Delta-8 products have created quite a stir since they first hit the market just a few years ago. We’ll clear up the controversy surrounding delta-8 products and discuss the importance of third-party lab testing in the largely unregulated industry.
Before we get into all of that, here’s a quick overview of delta-8, including what it is and why it has been so controversial in recent times.
What is Delta-8?
Delta-8 THC is a phytocannabinoid found in both hemp and marijuana. As delta-8 is present in very low levels in both plants, extracting it for use in commercial delta-8 products is not a viable endeavor for businesses in the industry. Instead, most companies extract the delta-8 they use in their products from hemp-derived CBD.
What Effects do Delta-8 Products Have?
Like delta-9 THC, the intoxicating compound in cannabis that causes users to become ‘high,’ delta-8 also has psychoactive effects, albeit at a lower potency.
Estimates of delta-8 THC’s potency suggest that it is approximately 70-80% as potent as delta-9 THC. Users of delta-8 products describe their effects as euphoric and uplifting but also pleasantly relaxing.
Is Delta-8 Legal?
There has been a considerable amount of controversy surrounding delta-8 products in the media. Furthermore, several states have banned delta-8 products. However, delta-8 products are readily available, and in May 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that delta-8 products were lawful under the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill.
Despite this Supreme Court ruling, individual states have and can ban delta-8 products if they so choose. Therefore, if you are considering buying delta-8 products, you must find out whether they are permitted in your state.
Where Can I Buy Delta-8 Products?
As mentioned, delta-8 products are readily available online. Some leading brands, such as Premium Jane, have delta-8 for sale. Premium Jane offers delta-8 gummies and delta-8 tinctures as part of its wider product range.
While third-party testing of delta-8 products is not mandatory, Premium Jane goes to the added expense of having its delta-8 products tested by independent laboratories. They do so as they are committed to product safety and know that consumers feel more confident purchasing a delta-8 product that a third-party lab has tested.
Let’s outline some of the reasons why third-party lab testing is essential for delta-8 products.
Why is Third-Party Lab Testing so Important for Delta-8 Products?
To Provide Independent Evidence of Product Safety and Purity
The entire industry surrounding delta-8 products is largely unregulated. So consumers need to be sure that the delta-8 product they will consume is safe.
Rather than simply taking the brand’s claims at face value, consumers can read the full third-party lab report for a specific delta-8 product batch on the company’s website.
The lab report typically shows the consumer that the product batch was tested for the presence of impurities and contaminants, heavy metals, pesticides, etc. This is essential for alleviating any concerns the consumer might have about the purity and safety of the delta-8 product they are considering buying.
To Provide Independent Evidence of Product Potency
Unfortunately, in the mostly unregulated delta-8 industry, some companies will look to cash in on the growing popularity of delta-8 products. As a result, some substandard delta-8 products make their way onto shelves.
Not only are these products potentially unsafe for consumption, but without a third-party lab report to verify the brand’s claims, it’s possible that these so-called “delta-8 products” may not contain any delta-8 at all!
A third-party lab report shows precisely how much delta-8 is in the product, so you know you are getting the real deal.
To Strengthen Consumer Confidence
Knowing that the brand has incurred the added cost of having its delta-8 products tested by a third-party lab speaks volumes for the credibility of that particular company.
Let’s face it, having delta-8 products tested by state-of-the-art equipment in a laboratory is expensive. Therefore, when you see a link to a lab report on a brand’s website, like Premium Jane’s, you can be sure that the company cares about its customer’s health and well-being.
Final Thoughts on Why Third-Party Lab Testing is Important for Delta-8 Products
After reading this short article, we hope that you can see why third-party lab testing is so important for delta-8 products.
Independent lab results not only show that the product was tested for the presence of impurities and contaminants but also that it contains the level of delta-8 claimed by the brand on its packaging.
Finally, it should go without saying – never buy a delta-8 product from a brand that does not provide evidence of third-party testing.