D8 right? What Canadians Need to Know About Delta-8 Cannabis Products

Cannabis is more than just THC and CBD, and for the love of the entourage effect I won’t talk about terpenes.

Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (D8) — or “gas station weed,” as it’s sometimes called in Farm Bill America — has made its debut in the Canadian cannabis market.

Delta-8 is part of a new category of semi-synthetic THC-like cannabis products made using cannabinoids of plant origin as precursors: you could call them plant-adjacent, twice-removed phytocannabinoids, or weeds from the future.

In the US, delta-8 and other semi-synthetic cannabinoids are becoming abundant in states where delta-9 THC remains federally illegal. “Delta-8 is one of many products being sold in the United States without proper regulatory oversight,” said Michael Krestell, executive chairman of Dynaleo, an Alberta-based cannabis gummies manufacturer.

Unlike in the US, Delta-8 and Delta-9 are largely the same legally in Canada; Everything related to hemp, cannabis and cannabinoids is regulated by the federal Cannabis Act.

“Canadian regulations require … extensive testing of all cannabis inputs prior to manufacture, and then further extensive testing of the product once it is manufactured,” says Krestell.

Why is D8 showing up in Canada where typical THC is legal?

Chemically and functionally, D8-THC and D9-THC are very similar. D8 is a slightly less active isomer; the “8” and “9” refer to the position of carbon double bonds in their respective chemical structures, which are otherwise identical.

“Most Delta-8 is made by reacting CBD in an organic solvent and a catalyst such as a strong acid,” says Tom Ulanowski, director of scientific and technical affairs at Nextleaf Labs, a Canadian company that commercializes semi-synthetic cannabinoids.

Delta-8 works by activating the CB1 and CB2 endocannabinoid receptors in the brain and body, which are the same receptors that are activated by Delta-9.

“There are many knowledge gaps, but delta-8 is slightly less effective than delta-9 and precautions for children and pets remain,” says Dr. Andree Néron, pharmacist and chronic pain consultant at Sante Cannabis, a medical cannabis clinic in Quebec. “Benefits and harms can be different.”

However, D8 does not interact with endocannabinoid receptors as efficiently as D9, which is about half the biological activity of typical THC. For this reason, D8 is considered mildly euphoric and is often marketed as a “lighter version” of the standard D9 THC.

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leave a comment about your experience w d8 for research purposes 🌱🌱🌱

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dr Néron says Delta-8 comes with the same concerns as Delta-9 THC as it relates to unsubstantiated therapeutic claims as well as dealing with psychoactivity and intoxication in a medical context with patients.

Like its herbal counterparts, D8 and other novel cannabinoids may have therapeutic potential, but compared to THC and CBD – for which there is already limited evidence – we know next to nothing.

“Consumers need to be empowered with the knowledge to make their choices,” says Dr. Neron. “Patients need to be protected and referred to healthcare providers familiar with cannabinoids for education, counseling and monitoring.”

An online survey of D8 users published in the Journal of Cannabis Research states that “Delta-8-THC may provide many of the experiential benefits of delta-9-THC with fewer side effects,” while noting that “future systematic research is required to confirm the participant reports.”

In fact, rare and novel cannabinoids allow consumers to explore the space between and beyond THC and CBD—at their own risk, of course.

Technically both are THC, does D8 feel different than D9?

“Consumers can choose [semi-synthetic] Cannabinoids because of their potentially different psychoactive effects,” says Ulanowski. “Anecdotal reports suggest…different effects in terms of onset, duration, and potency for each milligram consumed.”

Anecdotal evidence, also known as lived consumer experience, can provide insight into how Delta-8 effects feel in the body compared to the more common Delta-9. My own informal request for feedback on TikTok reflects Ulanowski’s analysis.

From the 145 comments, it was agreed that users experienced milder effects overall, and in particular many reported headaches and other body aches after consumption. Not all commenters were based in Canada and we cannot say with certainty if these effects came from regulated products.

Dynaleo recently launched Sunshower Solar Punch 10:1 D8 gummy bears. It’s not their first foray into rare cannabinoids, they also sell gummies containing cannabinol (CBN) and cannabigerol (CBG). According to Krestell, Dynaleo’s D8 gummies are “inspired by the idea that consumers should be able to curate their own high.”

“We believe that a flexible dosing format of 10 mg Delta-8 and 1 mg Delta-9 per unit with 10 units per pouch allows consumers to find the dose that is right for them,” says Krestell.

What Delta 8 products are available in Canada?

• Solar Punch 10:1 Δ8 Gummies by Sunshower
• Δ8 Drink 20:10 by Impromptu
• 24K Gold Punch D8 THC 510 cartridge from RedPill
• Full Spectrum Delta8 Oil from RedPill
• Delta 8 Capsules by RedPill

Put another way, a 10-piece bag of Sunshower Solar Punch gummies contains the maximum allowable amount of 10 mg THC plus 100 mg Delta-8; which equates to an additional 50mg of Delta-9-THC at around half the potency.

“That [Canadian] Cannabis regulations have specific limits for delta-9 THC content in products such as cannabis edibles and extracts, however there are no such limits for D8 or other cannabinoids,” says Ulanowksi.

Cannabis edibles in Canada are restricted to a maximum of 10 mg THC per serving/dose per container, ostensibly to reduce the risk in the event of accidental ingestion.

Consumers and cannabis companies don’t exactly like the 10 mg THC limit for edibles because it limits choice, pushes people towards illegal edibles, and increases packaging waste.

“Review of the current restrictions on dosing of delta-9-THC in edibles would be an important step in the evolution of Canadian cannabis regulations,” says Krestell.

Dynaleo isn’t the only company breaking new ground with D8. The Impromptu brand lists a cannabis drink on OCS as containing 20mg of delta-8-THC and 10mg of delta-9-THC—roughly twice the maximum allowable THC dose.

Delta-8 offers a potency and price gap in current Health Canada regulations

In addition to the ingestible dose limits, delta-9 THC content is also used to calculate excise duty on cannabis extracts, which include oils, vaporizers, and concentrates. Nextleaf recently announced a THC-O-Acetate vape cartridge as an “excise-free alternative.” THC-O-Acetate is another semi-synthetic cannabinoid that uses delta-9-THC as a chemical precursor.

“Excise tax law requires license holders to pay $0.01 for each mg of D9 THC sold in extract or edible form, but these taxes do not apply to D8 or THC-O,” shares Ulanowski. “This allows licensees and consumers to sell products with a higher margin or buy them at a lower cost.”

Unlike D8-THC, THC-O-Acetate and other semi-synthetic cannabinoids are considered more potent than D9-THC. According to Néron, efforts to circumvent THC restrictions “may lead to undesirable consequences for consumers and patients in relation to rare/novel cannabinoids”.

“When two active ingredients are very similar (similar drug names, packaging, appearance, dosage) there is an associated risk of error. We need to think about an error reduction strategy to avoid mix-ups and wrong product selection.”

Making assumptions about a drug’s safety or efficacy based solely on chemical similarities is dangerous, to say the least.

“Structure-related drugs can have different pharmacological profiles, [small changes] can increase or decrease the response of the central nervous system,” says Dr. Néron, “[Morphine and hydromorphone] are chemically almost the same, but hydromorphone is 5-10 times stronger, so we use an equivalent dosage.”

Canadian regulations specifically require that delta-9 THC and CBD levels be declared on every package, but this is not required for other cannabinoids. Companies like Dynaleo proactively disclose, but are not necessarily required to do so.

“Sunshower continues to use the same disclosure for D8 Solar Punch that it uses for all other adult chewing gum,” in terms of cannabinoid content, Krestell says.

Ulanovsky “encourage[s] All manufacturers must test and label their products appropriately so consumers know what they’re taking,” which he says is “particularly important in the context of non-THC and CBD cannabinoids, where consumers may not have much experience.”

Considering that these products didn’t even exist until a few years ago, it’s safe to say that the consumer experience is nil. Never in history have such doses and dosage formats been so widely available to so many people. Despite the gaps in knowledge, cannabinoids are toxicologically safe alongside other popular plant compounds.

“I suspect regulators will closely monitor such products and may propose some additional regulations…if they believe these minor/novel cannabinoids pose a public health risk,” Ulanowski says.

Adam Greenblatt

Adam Greenblatt is a long-time cannabis educator, content leader, and thought leader, also known as @weedpro on TikTok.

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