If you’ve heard of CBD oils, tinctures, creams, and gummies, then you probably know a thing or two about THC products. But, what you might not have heard of is a new product that’s quickly climbing to the top of the cannabinoid industry, called delta-8-THC.
Delta-8-THC is basically delta-9-THC’s milder cousin, which is now available in the form of edibles, creams, oils, and tinctures. For those of you who were patiently waiting for something less potent than delta-9-THC, but with some amazing calming effects, your wait is over!
So, let’s introduce you to some of the top-rated brands, and help you find the best delta-8-THC tinctures out there!
Top-Rated Delta 8 THC Tincture Brands in 2021
In every industry, there are brands looking to cut corners in order to make the big bucks. Since the delta-8-THC market is fairly new and unregulated, it can be quite difficult to sift through a plethora of brands claiming to sell premium Delta 8 products. It’s even more difficult to do so if you’re completely new to the world of cannabinoid products.
But you’re in good hands with us. After looking into a shocking number of delta-8-THC brands, we’ve found the top three tinctures for you to consider. Rest assured that these trusted Delta 8 tinctures are well worth your money and will offer you the best delta-8-THC experience you could hope for.
So, check out our reviews and take your pick!
1. Area 52: High-Quality and Great Potency
Area 52 is a brand that has mastered the craft of making top-quality delta-8-THC products, an opinion that is shared by numerous big news outlets including The Observer, Peninsula Daily News, Seattle Weekly, and many others.
Why are their products so good? Because they’re made from organically grown hemp. But that’s not the only contributing factor.
If you’ve read any reviews of cannabinoid-selling brands, we’re sure you’ve heard of the CO2 extraction method. In case you haven’t, all you need to know about this method is that it’s expensive, and it helps produce a pure and potent product each time. Most importantly, Area 52 utilizes this method of extraction, thus producing top-quality tinctures each time.
Each tincture contains 1200 mg of delta-8 (40 mg/ml), MCT oil, and a natural terpene blend. And to help the tincture go down smoothly, Area 52 also added stevia to give it that sweet taste. Also, you can choose between 2 delicious flavors: cherry or vanilla.
Now, let’s talk about how transparent this brand is about its products. Remember when we said there are plenty of brands looking to cut corners in order to make money? Well, Area 52 is by no means one of those brands!
For starters, they provide third-party lab test results for all their products. These results tell you all you need to know about the potency and purity of each batch. But, more importantly, you can easily check out the lab results on Area 52’s website. This is the type of transparency all cannabinoid manufacturers should strive for!
2. Finest Labs: Beginner-Friendly
Trying out a THC product for the first time can be pretty scary. With all the different potency options out there, no one can blame you for being hesitant when it comes to choosing a brand. But Finest Labs is the perfect choice for those of you just starting out with delta-8-THC.
This beginner-friendly brand packs 500 mg of hemp-derived delta-8-THC in 30 ml bottles, making it incredibly easy to dose. In fact, we could easily say that it might be the smartest choice for those of you planning on micro-dosing, or just using delta-8-THC occasionally.
Their tinctures also contain MCT oil (for better absorption), unique terpene blend, stevia, and strawberry extracts.
And, like all the brands on our list, this one also makes the third-party lab tests accessible to everyone.
3. Delta 8 Pro: Best Price
With thirteen years of being in the cannabis industry under its belt, it’s safe to say that Delta 8 Pro knows what it’s doing. Just by visiting their website, you’ll see that they offer an impressive assortment of delta-8 products, including vape carts, gummies, infused hemp flowers, noid bombs, moon rocks, syringes, distillates, etc.
The company manufactures potent delta-8-THC tinctures in 60 ml bottles. But within these bottles, there is also a healthy dose of both CBG and CBN. For those of you who aren’t familiar with these two cannabinoids, here’s what you need to know:
- CBN is a non-intoxicating compound that provides a calming effect, rendering it useful for those of you battling insomnia;
- CBG helps manage nausea, pain, glaucoma, and even has anti-inflammatory properties.
Furthermore, CBG directly binds itself to CB1 and CB2 receptors, making it more efficient at delivering its benefits into your system.
When you purchase a Delta 8 Pro tincture, you get 3000 mg of premium delta-8-THC, which adds up to 70 mg of cannabinoids per milliliter.
You can check out which ingredients are in every tincture bottle, as well as instructions on how to take the product. But they don’t mention where they extracted their distillates. Remember that delta 8 THC extracted from marijuana plants is illegal.
Delta-8-THC Tinctures: What Are They?
Delta-8 tinctures contain a delta-8-THC distillate and one of the following carrier oils: MCT oil, hemp seed oil, or vegetable glycerin. According to We Be High, some delta-8 tinctures are made with alcohol, but that’s less common practice.
We could almost say that CBD tinctures and delta-8 tinctures are the same if it weren’t for the fact that they have entirely different cannabinoid profiles.
How to Ingest Delta-8-THC Tinctures
If you’ve ever tried ingesting a CBD tincture, then you won’t have any problems with delta-8 tinctures. However, if you’re completely new to both products, the process is simple.
Each tincture bottle is equipped with a dropper to make dosing easier. All you need to do is place a few drops under your tongue. Don’t swallow the tincture and let it sit for about sixty seconds. Keeping it under your tongue will help the tincture spread through your capillaries and into your mouth, thus achieving the best results.
When Do the Effects of Delta-8-THC Kick In?
When it comes to any delta-8-THC products, patience is key. Unlike CBD tinctures which usually start to kick in after about 15 minutes, you’ll likely need to wait for up to an hour in a half to feel the effects of delta-8-THC.
Unfortunately, it’s not yet clear as to why it takes so long for delta-8 to work. But one thing’s for sure ― once it does, you’ll forget all about the delay!
Delta-8-THC Tinctures: Finding the Proper Dosage
Typically, delta-8-THC dosages range from 10 to 60 mg. So, how much should you take?
Assuming that you’ve never tried delta-8 tinctures, there are a few things that will help determine the best dosage for you:
- your age and sex
- how much you weigh
- your tolerance to delta-8-THC products
- whether you ingest it on an empty or full stomach
We would recommend starting out with a low dose of 10 mg. Ultimately, this is enough for you to feel the effects, as well as decide if you want to up your dosage or keep ingesting 10 mg.
However, keep in mind that you will inevitably develop a tolerance after a while. That just means you won’t feel the same effects you felt when you first started using the tincture. When this happens, simply up your dose to 20 mg.
Overall, you want to feel mellow and relaxed when taking delta-8-THC, so keep track of how you feel after upping your dosage. Feeling drowsy and unfocused? Lower your dosage. Not feeling any effects at all? Add 5 to 10 mg to your current dosage.
That’s the great thing about delta-8-THC ― you get to adjust your dosage according to how it makes you feel.
Delta-8-THC: Tolerance
As we mentioned, it’s perfectly normal to develop a tolerance to delta-8-THC. It just means your body is adapting to the amount you’re taking.
However, it is worth mentioning that it takes less time to build a tolerance to delta-8-THC than it does to delta-9-THC.
Luckily, there are ways to delay the tolerance buildup.
First, consider taking delta-8-THC every other day. And if that’s not something you’re interested in trying, maybe micro-dosing is more your thing. That means breaking down one daily dosage into a few smaller ones.
For example, if your daily dose is 10 mg, you could take 5 mg in the morning, and 5 mg at night. With higher doses, you could break it down to four or five microdoses.
Delta-8-THC: Safety
Yes, it’s true: there’s no danger of you overdosing on delta-8-THC. Also, unlike with delta-9-THC, there’s also no danger of you experiencing any jarring side effects.
What you should check out when purchasing your first delta-8-THC tincture is the list of added ingredients or rather synthetic additives on the packaging. Furthermore, you should always check for third-party lab results. Any trustworthy brand will always include the results on their website.
But don’t worry; you can read more about what to look out for in our handy buyer’s guide at the end of this article.
Delta-8-THC: Possible Side Effects
As we mentioned, one of the best things about delta-8-THC is the absence of some of the regular side effects that delta-9-THC produces. Typically, the most common ones are paranoia and severe anxiety.
Still, when taking delta-8-THC, there is a slight chance that you may experience some of the following side effects:
- Dizziness
- Sedation
- Dry mouth (cottonmouth)
- Increased appetite
- Loss of concentration
- Motor function impairment
It’s important to note that if you stick to a low dosage, there is little to no chance of you experiencing any of these side effects. However, in the unlikely event that you do, it’s best to call your doctor.
Delta-8-THC: Legal Status
In theory, delta-8-THC is legal on a federal level in most US states. In fact, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp and all hemp-derived products that contain 0.3% or less delta-9-THC are legal. What’s more, US states are working on legalizing the use of recreational marijuana.
So, technically, while delta-8-THC is considered legal, you need to check the laws in your state before you even consider purchasing a delta-8 product.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Delta-8-THC Tincture
The fact that the delta-8-THC is basically unregulated means that plenty of sketchy manufacturers are trying to make a profit by selling low-quality products to eager customers. If you want to learn how to avoid purchasing from such brands, this buyer’s guide will come in handy!
Check for Pure Products
Every brand worth checking out will include a list of ingredients on the packaging, and hopefully on their website.
Pure delta-8-THC products should only have a few ingredients, including a delta-8-THC distillate, a carrier oil, and possibly some natural flavorings – says the experts at LA Weekly. If you see any unfamiliar chemicals or additives on the list, there’s a good chance that the tincture isn’t pure.
And another thing ― delta-8-THC should have a slightly pinkish hue. If you notice that the tincture is a strange dark color, the product isn’t pure. Some manufacturers fail to properly filter the extract, which is why this happens.
Alternately, if the tincture is completely transparent, there could be bleach in the product. Needless to say, bleach has no business being in a delta-8-THC tincture, or any product for that matter.
Third-Party Lab Testing
Checking out third-party lab tests is a great way to determine whether a brand is worth your time and money.
These lab results are basically proof that the product you’re interested in buying meets the criteria for potency and purity.
If a brand doesn’t include third-party lab test results on its website, there’s a good chance it’s hiding something. For example, the products may have failed the test, or the brand could have decided to avoid the testing altogether. Either way, avoid these brands at all costs.
Brand Reputation
Nowadays, you can find reviews on anything. So, why not check online to see what experienced users think of a brand you’re interested in?
We recommend checking out expert blogs, and niche forums (not Reddit). Who knows, you may even find out more than you were hoping for.
Price
Extracting any cannabinoid, whether it’s CBD, CBG or delta-8 requires plenty of skill and expensive laboratory equipment.
With that in mind, delta-8-THC products aren’t cheap. That’s the bottom line. Obviously, some brands are bound to price their products a bit higher than needed, but it’s the brands that offer cheap tinctures you should avoid.
Delta-8-THC: What Is It?
You’ve probably heard of delta-9-THC, which is the compound in marijuana that gives it that psychoactive effect. Well, delta-8-THC (delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol) is delta-9-THC’s counterpart.
Basically, delta-8 and delta-9 have similar molecular structures, but there is a difference in the way their atoms are aligned. Namely, the bond in delta-8-THC is located on the eighth carbon, whereas in delta-9-THC, it’s located on the ninth carbon.
However, all this talk about molecular structures and bonds probably doesn’t mean that much to you. Ultimately, what you need to know is that delta-8-THC is far less potent than delta-9-THC. In fact, approximately a double dose of delta-8 is equal to one dose of delta-9.
But why is that so important? You’ll find out in this next part.
Does Delta-8-THC Get You High?
In short, yes, delta-8-THC does get you high. However, you won’t experience the same high as you would if you took delta-9-THC.
Overall, delta-8 will help you feel relaxed and carefree. You can, of course, adjust the dosage according to how relaxed you want to feel.
With delta-9-THC products, people are always worried about feeling anxious and paranoid. But the amazing thing about the delta-8 cannabinoid is that you don’t have to worry about experiencing any horrible side effects.
A Few Cautionary Words
Here are a few things you should be mindful of before taking delta-8-THC:
- Although hemp-derived delta-8-THC is legal on a federal level, we urge you to check the laws in your state before making your purchase
- Do not purchase delta-8-THC if you are under 21
- Do not consume any delta-8-THC if you have regular drug screenings at work
- Avoid driving after consuming high doses of delta-8-THC
- Do not operate heavy machinery after consuming high doses of delta-8-THC
- Keep your delta-8-THC tincture away from the sunlight and heat
Final Thoughts on Delta-8-Tinctures
There’s no doubt that delta-8-THC products are making their mark in the cannabinoid industry. With all the scary side effects linked to using delta-9-THC, delta-8 is a much-needed breath of fresh air!
If you’re considering trying out delta-8 products for the first time, tinctures are a great choice. The dosing is simple, and it’s a far better alternative to vaping (especially for non-smokers).
Overall, we recommend checking out one of the three brands from our reviews. Area 52 is a reputable brand with some high-quality, potent tinctures for sale, but Finest Labs and Delta 8 Pro are nothing short of amazing as well.
Just remember, no matter which brand you choose, avoid using high doses of delta-8-THC while driving or operating heavy machinery.