product. Reviews will show you whether or not a product is effective, among other important factors that relate to quality such as taste, smell, etc.
Tip #4: Opt for “Seed to Sale” TransparencyThe more information a company shares with customers, the better. The “seed to sale” approach means that a company tells you everything about how the product is made, starting with the sourcing of the raw hemp plant material and ending with the packaging of the product.
Find Top-Shelf Delta 8 Pens, Edibles, and More!Not all delta 8 products are equally deserving of our hard-earned money. It’s a good idea to find a trusted online hemp retailer with a strong reputation for quality, so that you know you’re walking away with a delta-8 product that’s free of harmful ingredients, and extremely likely to give you the delta8 experience that you’re seeking out overall.
This article was written in cooperation with LinkOceans Digital