Tag: Delta-8

The Difference Between Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC… What You Should Know

It seems that we are constantly running into new forms of CBD or THC that we need to learn about. Back in the 1970s, there was a big push to learn more about THC and therefore learn about the different types of THC that could be created or discovered.

Now we have quite a number of THC variations: Delta-8, Delta-9, THC-P, THC-O, THC-V, and the list goes on. I know that all of these things can get confusing, but today I wanted to talk about Delta-8 and Delta-9 specifically, mostly because these are the ones that are most commonly used in the United States today. Delta-8 is an especially hot topic in the United States right now, since it is technically considered CBD but also can get you high.

You see, the reason that CBD has been legalized by the federal government is because it does not inherently contain any THC. Since it is technically derived from hemp, it has become completely legal across the nation. But what is Delta-8 then? Well, I am going to be talking about all of this today in this article, so make sure that you keep reading if you want to learn more. Anyone who has smoked their fair share of weed could tell you about a THC high that we associated with Delta-9.

Of course, the high you get can differ depending on the strain of marijuana that you use, but most are somewhat similar to each other. You get that nice warm feeling in your brain, your body starts to tingle a bit, you feel happy and giggly and relaxed: it’s all just a great time. But have you ever been a little disappointed after getting high? Sometimes it can be frustrating to come down from a high and realize you have no idea what happened for the last couple of hours.

You couldn’t really focus on anything or get anything done, you simply just vibed for a bit. While that can be a fun pastime, it is not necessarily a sustainable practice for people using medical marijuana every night to treat certain health conditions. Plus, Delta-9 THC is not legal in every state. However, this is where Delta-8 can come in.

As I said before, Delta-8 is technically considered CBD. It’s basically a loophole in the federal government’s law against THC products nationwide. But Delta-8 is still different from other types of THC, and noticeably so. Some people prefer using Delta-8, while others say that it pales in comparison to the classic Delta-9 THC that they know and love.

Either way, I think it is important to at least give Delta-8 a try and decide for yourself. Like I talked about before, Delta-9 THC can really impair your ability to think clearly, function, or even converse with people. You kind of just float for a bit. Delta-8, in comparison, is a type of high in which one still has a lot of control. People that regularly use Delta-8 definitely feel its effects, but they don’t feel completely impaired from doing things or thinking.

For some people, this is a huge benefit. Don’t get me wrong – Delta-8 definitely makes you feel intoxicated to where you shouldn’t drive or do things like that, but it is not going to be as intense as a Delta-9 high. Some research suggests that Delta-8 THC could actually be better for the brain in the long run. It is said that adults who use large doses of THC daily will see changes in their brain overtime. Delta-9 THC can cause a reduction in brain tissues in the prefrontal cortex, but this is only for very chronic users of the drug.

Cannabis and Glaucoma

For a lot of people, glaucoma makes life very hard. Glaucoma is a type of eye condition that causes  blindness, and vision loss. The cause of this is not known, and there are no early warnings to heed, and no cure or way to treat this really. There are however, new ways to approach this, and ways to make the pain a little bit easier, and cannabis has become a big way to treat this condition, as it can help with the intraocular pain that people with glaucoma deal with on a daily basis.

The main symptom that people see is eye fluid issues, and damage to the optic nerve. Those who have a low eye pressure, or normal, this may have a symptom, and some may look into how to protect this optic nerve from damage. Some of the symptoms include eye pain, vision that’s blurred a type of tunnel vision, blind spots, nausea, headaches, vomiting, and even halos near lights, and eyes that are cloudy. You may also be sensitive towards light and may have eyes that are larger than normal.

Types of Glaucoma

Glaucoma comes in different types. The most common is open angle glaucoma, and this is usually due to fluid buildup, and this is usually in the aqueous humor, which is a humor in the eye, and that causes the fluid to drain. When there is too much, it causes eye pressure concerns. There is also normal tension, and this is one that’s a subset of open angle, and this is usually where the eye pressure is normal, but for those who have lower blood pressure, heart conditions, or a genetic history of this, you might suffer from this.

There is also angle closure glaucoma, and this is something that’s actually a major emergency. It happens due to the iris bulging forward, restricting, or even blocking this drainage. It then causes the IOP to increase, and then, it’s something that can cause pain. The outer parts of the iris do drain out the fluid, and due to the rapid fluid buildup, it causes eye pressure to increase, and it can cause blindness in days.

There is also congenital glaucoma, which is rare, and the symptoms are pretty easy for you to view. The eyes are much larger, cloudy, and there is a light sensitivity. This usually involves surgery to prevent total vision loss for the rest of your life.

How cannabis Helps 

Cannabis has some promising benefits for those who have glaucoma, as it can help with reducing the IOP in certain people after a few hours, and it peaks around two or so hours. Once these effects did wear off, the IOP did go back to normal. While not a good and effective permanent treatment, it can help with making it better for you, and more manageable.

There are many different ways to take cannabis, so if you want longer time and relief, this can offer some benefits. There is also a chance that due to the antioxidant effects within this, you’ll be able to possibly reduce further damage to the optic nerve. There is also another study that also says that cannabis does target the optic nerve, reducing the IOP damage as well.

Overall, while it’s not s cure, and a means to permanently make it go away, it does have some neuroprotectant, anti-inflammatory, and other means, and there is a chance that it can reduce your optic nerve and other further progression of this. However, because there isn’t a ton of research on this, it’s not a cure, but a possible treatment down the line.