Have you heard of the new variant of THC or tetrahydrocannabinol that made its way into the market?
Yes, we are talking about delta-8 THC. It is another cannabinoid in cannabis plants; people love its therapeutic benefits and mild euphoric effect. This drug is also a safer choice than many OTC products.
The oldest and most popular way of enjoying cannabinoids is smoking or vaping. There are different delta-8 vape cartridges and pre-rolls available in the market like Serenetree Delta- 8 Vapes. Many cannabis enthusiasts prefer to grow their delta-8 hemp flowers themselves. If you want to do the same, keep reading this article for more information.
What is a delta-8 flower?
As we said before, delta-8 is another cannabinoid available in cannabis plants (for example, marijuana and hemp). By THC, people generally refer to delta-9. The drug is also infamous for its intoxicating effects. But only a trace amount of delta-8 (less than 0.1%) naturally occurs in cannabis plants, and it also has a less intoxicating effect. The two cannabinoids share almost the same chemical and molecular structure, differing by a carbon double bond. D-8 offers many health benefits like other cannabinoids, but its side effects are much fewer than others. So, many cannabis enthusiasts are turning to the drug now.
How does delta-8 occur in cannabis plants?
Delta-8 appears naturally in cannabis plants like hemp plants. Like other cannabinoids, creating delta-8 starts with CBGA, the mother of all cannabinoids. CBGA turns into THCA, which goes through decarboxylation (heat exposure for a proper amount of time) and results in delta-9. It becomes delta-8 if oxidation happens and it gets degraded. It could be the reason behind the long-shelf-life of the product even when exposed to air. The two cannabinoids may be similar in many aspects. But not in the ratio of availability. The concentration of Delta-9 can be as high as 30% in hemp plants, but delta-8 is only present in a trace amount. The low availability of the drug makes it even cumbersome and expensive to extract it from the plants.
How is delta-8 cultivated?
The most popular way to produce the drug is to convert it from CBD. All the cannabinoids share a similar chemical structure. So, it is not so difficult to turn one cannabinoid into another. Even before delta-8, scientists convert one cannabinoid to another in the laboratory. The process is well-known as isomerization. We present a guide on converting CBD into delta-8 in a laboratory.
Step 1-Take CBD isolate:
To convert CBD into another cannabinoid, you need to remove all the other cannabinoids and terpenes present in the product. It is taken through a rigorous filtration process to make almost 99% pure CBD isolate.
Step 2-Add a solvent and an acid:
Dissolve the CBD isolate into a non-polar and organic solvent like heptane. Unlike any other cannabinoids, this conversion does not respond well to the ethanol extraction process. After the CBD is fully dissolved into the solvent, add acid (the popular choices are hydrochloric acid, alumina acid-washed, and p-toluene sulfonic acid) and stir. Keep the solution at 100 degrees Celsius and churn it for at least 18 hours. You can use a hot stirrer plate for this step.
Step 3-try out different solvent-acid combinations:
There are many different combinations of solvent-acids you can try. They will all require various time durations and leave different results. The processes will leave residue or byproducts that need purging. So, you can choose which one works the best for you.
Step 4-Neutralize and wash the solution:
After the drug is ready and the upper base of the solution separates, you have to wash up and neutralize the solution. The process will leave several unwanted residues harmful to your health. So, getting rid of those chemicals are essential. Aqueous 5%, NaHCO3 wash, and a rotary evaporator is the standard choice for this process.
Step 5-Test the resulting product to ensure its quality:
If you are manufacturing a drug, you have to be confident it is safe to use. So, you have to test the quality of the drug in a laboratory to ensure it does not contain any harmful chemicals or pesticides. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is the most recommended method for quality testing.
How can you make delta-8 flowers?
The delta-8 vape flowers you can find in the market are delta-8 sprayed flowers. You know how you can make delta-8 distillate. So, you are one step closer to making your delta-8 flowers. The flowers are primarily hemp flowers. Here is a step-by-step instruction on how you can make your vape flowers.
Step 1-Prep the flowers:
Choose hemp flowers that are light green and dense budded. So that they would not break while spraying. After spraying, the flowers also get darker. Prep the flowers by trimming the stems as much as possible.
Step 2-Prepare the distillate:
To prepare the distillate, know that you should not be too dense. Use a good quality tumbling device at a slow enough speed to evenly apply the distillate. You can also add additional terpenes to the solution. But it is optional. Do not add anything combustible or harmful to health.
Step 3-Use a spray gun:
Use a spray gun to mist the distillate onto the flower evenly. Try to make sure the droplets of distillates are fine enough to create an even structure on the flowers.
Step 4-Apply kief on the flowers:
The last step is to apply high-quality kief evenly onto the flowers. And it is ready. Check the delta-9 levels of the kief before using it. Be patient every step of the way, do not rush the process.
Now you know how you can cultivate the best delta-8 flowers. Many manufacturers use a greenhouse environment for farming these flowers. Low temperatures and recyclable water can significantly increase production. If it is the first time you are firming vape flowers, do thorough research. Smoking or vaping these flowers has many therapeutic benefits like relieving pain and inflammation, helping sleep better, alleviating stress, anxiety, and depression. You can use organic soil for better production. So, happy cultivating!