THC-O is gradually making it’s way into the hemp THC market. The potency of THC-O and it’s federal legal status make it a popular choice among THC-lovers. 

Due to the fact that THC-O is made from hemp, it has the same federal legal status as Delta-8-THC. It can be extracted from hemp and made into a wide range of products you can find online and in stores across the U.S.

• Below is a breakdown of how THC-O is extracted to help you understand the process better.

The Key Takeaways

In my journey with THC-O, I’ve learned some crucial points:

• I’ve seen firsthand how THC-O can be synthesized from Delta-8 through a process called “isomerization.”
• As a natural hemp extract, I’ve found THC-O to be legal under the 2018 Farm Bill, which has been a game-changer for the industry.
• In my experience, reputable THC-O products always come with third-party lab tests to prove potency.
• A word of caution from my personal experiments: never try to make THC-O at home. Trust me, it’s best left to the professionals!

Thanks to ATLRx team for providing me the above diagram.

Delta-8 is Used to Make THC-O

THC-O is made up of Delta-8-THC, which is made up of CBD. According to the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp material containing CBD is legal.

Although the process of making Delta-8-THC is simple, it requires experienced extraction technicians to complete in a laboratory environment.

Here is a breakdown of the process:

1. Hemp can be grown and harvested.

First, hemp must be grown at the peak concentration of cannabinoid. Hemp can be grown indoors or outdoors in a variety of ways. These details are mostly personal preferences, such as whether the hemp has been grown sustainably or organically. Due to the higher soil quality and stricter growing rules, organic hemp grown in the United States is usually superior to hemp from abroad.

2. CBD can be extracted

One of many extraction methods is used to extract CBD and other cannabinoids from the plant material after harvest. A thorough refinement is then performed on the CBD extract to remove any unwanted plant matter, such as waxes, chlorophyll and residual solvents.

3. Extract is isomerized

This is where things get really interesting. I recall the first time I witnessed the isomerization process to convert CBD to Delta-8 THC. It was like watching a chemical ballet!

Britannica defines Isomerization as follows:

• “The chemical process that transforms a compound into one of it’s isomeric forms, i.e. forms with the same chemical structure but different configuration and therefore with different physical and chemical characteristics.”

An isomer is a molecule composed of the same components, but in a different arrangement.

This means that a molecule can be changed into another without having to add or subtract anything. This allows cannabinoids to be easily changed from one to the other, something that occurs naturally in hemp plants as they grow.

The CBD must be dispersed in glacial acid to transform it into Delta-8. The chemical process converts some CBD to Delta-9 THC, but Delta-8 THC will be formed 72 hours later.

The isomerization process ends if you are making Delta-8-THC products. Manufacturers can go one step further by using the same isomerization procedure to convert Delta-8 to THC-O.

4. The Extract is Refined

In my early days, I learned the hard way how important thorough refinement is to remove any unwanted chemicals or leftover acids.

5. The final product is made

This is how CBD becomes THC-O extract. It can then be used to make many different products such as edibles, vaporizers and everything else. The manufacturer can add flavoring, carrier oils, additional cannabinoids and terpenes to make a unique THC–O product.

7. The product has been batch tested

Although batch testing may not be required for every manufacturer, it is a good idea to ensure that the products have been tested in batches. To ensure the highest quality, a trusted manufacturer will use a third-party lab for batch testing the final extract and final product.

Is THC-O Synthetic?

In my years of working with hemp and cannabinoids, I’ve come to understand that while premium quality THC-O products is technically synthetic, it’s not in the same category as other synthetic cannabinoids on the market. From my experience and discussions with experts, I believe it’s generally safer than many synthetic formulas out there.

I remember the debates we had in the industry about whether THC-O would be classified as a synthetic cannabinoid by the DEA. It was a tense time, as synthetic cannabinoids are controlled substances. However, due to it’s hemp origins and the way it’s metabolized, THC-O is considered a hemp isomer rather than a synthetic drug.

As someone who’s been in this industry since before the 2018 Hemp Farming Act, I can’t stress enough how important this distinction is. The Act’s definition of hemp includes all derivatives, cannabinoids and isomers, which is why THC-O falls under federal law.

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