In the past, it seemed as though THC and CBD were the only cannabinoids you needed to know. But, these days, more and more compounds keep popping up.
The latest cannabinoid? Delta-11 THC.
Not to be confused with delta-9 THC — or 11-hydroxy-THC— delta 11 is a cannabinoid that the market is just now starting to become familiar with. So, let’s dive right in: what is delta-11 THC?
What is Delta 11?
As you can probably tell from the name, delta-11 THC is another THC variant, similar to delta-8, delta-9, and delta-10.
Delta-11 THC is a minor cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant.
A “minor” cannabinoid refers to a compound that only has a subtle presence in the plant’s cannabinoid levels. A major one, on the other hand, would be delta-9 or CBD.
D11 is naturally occurring within the cannabis plant, too.
However, because it is present in such small amounts, extractors rely on synthesizing the cannabinoid from extracted CBD molecules; this is similar to the process they use for delta-8 THC.
When extracted from CBD, manufacturers ensure that this CBD exclusively comes from hemp.
We’ll touch on that more later, but this helps the cannabinoid (and its products) to stay legal throughout the US.
Delta 11 THC vs. 11-Hydroxy-THC
When talking about delta 11 THC, it’s crucial to distinguish it from 11-hydroxy-THC.
While they may sound the same, these two compounds couldn’t be more different.
Delta-11 THC is a cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. 11-hydroxy-THC, however, is a metabolite that the body produces in the liver after consuming cannabis edibles.
The metabolite is what gives you the (delayed) high effects with the edibles; this has nothing to do with the delta-11 cannabinoid.
The Effects of Delta-11
When learning about delta-11 THC, everyone wants to know the effects. But, more than that: does delta-11 get you high?
Interestingly enough, yes, it appears as though delta-11 THC has psychoactive properties.
This means that the cannabinoid has the ability to get you high and feel euphoric, laid back, comfortable, and likely a bit giggly.
The actual effects of delta-11 THC, though, are still a bit unknown.
In the mainstream market, this compound is still brand new, and not many people understand its effects or how it works in the body.
After all, learning this takes time!
But, we can assume that delta-11 THC likely produces similar effects to delta-9 THC (just not as strong — but we’ll touch on that in a moment).
This means that delta-11 is likely going to help with symptoms of depression, chronic pain, and stress.
The cannabinoid probably has prominent euphoric and decompressing effects, making it great for anyone who wants to sit back, relax, and laugh a little.
If you aren’t looking to get high, though, this cannabinoid may not be the right choice for you.
How Strong is Delta-11 THC?
Now that we know that delta-11 THC can get you high, the next big question here is, “How strong is delta-11 THC?”
Again, we don’t know a whole lot about delta-11 THC as it stands in the mainstream market.
There have been conflicting reports about its strength over the years, too, as the cannabinoid was initially found back in the 70s.
As a whole, many people describe the effects of delta-11 as being more subtle and gentle than other cannabinoids. So, let’s compare it directly below.
Delta 11 vs. Delta 9
At first, it was believed that delta 11 was nearly three times stronger than delta 9 THC.
But, as time went on and we were able to better study these cannabinoids, this doesn’t appear to be the case any longer.
These days, people say that delta-11 THC is much weaker than delta-9, making it a good option for beginners looking to experience a more mellow, guided high.
That being said, if you have a high tolerance and are looking for strong results, delta 11 THC may not be the cannabinoid for you.
Instead, it’s great for beginners or those with lower tolerances looking to stay more clear-headed.
Delta 11 vs. Delta 8
Delta-8 THC has quickly taken over the legal cannabis market in the past few years, primarily because of its psychoactivity.
The delta 8 cannabinoid has similar effects to delta 9, it is just slightly less potent.
With this in mind, it appears as though the delta 11 cannabinoid is more subtle than D8. But, this does depend on the product and its potency levels.
Is Delta-11 Legal?
When it comes to legalities, the world of weed is confusing — to say the least. Whenever a new cannabinoid is unveiled to the market, everyone wants to know its legal status.
So, is delta-11 THC legal?
Technically, yes. As long as the delta-11 THC cannabinoid is extracted from the hemp plant — or comes from hemp-extracted CBD — then the compound falls under the legalities of the 2018 Farm Bill.
The 2018 Farm Bill worked to legalize hemp and hemp-derived products as long as they didn’t contain more than 0.3% delta-9 THC. Thus, delta-11 products are federally legal across the country as long as they follow these guidelines.
Unfortunately, some states have started implementing bans on THC-derived cannabinoids, including delta-8 and delta-10. Thus, you should check the regulations in your area to see if cannabinoids like D11 are permitted or not.
How Long Does Delta 11 Stay in the Body?
When it comes down to how long delta 11 THC will stay in the body, we simply don’t know yet.
Not enough research has been done regarding the cannabinoid and how it processes in the body.
But, we can assume that — based on the cannabinoid’s chemical composition — it is going to break down in the body in a similar way as delta-9 THC.
Thus, it’s likely that delta-9 and delta-11 will stay in the body for the same amount of time.
Again, this information may change as we learn more about the cannabinoid. This information also varies based on the person consuming the compound, as you have to keep in mind factors like tolerance levels, potencies, and body chemistry.
Will Delta 11 Make You Fail a Drug Test?
If you’re hoping to consume delta-11 as a replacement for delta-9, both of these cannabinoids will make you fail a drug test.
THC variants such as delta-8, delta-10, and delta-11, have a very similar chemical structure to delta-9 THC.
When you consume these variants, they all break down in to the same metabolite in the body: THC-COOH.
Drug tests, then, are looking to pick up the presence of THC-COOH in the body.
So, whether you’re consuming delta-9 THC or delta-11, a drug test is going to see this metabolite and say you’ve tested positive for cannabis.
So, if you have a drug test coming up in the near future, it’s ideal to stay away from any type of THC variant if you’re hoping to pass.
Keeping Up With the Cannabinoids (And Elevate Holistics)
Here at Elevate Holistics, we understand that it can be difficult to keep up with the many cannabinoids the cannabis market throws at us. But, that’s exactly why we’re here!
We want to make sure that you’re always up-to-date in the cannabis community, learning about any and all new cannabinoids, products, terpenes, and whatever else the industry has to offer.
And, when you’re ready to take your cannabis experience to the next level and get your MMJ card online, we’ve got you covered. Simply click the button below to get started.
