In the last year, Delta 8 has taken off and most people don’t even know what it is, if it’s legal or what it can do.
It has taken off so much so that Tom Wasilewski, owner of E-Cig Outlet in Big Rapids who sells a variety of Delta 8 and CBD products, went from making 3,000 Delta 8 chews a week for his stores to 190,000 a week that he’s selling throughout the world.
Delta 8 is a form of THC found in cannabis in very small amounts. The chemical difference is that Delta 8 has its double bond on the eighth carbon chain whereas Delta 9 has its double bond on the ninth carbon chain. Essentially, it’s one double bond different from the commonly known marijuana that was legalized for recreational use in Michigan in 2018.
Delta 8 has similar effects to Delta 9 THC in the fact that it relaxes the user’s body, however it only gives users about one third or one half the psychedelic effect, according to three sources who spoke to the Torch on conditions of anonymity.
It also stimulates the user’s appetite, although the sources reported that it was not strong enough to make them feel hungry. However, users did report that it did help with nausea, insomnia, anxiety and mild aches and pains.
Delta 8 is legal in 38 states, including Michigan. It was legalized under the Farm Bill of 2018 which legalizes cannabis products that “contain less than .3% of Delta 9 THC.” However, there is a minimum purchasing age of 18. This bill covers products like CBD, CBN, Delta 8 and other various forms of cannabis.
“When we found out it [Delta 8] was legal, it has such great properties that are stronger than CBD and give you more of an immediate effect than CBD does. So that’s how we migrated to that,” Wasilewski said.
Wasilewski still sells his CBD products but says that Delta 8 products have quickly surpassed it in sales.
“Delta 8 took a minute to take a foothold here because I think people had a lot of questions like ‘what will it do to me?’ ‘how many should I take?’, but now that they’ve taken a couple, we passed out samples, it’s really picked up,” Wasilewski said.
One of the concerns being raised since there is little legal regulations for Delta 8 products, what is preventing manufacturers from using the vitamin e additive in the cartridges that people were overdosing on in 2019?
“Well, the government is always behind on this kind of stuff. We need proper regulations like warning labels, dosage instructions and ingredients list. We need sensible regulations though, not draconian, overburdensome regulations,” Wasilewski said.
Since Wasilewski manufactures his own product, he’s able to control what goes in and for his product
“These are all-natural products. There’s nothing synthetic, there’s nothing added. It’s not made in a lab, the worst thing they [Wasilewski’s Delta 8 chews] have for you is the sugar,” Wasilewski said.
Wasilewski finished by suggesting that if people were interested in trying any Delta 8 products that they should do their research and purchase them from a reputable retailer and to start with a small dose to test the waters.