Edibles are a great way to enjoy cannabis without the smoke. Most gummies on the market today contain either CBD or delta 9 THC, but a new contender is coming into play – delta 8 THC (D8). This component can best be described as a middle point between CBD and normal delta 9 THC.

The active ingredient in this type of product has psychoactive effects, but they’re a lot less potent than conventional THC. This presents a far lower risk of triggering adverse effects such as paranoia while still providing benefits for sleep, pain management, and anxiety.

While many people have recently started to turn to D8 products recently, there are only a few reliable companies proven to provide quality goods in this niche. Do your due diligence and do your research before ordering any of these products online.

As of now, many companies that offer edible D8 THC may feel as if they don’t need to uphold their standards of quality because there’s little to no competition for them. A similar situation occurred in the CBD market, but this problem began to dissipate as the market grew and developed.

We’ve taken some of the guesswork out of it for you: we’ve reviewed the best delta 8 gummies on the market today. Each company that we mention has been proven to test their product to ensure they are measured correctly and safely. Real customers have also praised these products for their high quality and excellent taste.

Best Delta 8 THC Gummies for 2021

• Best Overall: Area 52 Delta 8 THC Gummies
• Best For Beginners: Finest Labs Delta 8 THC Gummies
• Runner Up: Delta8 Pro Delta 8 THC Gummies

Area 52 Delta 8 Gummies: Best Overall

Area 52 might not have been around that long, but they’re quickly rising to the top of the delta 8 THC market. Even major publications like Observer and news outlets like Herald Net keep on suggesting Area 52 gummies to their readers.

At the moment, their delta 8 lineup contains tinctures, vape cartridges, and three fantastic flavors of gummies: Green Apple, Pineapple, and Strawberry.

New users beware, though: these gummies are incredibly potent. Each gummy is a 25 mg dose of delta 8, and it’s recommended that newer users take half of a gummy and wait an hour to observe how it affects them. However, most regular users have found that a daily dose of one or two gummies is enough for them to experience a moderate-high.

One of the best parts of using Area 52 Delta 8 THC gummies is that they haven’t ignored the other ingredients in their quality checks. Instead, they use natural flavors and sweeteners to create deliciously adult gummies that will take you right back to the candy of your childhood.

Area 52 is a highly reputable manufacturer, and they provide batch-specific analysis certificates and reports for their gummies on their website.

Finest Labs Delta 8 Gummies: Best For Beginners

If you’re just starting to use delta 8 THC, we highly recommend Finest Labs Delta 8 THC Gummies. The dosage per gummy is pretty perfect, with only 25 mg of delta 8. In addition, Finest Labs has opted to use a broad-spectrum extract that contains a delta 8 distillate and Blueberry strain-specific terpenes, resulting in a sweet berry flavor without synthetic ingredients.

Much like Area 52, Finest Labs has proven itself as a reputable dealer (according to sites such as Juneau Empire, Kent Reporter, and Kitsap Daily News) publishing third-party lab reports updated regularly on its website. While reviewing these gummies, we discovered that the psychoactive effects are slightly different than those of other delta 8 products. Finest Labs gummies are more relaxing for the body, while the effects in your head are less intense than usual. This effect is likely because of the terpenes in the broad-spectrum extract.

As a bonus, these gummies are vegan-friendly and gluten-free!

Delta8 Pro: Runner Up

They were one of the first companies to enter the delta 8 THC scene, and their experience shows in their vast product range. They offer tinctures, vape cartridges, gummies, and more!

The gummies come in many different flavors, such as mango and passion fruit, which stand out to us the most. Each gummy contains 25mg of d8 THC, but they only come in 10 gummies per bag.

As with the other companies, they regularly update their website with verified lab reports for each new batch, but they do not say where the hemp source is. So it could get you in trouble with the law.

What Is Delta 8 THC?

While most people believe that there’s only one type of THC, there are actually two: delta 8 and delta 9. Delta 9 is the most common form found in most marijuana products. Delta 8 is a remarkably similar cannabinoid with only a small difference in its molecular structure; while delta 9 THC has a double bond at its ninth carbon chain, delta 8 has a double bond on its eighth carbon chain.

To make delta 8 THC gummies, companies add active delta 8 THC (usually in the form of a distillate) to a gummy base to hide the herbal flavor of cannabis. This also makes the shelf life for the THC much longer.

What Are the Effects of Delta 8 THC?

Delta 8 THC is similar to delta 9 THC, except its psychoactive effects are much less strong. You can still get high off of delta 8 products, but the high is generally less intense and overwhelming.

Delta 9 THC can trigger anxiety and paranoia if you take too much and overwhelm your CB1 receptors. This effect is often why many people are hesitant to use traditional cannabis products. Delta 8 THC has been shown to have fewer side effects and a lower chance of triggering paranoia, making it perfect for beginners or those who have a lower tolerance.

Delta 8 Gummies Dosage

Usually, the average dose of delta 8 THC is between 10mg and 60mg. Because delta 8 is half as potent as delta 9, you can potentially double the normal amount you would take of delta 9.

10mg is usually enough to bring on mild psychoactive effects such as relief of stress, a boost in energy, an increase in motivation, and feelings of mild euphoria. If you’re just starting to experiment with delta 8 THC, we recommend that you start with this dose (note that Finest Labs gummies come in this dose for an easy start).

Once you’ve figured out how your body reacts to delta 8, you can start to adjust your dose and figure out how much is right for you, especially if you’re seeking a more intense or pronounced high. Usually, people will increase their dose by 5mg at a time until they find the perfect amount.

We do not recommend attempting to start with a higher dose; after all, you can always take more if the effects aren’t quite what you want, but you can’t lower the dose once you’ve taken it. If you happen to overdose, you might experience uncomfortable side effects such as sedation, fatigue, and difficulty maintaining concentration.

Finding the Best Dose of Delta 8 THC

The best thing about taking delta 8 THC gummies versus using other methods is that each gummy offers a fixed dose of delta 8. There’s no worrying about calculating or measuring your own dose because the manufacturer has already made sure that there’s the same amount in every single gummy.

Because of their uniform doses, gummies can be cut into halves or quarters if you’re looking for a different dose than they already have in them. For example, cutting a 10mg gummy in half will give you two 5mg doses. If you’ve already taken a dose and just want to add a bit more bounce to your buzz, this is a great way to work your way up slowly to avoid overdosing.

Is Delta 8 THC Safe?

At this point, there are no studies that have suggested that delta 8 THC is any more dangerous than delta 9 THC. Like all cannabinoids, there has never been a fatal overdose reported in users of delta 8 THC.

The primary danger to be aware of when taking delta 8 THC products, or any other cannabis products, for that matter, is additives or contaminants that might be in the gummies alongside the THC.

What to look for When Buying Delta 8 THC Gummies

Contaminants

Delta 8 isn’t naturally made in the cannabis plant; rather, delta 9 degrades into CBN and delta 8 over time. Thus, traditional methods of THC extraction aren’t well suited to gathering delta 8 THC. To make enough delta 8 THC to use in manufacturing, companies must use a complex chemical process to convert CBD into delta 9, then convert the delta 9 into delta 8.

This process takes a lot of chemistry knowledge and skill, and it can occasionally involve toxic components, aggressive solvents, and heavy metals. After this process is finished, the lab must purge these chemicals from their final product. Reputable companies with high-quality labs do this with advanced equipment, testing samples regularly until all of the dangerous compounds have been removed.

To ensure that a product is safe to consume, reputable companies should have their product tested in third-party labs with access to advanced methods such as gas chromatography and mass spectrology. An independent lab should always be performed to ensure unbiased, accurate results, and these results should always be published for consumers to access.

Bleaching Agents

Pure delta 8 THC extract is typically a soft pink color; however, some companies have started introducing bleaching agents to make it clearer before adding it into their gummy base. These agents can introduce toxic or unsafe compounds into the gummies for no reason other than aesthetics. Reputable companies (like the ones we mentioned above) use unbleached delta 8 THC to ensure the product’s purity.

Is it Legal to Use Delta 8 THC?

It depends on where you are. In the US, the 2018 Farm Bill makes a clear distinction between hemp and marijuana, with marijuana being illegal on a federal level due to high levels of delta 9 THC. However, the bill does not mention delta 8 THC.

Some interpret this oversight in the law as a green light for the legal sale of delta 8, but the bill also states that any synthetic forms of THC are illegal. Considering how delta 8 THC is currently produced, that could include these projects. At the moment, delta 8 sits in a legal grey area, with its legality determined by how the DEA interprets the bill.

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Iowa, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Utah have already banned the sale of delta 8 THC. Other states have yet to make individual determinations on the product.

What’s Different Between Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC?

Potency

While delta 8 produces a similar type of high to delta 9, delta 9 is twice as potent. This means that you generally need to take a double dose of delta 8 THC to experience similar effects.

Side Effects

Delta 9 is sometimes known to produce effects such as heightened anxiety, paranoia, and rapid heart rate. Using delta 8 THC significantly reduces the risk of experiencing these side effects while producing similar levels of the positive effects that cannabis products can provide.

Tolerance

Tolerance is the process that occurs in your body as you regularly use a substance. Over time, you’ll start feeling less pronounced effects. The bad news is that delta 8 THC has a higher tolerance rate than delta 9, and tolerance can be built in just four weeks. The good news is that you can reverse your tolerance faster as well. Taking a break for just one week can return you to your previous tolerance.

Legality

Delta 9 THC is explicitly mentioned in federal law as an illegal substance, with the sale of high THC cannabis only legal in specific states. Delta 8 is currently in a legal gray area, with some lawmakers interpreting it as a synthesized form of delta 9 (which makes it illegal) and others considering it a legal substitute.

Delta 8 Gummies Buying Guide

Generally, there are five factors to consider if you’re thinking about buying delta 8 THC from a retailer that we haven’t recommended in this article.

1. Do they have their products tested by a third party?

This is by far the essential component of a reputable company’s process. Third-party labs are defined as facilities that are not affiliated with the company whose products it is testing. These facilities are the only ones capable of ensuring that the tests are unbiased.

If a third-party lab finds impurities in a batch of products, they will list them on a certificate of analysis. Always check if there are tests published regularly on the company’s website or emailed to buyers when they’ve made purchases. If they don’t make tests available, search for another brand that ensures their quality.

Certificates of analysis will list the following important figures:

• Potency: the total concentration of delta 8, other cannabinoids, and terpenes
• Pesticides: common in growing cannabis plants
• Microbial contaminants: any bacteria or fungi that could have developed from cross-contamination or improper storage methods
• Heavy metals
• Bleaching agents (see the section on potential contaminants for delta 8 THC)
• Residual solvents: especially components like butane, hexane, or propane

2. Do they have good user reviews?

The market for delta 8 THC is very new, so many companies that specialize in it haven’t been around long enough to establish any sort of reputation. Despite this, you should still search for reviews of the products you’re thinking about buying. Often, forums such as Reddit or other third-party review websites are good places to start if you’re looking for reviews of delta 8, but watch out for fake accounts that could be posting fake reviews.

3. What is their extraction method?

Delta 8 THC is the same molecule no matter where it’s been extracted from, but its legal status changes depending on what plant it’s been extracted from. At the federal level, the only delta 8 THC that is allowed is derived from hemp. It’s always best to double-check your local laws to ensure that the product you’ve chosen is legal.

4. What extra ingredients do they use?

Gummies are simple. They should only contain the delta 8 THC distillate, gelatin or fruit pectin base, and a few fruity flavors and sweeteners. Watch out for companies that cut corners and add components that are unnecessary or low-quality.

5. What’s the Delta 9 content?

High-quality delta 8 THC products will only have trace amounts of delta 9 to maintain legal status. You should always check lab reports to determine how much delta 9 is in your product. If it’s too high, it could be illegal in your area.

Conclusions

Delta 8 is becoming more and more popular in the cannabis world, especially because of its milder effects and lower risk of causing anxiety and paranoia. While it can be beneficial, you should still check for proof of quality products to avoid dangerous contaminants.

If you’re not keen on doing a lot of research, check out the brands we recommended in this article!