What is Delta-10?

Delta-9 THC is the cannabinoid we all know and love-it's the main compound in weed strains that gets people high and has been doing so for thousands of years. You may have heard of delta-8, which has gained in popularity in the past year or so, a cannabinoid similar to delta-9, but less potent.

Now, to confuse things even more, a cannabinoid called delta-10 is becoming more popular. Truly, it's hard to keep up with weed trends.

So let's see what the big deal is with delta-10, if it can get you high, how it compares to other cannabinoids, and how to get it.

What is delta-10?

Delta-10 is a cannabinoid found in trace amounts in the cannabis plant. Like regular THC-delta-9-it can get you high, but it is less potent than delta-9. This makes it similar to delta-8, another cannabinoid that is less potent than regular THC.

According to Roger Brown, president and CEO of ACS Laboratory, a lab that tests hemp-derived products from 48 states, "Delta-8 was very popular and had really taken off, and now delta-10 has taken off as well, and we're seeing it in a significant amount of products that are being tested."

Delta-10 is commonly processed from hemp-derived CBD, as is delta-8. Because hemp is legal all over the US (more on that below), delta-10 is considered legal in all 50 states. However, as with delta-8, certain states have outlawed delta-10 on their own.

The cannabinoid is usually available in vape carts, gummies, or other edibles, and can be mailed to certain states.

What's the difference between delta-8 and delta-10?

To create both versions of THC, CBD oil is first extracted from legally grown hemp. The resulting oil is processed into either delta-10 THC or delta-8 THC. Different chemicals and reactions are used to create the different deltas.

Delta-10 THC is not easy to manufacture. It must be refined extensively, so you usually don't see it in abundance. "If you see a product out there that says 99% delta-10, I don't believe it," said Brown. Because it is so hard to produce, a lot of products combine delta-10 with delta-8.

Is delta-10 safe to consume?

Delta-10 is safe to consume, however, Brown stressed that as chemicals are used in the extraction process, it is critical to only consume delta products that have been lab-tested at an accredited lab to ensure they have been purged of all chemicals and contaminants and are safe for consumption.

Legitimate delta-10 products, like those tested at ACS Laboratory and other licensed labs, will have a QR code showing consumers the proof of testing certification.

What are the effects of delta-10?

Delta-10 can get you high, although it is much less potent than regular delta-9 THC. Anecdotally, delta-10 is commonly reported to provide energizing effects, whereas delta-8 is reported to be more sedating. Delta-10 is often compared to strains like Sour Diesel, Pineapple Express, or Super Lemon Haze, whereas delta-8 is compared to strains like OG Kush, Wedding Cake, and Purple Punch.

"To put it in perspective," said Brown, "delta-8 is more like an indica and delta-10 is more like a sativa. They have two very different vibes to them. People who want to use a sleep aid, as an example, have used delta-8, [whereas] delta-10 gives you more creativity or perspective."

It's important to note that these effects are not based on any scientific study; more research is needed on these compounds. On top of that, every person has a unique body chemistry and compounds will affect people differently.

Is delta-10 legal?

Currently, delta-10 products are federally legal because they are derived from hemp, which was legalized in the US when Congress passed the 2018 farm bill. This is what makes delta-10 so appealing-consumers who live in states where cannabis is illegal can purchase delta-10 because it is technically derived from hemp and not cannabis. (Hemp is legally defined as a cannabis plant containing less than 0.3% delta-9 THC.) Although delta-10 is less potent than regular delta-9 THC, people can still get high from it, legally.

However, as is the case with delta-8, some states have taken it upon themselves to outlaw delta-10. Additionally, some delta-10 producers won't ship to certain states if that state's laws are unclear.

This leaves the legal landscape for cannabinoids messy. THC (delta-9) is recreationally legal in some states and medically legal in others. Delta-10 and delta-8 are illegal in certain states, but some of those states do have legal recreational or medical weed.

Be sure to check a specific producer's website to see where they ship to, but by and large, if you live in these states, you cannot get delta-10:

• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Delaware
• Idaho
• Iowa
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Rhode Island
• Utah

Whether delta-10 or delta-8 will get outlawed in more states is yet to be seen, but if that does happen, producers may move on to yet another new cannabinoid to skirt the law-maybe THC-O, maybe something else.

"If delta-8 is outlawed in states, they're going to look for the next delta," said Brown. "They're just going to try and find a way around it."