Understanding Cannabis: D9-THC versus D8

Cannabis is a complex plant, with hundreds of different compounds.

You don’t need a biology degree to understand it, but there are a few fundamentals that will help you create an ongoing, positive experience with weed edibles.

One of these fundamentals is understanding the different kinds of THC that are available in cannabis products online and how they may affect you. The short version of it is: D9-THC is the compound that appears naturally in cannabis plants and gets you high. D8-THC is something altogether different, and NOT what we use in edibles at High Confectionary. 

If you want to break it down more, I got you. We’re not going back to science class (I promise) but here’s what you need to know 

The Fast Facts 

Cannabinoids: chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant 

D9-THC: stands for “delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol” and it’s the most abundant cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. It’s also why you get high when you consume cannabis. 

D8-THC: a cannabinoid that exists naturally in tiny quantities in the cannabis plant and is commonly made in a lab for selling cannabis products over state lines 

Your endocannabinoid system: A surprisingly important, yet unknown system that is the reason that THC makes you high. Your ECS is as unique as your fingerprint, governs most of your biological functions, and has a lock-and-key receptor for delta-9 THC. 

A Deeper Dive into D8

In order to make products with D8, brands have to take hemp products and chemically convert them into THC. This process is widely unregulated and unmonitored, which could pose a health risk if your products aren’t properly screened to ensure the chemical process doesn’t leave any traces. 

But D8 products have another problem - they’re untested. D9 is the most common chemical found in cannabis and we have tens of thousands of studies proving that it is safe for people, even in high quantities. Your endocannabinoid system has a receptor that fits perfectly with D9-THC and we have a firm understanding of how this molecule works. 

But we don’t know about delta-8. This compound doesn’t exist naturally in large enough quantities for it to have a major effect on your high, or for it to be tested in scientific studies. And unlike other cannabinoids like CBD and CBN, we don’t know if there are any benefits to it or how it interacts with your endocannabinoid system. 

Why High Confectionary Uses D9-THC

D8 products have become popular in markets where D9 THC isn’t legal. But there’s a lot we don’t know about D8 and there’s a lot that can potentially go wrong during the chemical conversion process. 

We don’t use D8-THC at High Confectionary. Instead, we use D9-THC, because it has a long history of human use and proven safety. When you read headlines on the medicinal use of cannabis, researchers are looking at D9-THC. When medical patients join programs, they’re buying D9-THC. When Willie Nelson talks about smoking for his entire life, he’s talking about D9-THC. 

The THC is High Confectionary is hemp-derived, but there are no chemical changes. How? THC occurs naturally in hemp plants as well as marijuana plants. In fact, the main difference in marijuana and hemp plants is how much THC they have. Hemp plants have less than 0.3% THC by dry weight, as designated by the federal government. Our gummies have less than 0.3% THC by dry weight, which makes them federally compliant - and they still contain THC (no chemistry class needed.) 

D8 wasn’t around in the same way when I started working on the Uplift gummies, and even if it was, I like my cannabis products as natural and safe as possible. While too much THC can create a negative high experience, it is ultimately safe. I created a microdosed edible so that everyone could enjoy the tested and trialed benefits of THC. We don’t use D8 because I simply don’t know enough about it or its safety. 

I stand by every ingredient in High Confectionary gummies. I know the experience you’ll have with these gummies - and I’m proud of that. High Confectionary isn’t here to get you sky-high - we’re here to make the benefits of cannabis accessible to everyone. 

If you don’t want to take any chances with your cannabis experience, reach for a High Confectionary gummy. These edibles are vegan and microdosed for a consistent, repeatable experience with naturally occurring cannabinoids and pronounceable ingredients. 

Cannabis is plant medicine, and we don’t have to change it in a lab to get the benefits of it - it really is as simple as that.