Delta 8 THC
has taken over the hemp industry by offering a unique type of high that offers
feelings of intense ease and tranquility, while being relatively mild compared
to delta 9 THC. Available in all
kinds of product types, delta 8 has become a daily staple for hemp enthusiasts
around the world. But, are those who are
taking delta 8 regularly putting themselves at risk of becoming dependent on
the cannabinoid? Let’s find out.
What We’re Still Learning About Delta 8 THC
Delta 8 is about 70% as intoxicating as delta 9 THC, which
is why so many people notice that the high is milder. The high is usually described as soothing,
and it can help ease stress as well as physical discomfort. Given that, it’s not surprising that a lot of
people use it as a bedtime aid. The
cannabinoid works strongly on CB1 receptors in the nervous system, which is why
it seems to have such a strong effect on mood as well as potentially sleep,
pain receptors, neurological balance, appetite, and more.
While delta 8 has been around for a long time, no studies
have been done to determine whether or not it has addictive qualities – in
other words, whether or not a person can become dependent on it.
Can You Get Addicted to Delta 8 THC?
The answer to this question is more complicated than one
might think. That’s because there are
two types of addictions: physical and mental.
A physical addiction means that the body comes to depend on the
substance, and so ceasing use of the substance causes physical symptoms. A mental addiction means that a person
becomes dependent on the substance emotionally/mentally, and experiences psychological
withdrawal symptoms without it.
So, is delta 8 addictive?
While there’s no evidence suggesting it is physically addictive, a
person can become mentally dependent on it, but that depends on a few factors
since not everyone does. Let’s explain
why.
#1: Everyone’s Brain is Unique
The key to mental dependency is a person’s brain
chemistry. Some people become addicted
to substances easily, and really struggle to stop taking them due to how
mentally dependent they are. As we’re
starting to discover, some people seem to be genetically prone to developing
dependencies on certain substances due to psychological traits that they may
have inherited, mostly dealing with the balance of their
neurotransmitters. Those who seem to get
more of a dopamine release after taking a substance may become more mentally
addicted to it, since dopamine acts as the “reward” neurotransmitter makes a
person feel good after completing a certain action – in this case, taking delta
8.
Delta 8 THC generally has a soothing effect on the mind,
meaning it can help a person feel less stressed out and more at peace. This can become addictive, if a person is
unable to regulate their stress levels without it. If we develop a routine of treating our
stress by taking delta 8, then our brain doesn’t strengthen the skill of
minimizing stress on its own. So, the
result is needing to constantly take delta 8 in order to keep getting that
potential feeling of calm, which is where mental dependency develops.
#2: How Much You Take Matters
As is always the case, how much and how frequently you use a
substance can also determine how dependent you become. Take alcohol.
A person who is able to maintain a routine of having one drink a week is
less likely to develop an addiction than someone who binge-drinks nightly. That’s because the more we take a substance,
the more our brains get used to the effects that we get from it, and so the
harder it is to remove that substance out of the system. Now, at the same time, there are people out
there who can take delta 8 THC each day and never feel any sort of dependency
on it, again because everyone’s brain chemistry is unique.
Can You Get Withdrawal Symptoms by Stopping Delta 8 THC?
The good news is that there is no indication that stopping
delta 8 THC usage causes dangerous withdrawal symptoms, such as the symptoms
that those addicted to alcohol experience when they stop drinking
suddenly. But, if you have developed a
dependency on delta 8 THC due to how your brain is wired or how much of it you
were using, you may get certain symptoms for a short period of time after
cessation.
So, what are those potential symptoms? Mainly irritability and anxiety as a rebound
effect, as your brain is now left to its own devices to regulate its emotional
state. If you were using delta 8
specifically for sleep, you may also notice that there’s a period of
readjustment when your body learns how to fall asleep without delta 8 in the
system. The good news is that these
symptoms are unlikely to become severe, and they’re quite short-term.
Final Thoughts
It’s important to remember that a person can become
emotionally/mentally addicted to anything, especially when it’s something that
brings them a sense of relief, which is what delta 8 can do in all kinds of
ways. But, ultimately, delta 8 has not
been found to cause physical dependency thus far, at least in the sense that it
could lead to dangerous withdrawal symptoms.
So, if your fear of being a delta 8 user is that stopping your routine
could cause harm, you very likely have nothing to fear.
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