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What Is Delta 10 THC?

Published July 31, 2021
What Is Delta 10 THC? - Secret Nature

THC was an illegal drug in most places just a few months ago. Now, you can buy all the THC you want online: It just has to be a version of THC other than delta 9.

At first, delta 8 THC was the only alternative available. Recently, though, delta 10 has also been gaining popularity, and you might be curious about what this cannabinoid is, what it does, and how it’s similar to other members of the THC family.

3 types of THC — delta 8, delta 9, & delta 10

Like most plant-derived substances, cannabinoids have multiple forms. Unlike the process of synthesizing a drug in a lab, nature is messy as it determines the ideal versions of substances to express.

Alternative forms of THC have largely been overlooked up till now since they’re essentially carbon copies. Terpene nerds know, for instance, that there’s technically a difference between the alpha and beta versions of pinene, but it’s not significant. The case is the same for cannabinoids.

Where the significant differences between delta 8, delta 9, delta 10, and other forms of THC arise is not in their effects but in their regulation. Due to a technicality of legal verbiage, delta 9 is the only form of THC specifically designated as a Schedule I drug by the US federal government. In most cases, other forms of THC fall under the definition of “industrial hemp” as outlined by the 2018 Farm Bill.

What are the benefits of delta 10?

It might be disappointing that delta 10 isn’t very different from delta 8, but that also means these two cannabinoids share many of the same benefits. Delta 10 THC is:

  • Not specifically named in the text of the Controlled Substances Act
  • Generally considered to be industrial hemp unless modified
  • Currently sold online and shipped to all 50 states
  • Believed, but not confirmed, to have more uplifting effects than delta 9
  • Somewhat redundant since delta 8 THC already exists

Should I buy delta 10 THC?

Right now, it’s our recommendation to avoid delta 10 THC since reduced competition in this hyper-niche market has caused an equal reduction in product quality. The delta 8 industry is already rife with sloppy or unsafe products, and delta 10 is usually thrown in as a gimmick without much thought given to quality or safety.

If you ever see delta 10 products in our inventory, consider Secret Nature’s position changed. The only reason we’d start carrying delta 10, though, is if we found a reliable, natural source as good as our source of delta 8.

TL;DR: There’s no point in trying delta 10 right now since it’s basically the same as delta 8 and probably lower-quality.

Does delta 10 THC get you high?

Since delta 10 is essentially the same thing as delta 9 or delta 8, yes, delta 10 THC does get you high. Some people say the high you experience is different, others don’t. As is common for zoned-out cannabicionados, many delta 10 users report (or, let’s face it, imagine) unique, uplifting effects, but there’s no scientific basis to back up this anecdotal reporting.

It’s the same situation as we’ve seen with delta 8, which users consider to be more calming than the normal form of THC. Regardless of minor dissimilarities between the pharmacokinetics of different variants, the science is established that, for all intents and purposes, THC is THC.

Can you buy delta 10 online?

Yes, delta 10 is widely sold online, though it isn’t as commonly available as delta 8. The allure of delta 8 is obvious, and since it was the first hemp-derived form of THC to take the spotlight, it has commanded attention ever since.

It’s possible that delta 10 has benefits above and beyond those offered by delta 9 or delta 8, but there simply isn’t any scientific basis for this position. With the advent of delta 8, we’re thrilled with the increased access to cannabinoids that’s suddenly available to everyone, but we aren’t yet sure what genuine, unique value delta 10 adds to the equation.

How is delta 10 different from delta 8?

There don’t appear to be any significant differences between delta 8 and delta 10. Both cannabinoids aren’t specifically named under the Controlled Substances Act, and in most cases, they’re considered to be industrial hemp. It’s possible that perceived differences between the effects of delta 8 and delta 10 could be real, but they could also be imagined. 

How is delta 10 similar to delta 8?

From the perspective of chemical structure, delta 8 and delta 10 THC are virtually identical. The difference between these cannabinoids is much more slight, for instance, than the differences between delta 8 THC and CBD or even delta 9 and THCV.

As far as we’re able to tell, delta 10 is basically the same thing as delta 8. Since some people report that delta 8 is more relaxing, though, it might be more appropriate when you want to chill out and let go of stress.

Delta 10 THC FAQ

Is delta 10 legal?

You can get in trouble for calling the wrong things “legal,” but it’s true that delta 10 THC is not covered under the definition of “marijuana” in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). While rarer than delta 8, delta 10 THC products are widely sold on the internet and even in retail stores.

Is delta 10 the same thing as delta 9?

No, delta 10 and delta 9 are chemically distinct, so they’re different substances from a regulatory perspective even though they have essentially the same effects. There’s also a possibility that future research will uncover differences in the ways delta 9 and delta 10 affect our bodies.

Is delta 10 the same thing as delta 8?

No, but delta 8 and delta 10 are in the same regulatory category, essentially eliminating any salient differences. Science hasn’t discovered any meaningful differences between these cannabinoids, and the law hasn’t invented any yet either.

Is delta 10 the same thing as CBD?

No, delta 10 and CBD are as clearly different from each other as CBD is from any other form of THC. While the differences between the delta 8, 9, and 10 forms of THC might end up being proven more imagined than concrete, CBD and THC are clearly very different on a chemical level. All it takes is a microscope to prove that.

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