Delta-8 THC vapes. Photo Courtesy of DD8.
This week I tried out Delta-8 Vapes from the hemp wellness brand, DD8 (Dose of Delta-8).
What is Delta-8 THC?
Delta-9 THC is responsible for the high associated with cannabis. But, delta-8 THC is very similar to Delta-9 THC in the fact that it also produces a high. However, it is less potent than a typical Delta-9 THC high.
Delta-8 THC is federally legal. However, it lives in a grey area. For example, the 2018 Farm Bill made hemp — which contains .3% of THC or less — and hemp-derived cannabinoids like CBD legal. But, there is little naturally occurring Delta-8 THC in hemp, so operators convert it from CBD. As such, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) deems it a synthetically-derived form of THC, according to the law firm, Harris Bricken. Consequently, in 2020 the DEA labeled Delta-8 THC a controlled substance. DD8 extracts Delta-8 through a heat conversion process, keeping the product natural and not synthetic.
Most states don’t have any specific laws that outlaw delta-8 THC. But 11 states have made Delta-8 THC illegal: Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, Rhode Island, and Utah. A few other states are looking to follow in their footsteps.
But for now, the rest of the country gets to enjoy the highs of Delta-8 THC.
The DD8 Vapes
Dose of Delta-8 says that their disposable DD8 vapes have the highest concentration of Delta-8 THC on the market. The vapes all come with 950 mg of Delta-8 THC, and should last about 400-600 puffs.
All of their products are third-party lab tested. Their lab tests indicate that there are 950.06 total cannabinoids — all of them Delta-8 THC. These test results were some of the most accurate results we’ve seen at Emerald.
Each vape also comes within a small red and black battery with the liquid already built in. Part of the battery body is see-through so users can see how much liquid is left inside. They come pre-charged, but also have a charging port to recharge the device. Though, according to one of the co-founders, they shouldn’t need to be charged before the liquid runs out.
DD8 offers four different varieties: Blue Dream, Sour Diesel, Tangie Haze, and GG4. I tried all four.
How it Feels
It is important to note that like other cannabinoids, Delta-8 THC will affect everyone differently. This section is about how it felt for me.
For me, regular Delta-9 THC highs were once fun, but they started to make me feel a bit paranoid/anxious. I had heard a lot of great things about Delta-8 THC but had never gotten the opportunity to try it. So I was excited to try these vapes. The directions say take one-three small puffs and wait about 15 minutes. I was skeptical about this, as one-three puffs didn’t seem like a lot. But I was pleasantly surprised, though they really do mean it when they say small puffs because the vapor can be a bit harsh if you take too much at once.
It didn’t even take 15 minutes to fully set in. After about 10 minutes, I felt elevated. Delta-8 THC is much more of a body high than a head high, which can prove helpful for those with anxiety like me.
Overall, I felt like it was much more enjoyable than a normal high from cannabis.
Blue Dream
950 mg Delta-8 THC
$49.99
Blue Dream is one of my favorite cannabis strains, and this vape was my favorite as well. It’s a sativa-dominant hybrid, which is supposed to make users feel happy, calm, and uplifting. This particular vape was berry flavored, which really came through and was enjoyable. I felt very happy every time I used it, and had some enjoyable tingling sensations in my body. I also noticed a significant lack of anxiety when I used this one.
GG4
950 mg Delta-8 THC
$49.99
The indica GG4 is a bit heavier than the hybrids, so it’s great for nighttime. The effects were supposed to be relaxed, happy, and euphoric. It’s super calming so I often used it right before bed. I would not necessarily say it was euphoric, but that’s just my experience with it. It’s supposed to have an “earthy sweet” flavor too, and I would say that’s pretty accurate. It doesn’t taste earthy in a bad way, it’s mostly sweet.
Sour Diesel
950 mg Delta-8 THC
$49.99
The Sour Diesel sativa was also heavier than the hybrids, but with more energy than the indica. The flavor was “citrus, sour, earthy” and again the description is pretty accurate. I definitely tasted the sour notes. Overall, this was my favorite flavor after the Blue Dream. It’s effects were supposed to be euphoric, energetic, and happy and like I said I definitely felt more energy from this one.
Tangie Haze
950 mg Delta-8 THC
$49.99
The Tangie Haze is a sativa-dominant hybrid, and the flavor is given away by the name, tangerine citrus. It was pleasant.
A friend of mine tried the Tangie Haze vape. She had never tried any delta-8 products before, either. The effects of this one were supposed to be euphoric, energetic, and creative. However, she said she felt calm, happy, and sometimes a little tired and/or giggly.
As for Delta-8 in general, she said, “I feel like if there were proven benefits to Delta-8 besides it just being legal then maybe I wouldn’t smoke [regular] weed anymore. But right now weed is cheaper,” she added. “I can make a $30 eighth last over a month. I don’t know if I can do the same with this and it’s like $50. But I do like how convenient it is.”
The Cons
My one major con with this product is how often it clogs. When I first got it, it stopped pulling after just a few hits. I thought the battery had died, but it turns out the concentrate had just clogged.
When the battery gets too cold, (which happens at room temperature sometimes) the oil concentrate thickens. To unclog it, the user has to warm it up somehow. I just held it between my hands for a while. Then, I had to pull it pretty hard to unclog it. I knew it was working again when I saw the blue light while taking a hit.
I spoke with the CEO and co-founder Kylie Halperin about the clogging issue. She let me know that it is something that the company is aware of and that they are actively working to fix.
Halperin also reassured me that part of the reason these clog more than other products is because DD8 doesn’t use any chemical unclogging agents. It’s all in the hardware. I confirmed this with their ingredients list, and their only ingredients are 100% hemp-derived cannabinoids and natural strain-specific terpenes.
Even though the clogging was annoying, I really admire that they don’t use any harmful chemicals. They are working to release an updated version of the vape’s hardware that does not clog as much. They expect it to hit shelves by the end of May 2021.
Worth it?
I have previously tried out Dose of Chill’s CBD Vape, which I really enjoyed. Similar to that experience, the company’s DD8 Vapes did not disappoint.
I agreed with my friend that the price point is a little high. But due to the high Delta-8 THC content, accurate test results, and the lack of cutting agents, fillers, and additives, I feel like the DD8 Vapes will be worth the price once they fix the clogging issue.
However, the disposable nature of the vapes — while convenient — can be wasteful. Although they do have a recycling program. Consumers can mail in their used disposables to DD8’s recycling facility. For every 10 disposables a customer sends in, they get 15% off their next order. Returning 20 earns users 50% off (one) device.
Altogether, I really enjoyed my first Delta-8 experience.
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