Most people who have had a conversation around cannabis use know that the active compound in the plant, THC, can have a psychoactive effect on consumers. The most commonly known form of this compound is Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or Delta-9 THC. This is the form of THC that is federally illegal in the United States.
Research around THC has revealed other molecular variants of Delta-9 THC. Delta-8 THC has been used in research for decades and more recently recreationally. Delta-8 has served as a workaround for many cannabis consumers to enjoy a less aggressive high, legally.
Other, lesser-known isomers exist as Delta-3, -4, -7, and 10-Tetrahydrocannabinol. It might be easier to think of these variations as having the same chemicals as THC but in a different structure. The resulting effects are linked but to varying degrees.
This brings us to our focus for the moment, Delta-10-THC.
When researchers began taking a closer look at the chemistry of cannabis in the ‘60s, they discovered an array of interrelated compounds, a few of which are mentioned above. There are more lying in wait to be discovered, too.
Delta-10 was one such fluke discovery when a batch of cannabis flower was purchased by California-based cannabis company Fusion Farm to create cannabis distillate. The process produced unfamiliar crystalline structures within the resulting distillate. The cause would be identified in California’s raging wildfires and the fire-retardant chemicals dropped by firefighters to combat blazes across the state. These chemicals had been absorbed by the growing plants and served to create the new compound.
The technicians at Fusion Farms studied the compound using an array of scientific analyses, learning that it was similar to delta-9 but unrecognized as a known cannabinoid. It has the same chemical formula as Delta-9 THC but those molecules are in a different arrangement. The resulting chemical compound has effects that are presented differently in consumers when compared to Delta-9 or Delta-8. The effects have been described as a more Sativa-based high when compared to Delta-8, which has a reputation for being more closely related to an Indica high.
Very little is currently known about the compound and research is ongoing. That said, the increased visibility surrounding this new compound has piqued the interest of many researchers, consumers, and entrepreneurs.
As mentioned above, Delta-10-THC is a compound derived from processing cannabis flower into a distillate. The conditions under which the compound was first synthesized might give anyone a reason to reconsider consumption. Fusion Farms and others are currently looking at ways to recreate Delta-10 at scale. As a result, the compound is hard to come by from retail locations and online merchants.
Still, there are places where one can buy Delta-10-THC. Just as fast as manufacturers were able to put these products on shelves and online, states began outlawing Delta-10. The states that have already enacted Delta-10 prohibition laws include:
As an isomer of THC Delta-10-THC has the potential to get you high. That high will not be identical to the effects felt with Delta-9 or Delta-8 THC though. Delta-10 has a high that is reported to be uniquely its own. Those who have tried it, liken the experience to a “heady buzz” similar to a Sativa-dominant cannabis strain but also lacks strength due to its poor ability to bind to our nervous system’s CB1 receptors. It instead favors our CB2 receptors.
Because the compound shares so much make-up with other THC isomers. It follows that Delta-10 would share many of the same effects, with varying intensity. These effects can include, but certainly aren’t limited to:
Delta-10 THC is safe for consumption when it is derived from an uncontaminated source material and processed safely. That said, the compound is very new and few are able to back up their claims of safe production. Fortunately, there are a few reputable sources for the material online and these entities will readily make their testing certifications for each batch available.
Be wary of any company that does not supply such supporting documentation, especially for compounds as poorly understood as Delta-10 THC.
