Delta-9 gummies have become the go-to snack for adults wanting to chill and enjoy a euphoric experience. If you’re a cannabis user and enthusiast, you’d know that delta-9 THC is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis.
Thus, it’s hard to reconcile how delta-9 products like gummies are legal and available for purchase.
Marijuana is federally illegal in the United States, according to the Controlled Substances Act. Most concerns that have kept it federally illegal are related to its high delta-9 THC content.
So, this begs the question: “Why and how are delta-9 gummies legal?” This article explores the laws guiding cannabis goods like delta-9 gummies. First, what are delta-9 gummies, and what’s in them?
What Is Delta-9 THC?
Among the over 100 cannabinoids in the plant cannabis sativa, delta-9 THC is the most abundant. Cannabidiol (CBD) is also abundant in some plants, with almost contrasting effects to THC. Delta-9 gummies are tasty fruity snacks containing delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (simply known as THC or delta-9 THC).
This compound is what causes the high cannabis users might feel when using cannabis. Besides its psychoactive effects, delta-9 might have some health benefits. Several users use it for pain and anxiety relief. It’s famous for inducing feelings of relaxation and euphoria, as well as increasing appetite and libido.
How Is Delta-9 Made?
To make delta-9 hemp gummies, the THC is extracted from either marijuana or the hemp plant. Reputable companies use a clean extraction process, like the CO2 extraction method, to obtain the THC.
Another way to make delta-9 is through a process known as isomerization. Several cannabinoids in the cannabis plant are isomers of each other.
Thus, a simple change in the chemical bond of one compound can result in another compound with entirely different features and effects. With this process, the formulators can easily turn the hemp-derived CBD into delta-9 THC through slight chemical manipulations.
So, if the CBD is hemp-derived, the resultant delta-9 THC is technically legal according to the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, i.e., the 2018 Farm Bill.
What are Delta-9 Gummies?
After extracting the delta-9 THC, this hemp extract is infused into tasty gummies. Delta-9 gummies are one of the most popular cannabis products on the market. Many cannabis users love delta-9 gummies because they are a discrete and enjoyable way to enjoy delta-9 THC.
Dozens of companies make them, but many are of questionable quality and potency. Reputable brands like Exhale Wellness are forerunners in the cannabis industry, formulating high-quality cannabis products like delta-9 gummies.
Are Delta-9 Gummies Legal?
The legality of a delta-9 gummy product will depend on one crucial factor: Hemp or marijuana? Simply put, the source of the delta-9 THC in the gummies is what determines its legal status.
Essentially, these two plants are distinct by their delta-9 THC gummies content. Thus, a delta-9 THC product is considered legal if it has a legal percentage of THC.
In 2018, the United States passed the Farm Bill. This bill decriminalized the use and sale of hemp products. Before that time, hemp and marijuana were, by law, the same (cannabis). Thus, they were both illegal according to federal laws.
However, the Farm Bill stipulated that a cannabis plant containing less than 0.3% delta-9 THC is legal hemp. The law also stated that industrial hemp and its products would be legal federally.
The marijuana plant, on the other hand, contains more than 0.3% of this psychoactive substance. This plant and its products remain illegal under federal law. Some state laws allow the sale and use of marijuana for recreational and medical purposes. Technically, THC from both plants is the same. Their only difference stems from legislative distinction.
For delta-9 gummies to be legal, the delta-9 THC must come from the hemp plant. That means the product would have to contain less than 0.3% THC by dry weight. As long as the product contains less than 0.3% of THC, it is technically legal.
Where are Delta-9 Gummies Legal?
According to the current laws, hemp-derived delta-9 gummies are legal on a federal level. Thus delta-9 gummies from the hemp plant are legal federally. However, delta-9 from marijuana is still not legal in most US states.
Only 19 states and the District of Columbia have legalized the use of recreational marijuana. These states still have different laws concerning sales, distribution, and personal cultivation.
Can Delta-9 Gummies Get You High?
The short answer is yes. Even though these products contain less than 0.3% of the compound, taking a sufficient number of gummies might cause a psychoactive effect. Unlike some other intoxicating hemp products, hemp-derived delta-9 produces a mild “buzzy” high.
Where Can I Buy Legal Delta-9 Gummies?
There are tons of delta-9 gummies in the market, but they are not all equal. Some gummies contain illegal amounts of delta-9 THC, residual solvents, heavy metals, additives, and harmful substances.
Due to a lack of government restrictions regarding these products’ manufacturing, many are not as safe as regulated cannabis products. Exhale Wellness makes high-quality delta-9 gummies and other hemp products like full spectrum CBD gummies.
Their products are 100% organic and natural and contain no animal products. The brand ensures that its tasty gummies are formulated to give you the ultimate delta-9 experience legally. Exhale Wellness delta-9 edibles also undergo analyses from independent labs.
Conclusion: How Are Delta-9 Gummies Legal?
Delta-9 gummies are the new legal way to enjoy cannabis. While many claim that it offers medical benefits, there is still a long way to go with scientific research. Since delta-9 THC is still not legal according to US federal law, it’s normal to be curious as to why intoxicating products like delta-9 gummies are supposedly legal. Well, as we’ve seen, it’s all due to the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill.
This bill stipulates that all hemp-derived cannabinoids are federally legal. Thus, when hemp-derived delta-9 is in gummies, that makes them legal. Note that even in small amounts, delta-9 might still show up on a drug test.