All About Delta-9 Gummies
What is your favorite treat and why is it delta 9 gummies? Let’s talk about it.
We’ll break this into two major sections:
- What is delta 9?
- What are gummies? Or since you probably already know what gummies are, what makes them different from smoking or vaping?
We’ll also get into some additional questions like how long do delta 9 gummies last, and how long can they show up on a drug test?
What are Delta 9 Gummies?
First of all, delta-9 might sound fancy, but it’s actually no fancier than THC. In fact, it is THC – the OG psychotropic cannabinoid. Its full name is delta-9-THC, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Similar to how someone named Elizabeth might sometimes be called Eliza, and sometimes called Beth, marketers have multiple nicknames for this compound.
Delta 9, or THC, or whatever you want to call it, gets you high by interacting with receptors in your brain called CB1 receptors. CB receptors are named for cannabinoids (aka phytocannabinoids), and cannabinoids are named for cannabis. That’s because scientists actually discovered and characterized the compounds in cannabis well before they discovered our bodies’ naturally-produced cannabinoids (aka endocannabinoids). Endocannabinoids are not very similar to phytocannabinoids, but they share a name simply because cannabis was discovered first.
One reason why the nickname delta-9 has been adopted in lieu of THC is because there are now other versions of THC available for purchase – like delta-8-THC, delta-10-THC, and delta-11-THC (not to be confused with 11-hydroxy-THC – we’ll get to that).
The number that comes after the delta tells you which carbon has a double bond in the chemical structure. Check out the picture to see the difference between delta-9 and delta-8 THC. They’re very similar!
Because they are structurally almost the same, they also behave much the same in your body. They are both psychotropic (that is to say, they both get you high), since they interact with the same CB1 receptors in a very similar way.
If you hear someone refer to THC without saying delta-something, you can automatically assume they are referring to delta-9-THC. Delta-9 is the “dairy milk” of THC cannabinoids. Sure, nowadays we have lots of milk options – almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk. But if someone says “milk,” it is automatically understood that they mean dairy milk, unless they specify otherwise.
Like dairy milk, delta-9-THC got here first. Delta-9 was the first psychotropic compound isolated in cannabis. It is also the only compound that is naturally present in a high enough quantity to get you high if you’re smoking cannabis.
Delta-8 and delta-10 are the almond milk and oat milk of the THC family. They are marketed as newer alternatives to delta-9 THC. They are naturally occurring, but in much lower quantities, so they need to be extracted and concentrated specifically in order to have an effect. Another way to get delta-8-THC is to cyclize CBD in hemp. This is actually an easier route since CBD is present in high concentrations in hemp.
Like the other deltas, delta 9 can be derived from hemp. Hemp-derived delta 9 is exactly the same as the delta 9 found in marijuana. However, due to a legal technicality, delta 9 gummies are legal under federal law thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill.
Why are Delta-9-Gummies Different Than Smoking?
So that tells you what delta-9 is. But what, if anything, is particular about delta-9 gummies? To answer this, we need to understand that there are some fundamental differences between inhaling cannabis and eating cannabis. Inhaled forms include smoking and vaping in any form. Eating includes gummies, cookies, oils, or any other edible form of cannabis.
Perhaps you’ve noticed from experience that edibles hit differently than smoked or vaped THC. It all has to do with how THC is metabolized. When you inhale THC, it goes straight into your bloodstream via the lungs. When you eat THC, it has to go through your digestive system. That means it gets metabolized, or broken down, to produce new compounds. Most of this processing falls under the responsibility of the liver.
When you inhale THC, about 30% of it is bioavailable. When you eat THC as a gummy (or anything else), the bioavailability is between 4-12%. In that sense, edibles are not nearly as efficient as smoking or vaping.
But edibles do have their advantages. First of all, vaping and smoking isn’t the best choice for lung health. So, if you’re looking out for your lungs, gummies might be the way to go.
But beyond that, edibles make up for their lower bioavailability through increased potency. To understand how, we need to understand a little bit about the liver metabolites of THC.
Some of the new metabolites are biologically inactive, but some of them are psychotropic like THC. The most important psychotropic metabolite of THC is called 11-hydroxy-THC. 11-hydroxy-THC has a similar potency compared to THC.
Actually, the body converts THC to 11-hydroxy-THC no matter how you consume it – via inhalation or edible. BUT, when you have oral THC the conversion is about three-fold higher. That’s enough to make up for the lower bioavailability of edibles.
In the end, you’ll find that gummies take a bit longer to kick in, but once they do, they can pack quite a punch thanks to 11-hydroxy-THC.
How Long Do Delta 9 Gummies Last?
11-hydroxy-THC takes its time on the way in and on the way out. That means that you can expect a delayed onset and an extended high.
Exactly how long is highly variable. Delta 9 gummies could last from a few hours, or even the whole day. Usually it’s in the range of four to twelve hours. It depends on how much you ingested, the strength of the gummy, and your body’s unique ability to metabolize THC. Even your mood, your surroundings, and what you’ve eaten can affect the way you experience THC. The key thing is that you can expect your high to last for longer than the smoked or vaped equivalent.
That’s why it’s always a good idea to start low and go slow. Take a low dose to test it out. With gummies, it’s important to be patient. If you don’t feel any effects straight away, don’t get impatient and take more. For more guidance, you can check out this weed dosing guide.
How Long Does Delta 9 Gummies Stay in Your System?
The most common way of testing for THC is by taking a urine sample. Delta 9 gummies may remain detectable in your urine for a few weeks or even months. If you are a less frequent user, took a small dose, or metabolize THC quickly, the detectable window could be much shorter.
Delta 9 gummies will show up on a drug test long after the psychoactive effects have worn off. This is true whether you’ve smoked, vaped, or consumed a gummy. How long THC is detectable in your system depends on many factors. These factors include:
- How much THC was consumed
- How frequently it was consumed
- Your ability to metabolize THC
- Your body fat percentage
- The sample taken (meaning urine, blood, saliva, or hair)
- The analytical method that was used (meaning the sensitivity of the test itself)
Where Can I Buy Delta 9 Gummies?
We have curated a wide selection of our favorite brands selling delta 9 gummies. There are tons of flavors and variations to choose from. Delta 9 gummies come blended with other cannabinoids, so you can optimize your high for the occasion – whether you’re getting ready to go out on the town, or out like a light. You can even get delta 9 gummies blended with amanita muscaria mushrooms for an extra trippy experience.
As always, if you need any additional guidance regarding delta 9 gummies or something else, please feel free to contact us for a free consultation.
Products containing less than 0.3% Delta 9 THC by dry weight are federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill. Each state, though, has its own regulations, so make sure you check your state's laws first.
Delta 9 THC, THC, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, Delta 9, D9, or whatever else you want to call it, is the main psychoactive chemical that is naturally occuring in cannabis plants. It is found primarily in the resin produced by the buds and leaves of female cannabis plants.
Some gummies need to be treated differently from others, but rule of thumb is to keep away from excessive heat, keep your gummies in their original packaging, keep them out of direct sunlight, and keep in stable conditions.
To sum all of these things up; keep your gummies in stable conditions. Room temperature, non-fluctuating temperature, dark spaces and low humidity air quality are prime conditions for your CBD storage. The pantry in your own home is perfect for this. If you’re carrying the on-the-go gummies, just make sure you aren’t leaving them in your unattended car for hours.
If your gummies do melt, the best thing for you to do is to toss and replace them. The melting of CBD gummies will change the chemical composition of the cannabinoids, which means the benefits you are looking for from them will significantly decrease. Keep your gummies safe and properly stored to keep the full benefits of the CBD product.
A dose of THC is generally considered to be between 5 and 10 milligrams.
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