How to Find and Buy High Quality Delta-8 THC Products

Smoke shops, CBD outlets, and traditional head shops across the country sell a variety of products containing Delta-8 (Δ8th-THC), the hemp derivative that is considered federally legal under the terms of the Agriculture Act of 2018.

Unlike CBD, the intended goal of the Agriculture Act of 2018, Delta-8-THC is intoxicating. In other words, it gets you high.

Delta-8 is a naturally occurring cannabinoid that is commonly obtained from CBD from hemp. Its distillate is usually infused into edibles or sprayed on hemp flowers, making it smoked like normal cannabis.

In the past year, Delta-8 products have flooded the market, often promising a “lighter” or “more functional” high than all-natural cannabis. Many industry insiders and consumers have described it as a more alert high that removes the fear and paranoia that can accompany more energizing cannabis strains.

It has exploded in popularity in hardline prohibition states, where it is the only option for a legal high. But Delta-8-THC products also fill the shelves of unlicensed stores in places where government-licensed cannabis is legal and easily available. All over Southern California, smokers’ shops (which are not licensed to sell legal cannabis) have glass cases with anything Delta-8 in them.

Why should I pay attention to quality?

There is a lot of marketing and enthusiasm surrounding Delta-8, but – outside of licensed cannabis stores – no regulations to ensure the potency and purity of the product. There are no rules for stopping bad actors.

We asked experts in the cannabis industry, scientists, retailers, and manufacturers for advice on what to look for and how to find the purest, highest quality Delta-8 products. Here are some of their best suggestions.

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Is Delta-8 THC Safe? That’s what the experts say

Rule # 1: Buy from licensed cannabis stores

If you live in a legal state, state-licensed cannabis stores only carry legitimate, quality-checked Delta-8 products. These are the gold standards.

In California, Washington, and other states with legal adult use, Delta-8 THC products sold in licensed cannabis stores are subject to the manufacturing requirements and laboratory tests that all licensed cannabis products must pass.

“Cannabis products containing delta-8-THC would not be treated any differently than cannabis products containing delta-9-THC, CBD or other cannabinoids,” said Matt Conens, a spokesman for the California Department of Health. “All cannabis products must meet California requirements for the manufacture and testing of cannabis.”

It’s important to note that state regulators only control products within the state-licensed cannabis system. They do not have the authority to stop the sales of random Delta 8 THC products in unlicensed stores such as head shops, gas stations, and smokers’ shops. If you see a licensed brand of cannabis in an unlicensed store, it is likely a fake as the real brand could lose its cannabis license for breaking the rules.

Rule # 2: Beware of the head shops

Traditional head shops are great for finding new pieces of glass, rolling papers, and other accessories.

But when it comes to Delta-8-THC, pretty much anything can get into these stores as they are not subject to any of the regulatory requirements that legal cannabis dispensaries must adhere to. There are no rules about what a head shop or gas station can sell when it comes to Delta-8 products.

As a consumer, you have no certainty that what is advertised on the packaging is actually there – or that it does not contain pesticides, toxic diluents or other mysterious additives.

You can occasionally come across legitimate products at some of these stores, as Delta-8 has pretty much the same state status as CBD (which is even available at grocery stores). The fact is, however, it can be hard to tell – especially given factors like misleading packaging and fake lab reports.

Rule # 3: Stay away from counterfeit brands

Some stores that operate outside of government-licensed cannabis systems sell packages of vape-carts and rubbers that look eerily similar to the illegal vape-carts that contracted EVALI vape-lung disease in 2019.

Pro tip: don’t fall for fake brands and copycat packaging. We’re already seeing sketchy stores selling Delta-8 products with logos that mimic established legitimate brands like cookies. If this is really a cookies product, you won’t find it anywhere except at a state-licensed cannabis store.

Rule # 4: Check the QR code and COA

Never buy anything without a QR code or anything that isn’t clearly branded. You need to be able to trace the product back to its brand source. The best way to do this is to scan the QR code while you are in the store.

This may feel uncomfortable, but it’s basically the only way to know if the product is real before you buy it.

Products made by counterfeit brands or illegitimate counterfeiters do not have a QR code on the packaging – or a QR code that leads nowhere. The QR code on a legitimate branded product leads to information about the lab test and batch potency of the product.

It is possible that the QR code could lead to an incorrect lab report. Several people in the industry have told us they saw fake test results. The code is usually linked to a document called a Certificate of Analysis or COA that breaks down the test results for products. They’re usually done by a third-party laboratory and show the purity of the product – cannabinoid levels such as how much Delta-8 THC is present or how much federal Delta-9 is illegal. They can also show test results for contaminants like pesticides, mold and microbes and show if they are within legal limits.

Canna Redux in Denver has this helpful list of tips for checking COAs.

Rule # 5: Buy online directly from the manufacturer

When you can’t buy from a state-licensed cannabis store, buying it online can be an easy way to know you are getting a genuine Delta-8 product.

When you shop online, you can buy from a reputable retailer or directly from the product manufacturer. A reputable brand will usually have a lab testing tab on their website where you can view or request lab reports on their Delta-8 products. It’s available on the websites of top brands like 3Chi, Delta Effex, Pure Craft CBD, and Diamond CBD.

Rule # 6: Avoid Websites That Use Cash App Payments

How do you know you are ordering online from a legitimate source? One clue is their payment system.

Avoid places where they are prompted to purchase via Cell, Cash App, or Venmo. Because CBD is federally legal – and Delta-8 is derived from CBD – online merchants have the option to partner with legitimate payment processors, unlike most pharmacies in the licensed cannabis industry.

Most of the leading CBD brands with Delta 8 offerings in their line of products accept major credit cards such as Discover, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.

Jason Navarrete, CEO of Pure Craft, said major payment processors will only work with CBD brands like his after they run their products’ certificates of analysis (COAs) through a fraud-checking system. This recognizes whether a laboratory report has been processed or falsified.

Many payment processors take this extra step because they are reluctant to work with anything Delta-8 related. “Many still don’t want to play with it,” said Navarrete. “It was very, very difficult for me to process this product, and that’s because the banks are also responsible in the backend and want to make sure they are safe.”

When visiting an online seller’s website, scroll to the bottom of the page. This is usually where you can find out if they accept major credit cards. You can also just fill a shopping cart and start the checkout process to see if you can use a major credit card.

Leafly’s Guide to Delta-8

Marissa Wenzke

Marissa Wenzke reports on cannabis in Los Angeles for Leafly. She is a graduate of Columbia Journalism School and works as a digital news producer for KTLA news programs.

View article by Marissa Wenzke

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