Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol is a powerful psychoactive oral cannabis plant from the cannabis plant. It is an isomer of Delta-8 THC, the main compound found in marijuana. delta-8 THC has neuroprotective, antiemetic, sedative, and antidepressant properties.
In countries like Canada, the use of delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta THC) is restricted and under scrutiny. Despite this, many Canadian cannabis users keep taking the plant, which is believed to have similar psychotropic characteristics to THC. The availability and easy accessibility of this marijuana are likely behind its popularity across the Atlantic region.
There have been no clinical trials conducted on delta-8 thc; in fact, no studies have even been launched on this substance. One notable exception is the University of British Columbia in Canada, where a long-term study involving young adults with attention deficit disorder was undertaken. The participants were given doses of delta 8 gummy, CBD, and placebo; at various times.
Although there were significant effects of the three substances on specific aspects of behavior, there were no significant differences between them in terms of global performance on the Academic Test for Distraction (attentional retention). Moreover, there was no evidence that the three substances affected sleep, mood, or appetite.
Despite these negative results, this is not the only study to suggest that cannabis products can cause negative events beyond those initially caused by smoking or ingesting the drug itself. A study published in the Journal of Addiction Treatment claims that the delta-8 thc in cannabis may be able to promote the appearance of psychosis in certain people.
Specifically, it was shown that individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia or post psychotic disorder showed a higher intensity of euphoria after taking marijuana. Although both conditions are thought to be mental disorders, none of the data presented in this study directly links the two.
Since medical marijuana users frequently smoke the drug in order to achieve a high, it has often been assumed that any effects on one’s physical health could be translated to one’s mental state. However, since CBD and THC are plant chemicals, it is unlikely that they would have any effect on one’s mental state; and therefore, CBD and THC are unlikely to be included in medical marijuana products any time soon. Most cannabis users and dealers are likely to switch to ingesting either CBD oil or THC instead of medical marijuana once it becomes available legally in many states.
The link between delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol and psychosis is still very unclear. While this study points to the potential for CBD and THC to interact with psychosis, there is currently no evidence that any other psychoactive substance found in cannabis sativa plant has any influence on patients’ mental health. Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol however is a substance of abuse, so it would be interesting to see how it affects long-term users of medical marijuana.
Long term exposure to CBD and THC has not been shown to be harmful to humans, but understanding how it affects the human body is essential in order to make informed decisions regarding its use. For now, it appears that doctors should focus their attentions on educating patients about CBD and THC as opposed to focusing their attention on the link between the psychoactive substance found in cannabis and psychosis.
