Δ⁸-Tetrahydrocannabinol

Δ⁸-Tetrahydrocannabinol
Clinical data
Other names	Δ8-THC; Δ-8-THC; Δ8-THC; δ-8-THC; (−)-trans-Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol; (−)-trans-Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol
Drug class	Cannabinoid receptor agonists
ATC code	None;
Legal status
Legal status	US: Disputed;
Identifiers
	IUPAC name 6,6,9-Trimethyl-3-pentyl-6a,7,10,10a-tetrahydrobenzo[c]chromen-1-ol;
CAS Number	5957-75-5 ;
PubChem CID	2977;
ChemSpider	553592;
UNII	B49D0HH807;
KEGG	C22741;
ChEMBL	ChEMBL46518;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID20878586 ;
ECHA InfoCard	100.165.076
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C21H30O2
Molar mass	314.469 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
	SMILES CCCCCC1=CC(=C2C3CC(=CCC3C(OC2=C1)(C)C)C)O;
	InChI InChI=1S/C21H30O2/c1-5-6-7-8-15-12-18(22)20-16-11-14(2)9-10-17(16)21(3,4)23-19(20)13-15/h9,12-13,16-17,22H,5-8,10-11H2,1-4H3; Key:HCAWPGARWVBULJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N;

Δ⁸-Tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8-THC,^[a] Δ⁸-THC) is a psychoactive cannabinoid found in the Cannabis plant.^[1] It is an isomer of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC, Δ⁹-THC), the compound commonly known as THC, with which it co-occurs in hemp; natural quantities of ∆⁸-THC found in hemp are low. Psychoactive effects are similar to that of Δ⁹-THC, with central effects occurring by binding to cannabinoid receptors found in various regions of the brain.^[2]

Partial synthesis of ∆⁸-THC was published in 1941 by Roger Adams and colleagues at the University of Illinois. After the 2018 United States farm bill was signed, ∆⁸-THC products synthesized from industrial hemp by acid-catalyzed cyclization experienced a rise in popularity;^[3] THC products have been sold in licensed recreational cannabis and medical cannabis industries within the United States in California, Pennsylvania, and medicinally licensed in Michigan and Oregon. According to a March 2024 study, 11% of US twelfth graders in the study had used ∆⁸-THC over the past 12 months.^[4]

Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).

^ Qamar S, Manrique YJ, Parekh HS, Falconer JR (May 2021). "Development and Optimization of Supercritical Fluid Extraction Setup Leading to Quantification of 11 Cannabinoids Derived from Medicinal Cannabis". Biology. 10 (6): 481. doi:10.3390/biology10060481. PMC 8227983. PMID 34071473.
^ Geci M, Scialdone M, Tishler J (April 2023). "The Dark Side of Cannabidiol: The Unanticipated Social and Clinical Implications of Synthetic Δ⁸-THC". Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. 8 (2): 270–282. doi:10.1089/can.2022.0126. PMC 10061328. PMID 36264171.
^ Palfreyman MG, Nivorozhkin A (1 June 2025). "Acid-Catalyzed Conversion of Cannabidiol to Tetrahydrocannabinols: En Route to Demystifying Manufacturing Processes and Controlling the Reaction Outcomes". Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. 10 (3): 377–388. doi:10.1089/can.2025.0015. ISSN 2578-5125. PMID 40250991.
^ Harlow AF, Miech RA, Leventhal AM (March 2024). "Adolescent Δ8-THC and Marijuana Use in the US". JAMA. 331 (10): 861–865. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.0865. PMC 10933714. PMID 38470384.

[Qamar_2021-2] Qamar S, Manrique YJ, Parekh HS, Falconer JR (May 2021). "Development and Optimization of Supercritical Fluid Extraction Setup Leading to Quantification of 11 Cannabinoids Derived from Medicinal Cannabis". Biology. 10 (6): 481. doi:10.3390/biology10060481. PMC 8227983. PMID 34071473.

[Geci_2023-3] Geci M, Scialdone M, Tishler J (April 2023). "The Dark Side of Cannabidiol: The Unanticipated Social and Clinical Implications of Synthetic Δ⁸-THC". Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. 8 (2): 270–282. doi:10.1089/can.2022.0126. PMC 10061328. PMID 36264171.

[4] Palfreyman MG, Nivorozhkin A (1 June 2025). "Acid-Catalyzed Conversion of Cannabidiol to Tetrahydrocannabinols: En Route to Demystifying Manufacturing Processes and Controlling the Reaction Outcomes". Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. 10 (3): 377–388. doi:10.1089/can.2025.0015. ISSN 2578-5125. PMID 40250991.

[Harlow_2024-5] Harlow AF, Miech RA, Leventhal AM (March 2024). "Adolescent Δ8-THC and Marijuana Use in the US". JAMA. 331 (10): 861–865. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.0865. PMC 10933714. PMID 38470384.

[a]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]