Only those of us who’ve been enjoying marijuana for a long time remember when we had to source from sketchy dealers.

Now, everything has changed. You no longer need to go to a dealer to get marijuana.

If you live in a legal state, you can access marijuana at dispensaries, and in some places, you can even order it online.

On the other hand, if marijuana is illegal where you live, you can get similar benefits and even some extra features by consuming delta 8 THC. D8 offers all the same benefits as conventional THC, but it’s made from hemp — which makes it legal in most states according to federal law.

Legal Weed: Buying Marijuana From a Dispensary

If recreational weed is allowed where you live, consider yourself lucky.

You can acquire a safe, high-quality product at a lower price than on the black market. Also, you benefit from knowing what strain you’re smoking and what its cannabinoid and terpene profile is.

But what if recreational marijuana use is prohibited where we live?

Delta 8: A Legal Alternative to THC

This compound is one of the most relevant among those naturally produced by marijuana.

Delta 8 THC has psychoactive effects but isn’t as potent as Delta 9. It is also complicated to extract. It’s expensive to get but less laborious to extract than Delta 9.

Delta 8 is a potent cannabinoid that has a lot to offer. It is an isomer of Cannabidiol and a derivative of the hemp plant. It’s theoretically legal if the final product contains less than 0.3% Delta 9 THC

Both Delta 8 and 9 are made of double chains. The number following the “Delta” is the carbon chain to which they’re linked. Other than that, the process of cannabinoid binding to our receptors is pretty much the same as both bind to CB1, which is usually the one believed to produce the psychoactive effects, although it is also the one that CBD binds to.

Delta 8 THC vs. Dealers: Why You Should Choose the Legal Path

If searching for “weed near me” on Google and getting several results from nearby dispensaries isn’t a reality for us, we have the option of acquiring marijuana on the black market, obtaining an inferior quality product, and putting ourselves at risk.

Or we can choose the legal path: buying delta 8 THC from a reliable vendor.

Delta 8 vs. CBD

CBD is one of the most vital chemicals found in marijuana plants.

The most abundant molecule found in cannabis plants is delta 9 THC.

Although CBD may share similar properties with Delta 8, its main difference is that CBD doesn’t produce psychoactive effects.

CBD has gained popularity and has been on the market for some time.

This cannabinoid is known for its benefits in treating anxiety, depression, insomnia, preventing seizures, controlling cancer-related pain, and more.

Although not too many studies have been conducted on delta 8 THC because it is a cannabinoid that has only recently begun to be extracted and marketed in pure form, the anecdotal evidence is promising. Users can discover the benefits of this legal cannabinoid in most states for themselves by getting it from a trusted vendor.

Differences in the Effects of Delta 8 & CBD

CBD doesn’t produce euphoric effects; delta 8 does. Think of Delta 8 as Delta 9 THC’s little brother. It has more subtle psychoactive effects.

CBD won’t get you stoned. It’ll lightly bind to the neurotransmitters of the endocannabinoid system. On the other hand, Delta 8 produces psychotropic effects because it has a stronger bond with CB-1 neurotransmitters.

CBD and all other industrial hemp byproducts are legal nationwide.

Is Delta 8 THC Legal?

Yes! Delta 8 is federally legal if the THC content is less than 0.3% and it is naturally derived from the hemp plant. If Delta 8 is derived from the marijuana plant and has a THC concentration of 0.3%, it’ll now be considered a controlled substance.

Although CBD and Delta 8 aren’t prohibited at the federal level, each state’s laws may differ. Some states only legalize CBD and Delta 8 for medicinal use, but you can purchase them for recreational purposes in others. We recommend you check the legality of both substances in all states before making any purchases, whether online or at a local store nearby.

How to Get Delta 8 THC: Best Online Vendors

Because of the improvements in legal status for delta 8, you’ll find this stuff readily available online.

It’s important to watch out for vendors that don’t offer any clear evidence of testing for their products and steer clear of companies with a bad review online. While there are lots of high-quality companies in this space, there’s an even greater number of scam companies, contaminated products, and shockingly low-quality extracts.

This type of product is important to order from a high-grade, reputable vendor only. Here are 3 of the best vendors in the industry.

1. Area 52

This company offers all categories of delta 8 you’d expect to see online. The most popular are the company’s gummies — each infused with 25 mg of delta 8 THC.

You can also find high-grade vape cartridges, tinctures, disposable vape pens, and more.

All Area 52 products are independently tested to prove the quality and potency as suggested on the bottle.

Read our full review of the Best Delta 8 THC Gummies

2. Finest Labs

Finest Labs is a specialty cannabis manufacturer. They create a wide range of cannabinoid extracts, terpenes, and much more.

As the name implies, this company has its own production facility where they run all their extractions and conduct research for new product development.

As you should expect for a high-grade cannabis brand, this company has every product in its catalog tested by an independent lab before it goes on sale.

3. SnapDragon Hemp

SnapDragon Hemp has been in the industry for a while now. There’s been some controversy around this company’s testing integrity in the past; they’ve redeemed themselves over the past couple of years.

Weed vs. Delta 8 THC

If you’re looking for weed and you live in a legal state, you’re in luck. You can stop in at your local dispensary or order online without breaking any laws.

However, if you’re in a state that only permits the sale of weed for people with a medical card or doesn’t allow weed at all — you’ll need to go with an alternative option instead.

Delta 8 THC is the best weed alternative on the market. It provides all the same benefits, with a few extra perks of its own. The main selling point for this weed alternative is that it’s entirely legal according to the federal government as long as it’s made from hemp.

Pick up a bottle of delta 8 to try yourself from top-quality brands like Area 52 or Finest Labs today.