Behind the extraction of Delta-8-THC, a chemical reaction with acid

This is the New fashion in the United States. The prestigious New York Times speaks of her as a« A drug that gets you high and is (maybe) legal. In Uncle Sam's country, the Delta-8-THC market is already estimated at $10 million... even though it's only been on the market for a few months. But behind this «legal drug» lies a complex chemical process that we don't necessarily understand.

Delta-8-THC is a cannabinoid present in (very) small amounts in the plant. To extract it, you therefore need to bring out the heavy artillery. First step: take some CBD, then dissolve it in a nonpolar solvent, like hexane, for example. Then add Lewis acid, then heat to 100°C, and mix for 1 to 18 hours. But the operation is not yet finished, since the whole thing must be dried with sodium bicarbonate, then extracted with ether.

Nothing very «natural,» then, but rather a long chemical process. And as incredible as it may seem, this delta-8-THC is legal in the United States. At least, it's not not forbidden by the Farm Bill, which legalized hemp at the federal level in 2018.

Industry leaders in the breach

Without a moment's hesitation, manufacturers are taking advantage of this «gray area,» which is neither forbidden nor authorized. «I realized that no products came from THC biomass, but I saw many rusty reactors arrive that converted tons of CBD into Delta-8. And nobody informed the consumer about where the products came from.», alarms a cannabis industry employee, contacted by Cannabis Life Network.

The news site therefore advises Americans who are fond of Delta-8 to request a Certificate of Analysis before purchasing. And for good reason: with this chemical reaction, risks exist, for example, in potential solvent residues. If one mixes a bad solvent with a bad acid, the risk is «to extract benzopyrenes, which are carcinogens», Dr. Jon Thomas, chemist and head of the ExtraktLab laboratory.

Good advice, so ask for a certificate of analysis. And be wary of delta-8 «"95% pure %". Because the remaining 5 % compounds can be potentially dangerous. By reading the certificate, you can be sure that the product has been tested and that there are no solvent residues in what you are about to consume.