Delta 8 THC gummies are one of the most sought-after delta 8 products right now. They contain the same delicious gummy base as CBD gummies, but they also offer an extra kick of adulthood thanks to a healthy dose of delta 8 THC in each gummy.
Delta 8 THC is theoretically legal on a federal level because it can be extracted from hemp. It also offers a smoother cognitive experience on top of a lower incidence of triggering mental discomfort.
The above features have made it a desired alternative for those cannabis users who don’t respond well to the trippy effects of delta 9 THC.
But, since the delta 8 THC space is unregulated, it can be difficult to distinguish between high-quality companies and shady vendors who just want to cash in on a booming market.
In today’s article, we blow the doors wide open when it comes to buying delta 8 THC gummies online. We cover the best products from the most reputable vendors in this market and provide you with tips on how to ensure you always make a wise purchase decision.
Best Delta 8 THC Gummies: Most Potent Edibles for 2022
- Area52
- Finest Labs
- Delta 8 Pro
1. Area52 Delta 8 THC Gummies
These gummies are very potent and make a little go a long way. It takes 1-2 gummies to produce a potent psychoactive experience, which is why many people event cut them in halves to split the dosage into smaller increments. Area52 is a great company if you’re a regular delta 8 THC user or looking for a cost-effective way to enjoy delta 8 THC.
Another serious advantage of Area52 over its competition is that the company doesn’t use any artificial colorings and flavorings. The gummies are flavored and colored with organic fruit extracts.
2. Finest Labs Delta 8 THC Gummies
Finest Labs makes hands down the best delta 8 THC gummies for those who are just getting started with delta 8. These gummies are infused with 25 mg of delta 8 THC distillate and cannabis-derived terpenes from the Blueberry strain. The effects of a single gummy are better for microdoses in regular amounts. You’d need to double the amount to increase a similar intensity of effects as with Area52, so if you’re not a weekend user, you may find them disappear a little bit too fast.
3. Delta 8 Pro Gummies
The Delta 8 Pro gummies contain 25 mg of delta 8 THC in each gummy. They are vegan-friendly and made without any dyes or artificial colors. However, unlike the two above brands, Delta 8 Pro offers only one flavor variant for its gummies.
It’s also difficult to find any proof of the company’s claims about their hemp sourced from organic farms. The lab reports from this company also don’t include results for pesticides and heavy metals.
Things We Took into Account When Choosing the Best Delta 8 THC Gummies for Our Ranking
Here at Weed News, we’re constantly monitoring the American cannabis scene, reviewing the best and the worst products on the market. When searching for the best Delta 8 gummies for the purpose of making this ranking, we have used the following quality criteria:
- The source of hemp: as a dynamic bio-accumulator, hemp should be grown using organic methods to ensure the highest concentration of beneficial substances upon extraction.
- Extraction method: CO2 extraction is the industry’s standard because it doesn’t require extra heat or aggressive solvents to produce decent yields of the delta 8 THC distillate.
- Formulation: we took into consideration different formulas, from the standard delta 8 THC contained in a gummy base to more specific formulas, e.g. for better focus, sleep, or immune support.
- Transparency: from the company’s mission statement to their communication with customers and third-party testing practices, we left no stone unturned when analyzing dozens of brands that claim to offer premium delta 8 THC.
What Are Delta 8 THC Gummies?
Delta 8 THC gummies contain the same delicious gummy base as CBD sweets — save for the main ingredient, which is delta 8 THC.
There are different types of THC molecules. The one you deliver to your system when smoking, vaping, or eating weed is delta 9 THC. It’s the compound that induces the signature marijuana high.
But, delta 9 has a close cousin that has a similar chemical composition and many of the same health benefits but is much less likely to trigger anxiety and paranoia.
The slight difference in the atomic structure between delta 8 and delta 9 THC makes the former about half as potent as the latter. That means you’d need to take twice the amount of delta 8 to experience the same intensity of cognitive change as with delta 9.
Studies point to delta 8 THC as a potential tool for easing pain, inflammation, nausea, and vomiting. Delta 8 THC also has significant appetite-stimulating and neuroprotective properties.
Do Delta 8 THC Gummies Get You High?
Yes, but not to such an extent as delta 9 THC.
Like we said, as an isomer of delta 9, delta 8 THC is about half as strong. You need higher doses of this cannabinoid to get the same kind of high as when you take regular cannabis gummies.
Delta 9 THC is known to cause mental discomfort such as anxiety and paranoia besides some physical reactions like increased heart rate. This normally doesn’t happen at low and moderate doses, but when the user breaches their tolerance threshold at some point, the relaxing effects of delta 9 can backfire at them.
That’s why many people choose to avoid high-THC weed.
Now they have an alternative option.
Delta 8 THC Dosage: How Many Gummies Should I Take?
The standard delta 8 THC dosage range is between 10 and 60 milligrams of delta 8 THC depending on the type of effects you’re looking to achieve. As mentioned earlier in the article, delta 8 THC is not as potent as delta 9, so you can double your regular dose if you use cannabis frequently.
Lower doses promote better stress response, motivation, and focus; they also have mood-elevating properties. Higher doses tend to have a sedating effect on the user.
When you overdo delta 8 THC, you may not experience anxiety and paranoia, but some reactions, such as dry mouth, dry eyes, confusion, and problems with motor functions are inevitable. Therefore, you should always use delta 8 THC gummies responsibly.
How to Find the Best Dose of Delta 8 THC for Yourself
The best thing about delta 8 THC gummies is that they offer a premeasured dose of delta 8 THC in each serving. Knowing how much delta 8 THC one gummy contains, you can assess the right dosage with baby steps.
If this is your first time with delta 8 THC gummies, we suggest that you use lower potencies like 10 mg, or if you have a 25 mg gummy, cut it in half and enjoy it in smaller increments.
If you’re looking for a cognitive boost, 10 mg taken twice a day should help you achieve your goals. Doses like 20 mg and upwards will have a more relaxing effect and become body-centered.
The best approach is to start at the lowest dose possible and gradually increase it until you find the sweet spot.
Are Delta 8 THC Gummies Safe?
If your gummies have been tested by a third-party lab, they should be safe for your health. To date, no study has found a direct toxic effect of delta 8 THC in humans. It’s also impossible to die from overdosing on delta 8 THC — which is true for all other cannabinoids.
That being said, delts 8 THC can still trigger a few unwanted reactions.
Possible Side Effects of Delta 8 THC Gummies
- Dry mouth
- Red eyes
- Short-term memory impairment
- Problems with coordination
- Difficulty concentrating
- Fatigue
Things that Can Make Delta 8 THC Gummies Dangerous
In many cases, it’s not delta 8 THC that should be your concern. It’s the lack of regulation and the presence of dangerous contaminants in many delta 8 THC products that are sold locally. Here’s what can make your delta 8 gummies dangerous:
Contaminants & Synthetic Additives
Contrary to how delta 9 and CBD are obtained, delta 8 THC can’t be directly extracted from cannabis plants because they only produce a trace amount of it. When delta 9 THC breaks down over time, it converts mostly to CBD, and only a small part of it transforms into its more stable isomer, delta 8 THC.
Delta 8 THC companies extract this cannabinoid from hemp, using a multi-faceted conversion process from CBD. This procedure requires a lot of skill on the manufacturer’s part, not to mention expensive laboratory equipment to ensure that everything goes by the book.
Marijuana is much higher in delta 8 THC than hemp, but its legal status makes the availability of marijuana-derived delta 8 THC products limited to the states where the recreational use of weed is legal.
On the other hand, hemp is legal on a federal level as long as it contains 0.3% of delta 9 THC or less. However, not all hemp companies have the right equipment and knowledgeable employees to run the extraction properly, leaving behind residual chemicals that have been used for the aforementioned conversion.
Bleaches
Some manufacturers use bleaching agents in their products to make their delta 8 THC distillate appear cleaner. But in fact, natural delta 8 THC distillates have a pinkish color, so by trying to make an impression of a pure product, these companies are actually doing more harm than good to consumers. Reputable manufacturers will never bleach their extracts because they know what real distillates should look like. All of the Delta 8 THC gummies we’ve listed in our article use unbleached delta 8 THC distillates.
Is Delta 8 THC Legal?
The cannabis plant family has two distinct members — hemp and marijuana. In 2018, the federal government made a clear distinction between them by introducing the amended version of the Agricultural Act known as the 2018 Farm Bill.
The new law removed hemp from the list of controlled substances, legalizing its use on a federal level. Hemp and its derivatives can be grown and harvested for commercial use so long as they contain no more than 0.3% of delta 9 THC.
However, the DEA has recently stated that all synthetic “tetrahydrocannabinol” is federally illegal. The problem with that statement is that synthetic extraction means something has been made in a laboratory with synthetic ingredients — which is anything but true for hemp-derived delta 8 THC.
So far, only 13 states have banned the sale of delta 8 THC, including Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, New York, Rhode Island, and Utah.
You can read more about Delta 8 THC Legality HERE.
Differences Between Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC
Wondering what the differences between delta 8 and delta 9 THC are? Here’s a brief comparison:
Strength
Delta 8 THC does get you high, but it’s a different strength of cognitive change. You’d need to take twice the amount of delta 8 THC to achieve the same intensity of effects as with delta 9.
Side Effects
The most common side effects of high doses of delta 9 THC are anxiety, paranoia, and racing heart. While it’s possible to experience fatigue and general confusion from overdoing delta 8 THC, the high is more clear-headed and less anxious. As a matter of fact, anxiety and paranoia are very rare among people who eat delta 8 THC gummies.
Tolerance
Tolerance starts to build up when the body adapts to certain amounts of a substance. You need to increase the dosage to experience the same kind of high over time. Tolerance to delta 8 THC builds much faster than it does to delta 9, but it also gets reversed very quickly.
Legality
Marijuana remains illegal on a federal level despite more states hopping on the legalization bandwagon. Even though some states have placed a ban on delta 8 THC, hemp-derived products are still legal on a federal level until the government clarifies the conflict between the law and the stance of the DEA.
How to Buy Delta 8 THC Gummies
The Delta 8 THC space is a young and rapidly evolving market. If you’re looking to explore more delta 8 THC companies than what we’ve mentioned in our ranking, here’s what you can do to make sure you’re buying from a reputable source.
1. Look for Certificates of Analysis
This should always be the number one position on your priority list. Third-party laboratories are special testing facilities that have no affiliation with the manufacturer. As such, they provide unbiased lab reports for the product’s delta 8 THC concentration and its safety. If there are any contaminants or inconsistencies in the product’s potency, the lab analysis will spit it out.
Interpreting lab reports doesn’t require a diploma in rocket science, but you should at least check the chemical composition of your gummies.
If the company you’re interested in doesn’t post the lab reports on its website and doesn’t respond when you ask the representatives to send the certificate of analysis (COA) via email, they’re not worth your time.
The most important parameters to check on a certificate of analysis include:
- Potency: the lab measures how much delta 8 THC is in the product
- Pesticides: the presence of pesticides commonly used on mass-produced hemp
- Microbial contaminants: fungal and microbial impurities that result from improper storage
- Heavy metals: the lab analysis shows their concentration in ppm of each compound
- Bleaches: as we said, this is a common problem for the delta 8 THC market
- Residual solvents: looks for organic solvents, such as butane, propane, or hexane
2. Read User Reviews
Reputable brands are well known in the cannabis community and have many positive reviews on third-party websites. We always recommend our readers to check for the reviews on third-party sites because they often stay in stark contrast to what the company is posting on their website. You can also search through forums and social media groups to reach out to experienced users for their opinion.
3. Check the Source of Delta 8 THC
Although delta 8 THC is the same compound no matter where it comes from, the source can affect its legal status.
The only delta 8 THC gummies that you can legally buy online are those derived from hemp. That being said, you should always check with your local laws to make sure that your state hasn’t banned delta 8 products.
And if you order from hemp companies, double-check the source of their hemp. These plants are dynamic bio accumulators, meaning they absorb everything from the environment they grow in.
The best delta 8 THC gummies are made from organic hemp.
4. Make Sure There Are no Dangerous Ingredients in Your Gummies
Delta 8 THC is very simple when it comes to its composition. When companies add synthetic additives such as colorings and flavorings or use preservatives to extend their product’s shelf life, they actually compromise their health benefits. The best delta 8 THC gummies should only contain gelatin or fruit pectin, organic sugar, and organic fruit juices (or their concentrates).
5. Double Check the Delta 9 THC Content
Hemp-derived delta 8 THC gummies should contain less than 0.3% of delta 9 THC. The best way to make sure that the product hasn’t been contaminated with delta 9 is to look into the certificate of analysis from a third-party lab. If you want to try marijuana-derived delta 8 THC gummies, you can do it in states that have legalized all forms of cannabis for recreational use.
Final Thoughts on the Best Delta 8 THC Gummies
Delta 8 THC gummies are all the rage these days. Their legal status, as well as the lack of anxious side effects, have made them a great alternative to delta 9 THC, especially for the users that don’t respond well to the psychoactive effects of regular weed.
When searching for the best delta 8 THC gummies, make sure to check the certificates of analysis, read user reviews, and run a thorough background check on your potential vendors. Doing so will help you make smart product choices!