Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol
Cannabinoids
Structure
- Compound name
- Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol
- Synonyms
- —
- CAS number
- 5957-75-5
- Molecular mass
- 314.464 g/mol
- PubChem
- Δ8-THC
Δ8-tetrahdrocannabinol (Δ8-THC) is an analogue of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (commonly known as just THC). The only difference between the two is in the position of their double bond, which is expressed as "Δ" in the name of the substance.
The main value of this cannabinoid lies in its low potency, which translates into lower psychoactivity. When taken in high doses, Δ8-THC has shown to cause lower levels of anxiety than its relative Δ9-THC. This lower potency, together with the substance's array of medical benefits, prompted researchers to look deeper into its conversion, concluding that, generally speaking, Δ8-THC produces similar psychoactive effects to Δ9-THC but is 50 to 75 per cent less potent.