Hemp contains 0.3% or less of THC, meaning that hemp-derived products don't contain enough of the compound to create the “high” associated with marijuana. Hemp extracts naturally contain delta-9 THC, but in much smaller quantities than marijuana extracts. The issue arises when hemp manufacturers concentrate the delta-9 that naturally exists in the hemp plant to produce intoxicating edibles, vaporizers and tinctures. The natural amount of delta-8 THC in hemp is very low, and additional chemicals are needed to convert other cannabinoids in hemp, such as CBD, to THC delta-8.For example, a 5 gram gummy could contain 15 milligrams of THC delta-9 derived from hemp and still meet federal requirements to be a legal product with no more than 0.3% THC in dry weight.
At Cornbread Hemp, a CBD manufacturer in Louisville, Kentucky, executives saw the THC delta-8 trend as proof that some consumers are seeking out intoxicating hemp products and are not opposed to hemp-derived THC. Many hemp extractors remove THC from CBD products to promote the non-intoxicating effects of CBD and attract consumers who undergo THC testing.
