If you want to try Delta-8 THC products, make sure you’re shopping at a reputable cannabis retailer.
Our favorite new cannabinoid, Delta-8 THC, is completely legal, has a mild psychoactive effect — about two-thirds as intoxicating as Delta-9 THC — and is an enjoyable way to relax, reduce stress, stimulate appetite, and promote sleep. Like Delta-9, Delta-8 is a natural compound in the cannabis plant, but is present in smaller amounts than Delta-9.
There are many ways to experience Delta-8, including flower, tinctures, and capsules. With different strains to choose from, you can customize your experience based on what you want to feel.
So what should you look for and what should you avoid when trying to find a reputable Delta-8 retailer?
Shop at a real New Orleans cannabis dispensary.
Although you may be able to find Delta-8 at a gas station, that doesn’t mean you should buy it from there. Businesses that specialize in cannabis provide products of higher quality than what a gas station or convenience store can typically stock. A dedicated cannabis store will offer a much wider selection of products, and will have a knowledgeable staff that can answer questions about dosage and safety and help you find the best product for your needs.
Insist on full-panel testing by accredited labs.
Our New Orleans cannabis dispensaries take great pride in the quality of our products and all the ingredients that go into them. All of our products are full-panel tested at an independent ISO17025-accredited laboratory.
Delta-8 products sold in Louisiana are subject to the federal prohibition on the sale of any hemp-derived product with more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC. But in Louisiana specifically, Delta-8 ingestible products must also not exceed a Total THC concentration of 1%. Our full-panel testing assures legal compliance.
The certificate of analysis provided by the testing lab also shows the potency of our products — including the concentrations of CBD, Delta-8 THC, Delta-9 THC, and other cannabinoids — and whether a product is free of pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, microbes, and other toxins. Purity is paramount because hemp is a bioaccumulator: it absorbs material from the soil more quickly than it can eliminate it. This may be helpful in cleaning up compromised land. But hemp products grown in contaminated soil are not ideal for human consumption.
Use Delta-8 products made from USA-grown hemp.
About a third of CBD products sold in the U.S. are sourced from hemp grown abroad. Ensuring the hemp-derived CBD and Delta-8 products you consume are grown in the U.S. helps support small American farmers. Although the ingredients in our Delta-8 products vary, they all incorporate Delta-8 THC that is derived from USA-grown hemp, are extremely pure, and are lab-tested for quality and potency.
Support Louisiana’s budding hemp brands.
Louisiana is home to several reputable Delta-8 manufacturers, including Crescent Canna and Cypress Hemp. We have been proud to work alongside both of these Louisiana brands fighting for an expanded hemp industry in the state. Delta-8 is only legal and accessible here because of the political organizing and support from Louisiana cannabis businesses. Support the local brands that continue to be the foundation of our state’s budding cannabis industry. Read Crescent Canna’s press release about the launch of their first legal THC products in the state.
Start with a small dose.
Delta-8 THC produces psychoactive and intoxicating effects. After consuming it, users can feel euphoric, uplifted, and relaxed. But how strong the effects will be for you largely depends on the potency or concentration of Delta-8 in the product or dose you are consuming. As in the case of CBD, there is no one-size-fits-all dosage. We recommend starting with a low dose, then gradually working your way up to the amount that works best for you.
At Simply CBD, our experienced staff can advise you on finding the right product and dosage.
If you have questions about Delta-8, please contact us any time or stop by one of our New Orleans cannabis dispensaries to check out our huge selection of Delta-8 THC and other cannabinoid products.
