The cannabis medical market is projected to grow by 37% in the next five years, and according to research done by a team at GW Pharmaceuticals, delta-8 extract will drive a $3.7 billion market. This is due to the effectiveness of delta-8 flowers as a vaporization solution for chronic pain, depression, anxiety and insomnia among other conditions.
Delta-8 flowers have been used throughout history for their ability to reduce inflammation which makes them an attractive choice for people with arthritis or other inflammatory diseases like psoriasis.
The Science behind Delta-8 flower
The THC molecule can be extracted from hemp or the marijuana plant in two different forms: delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆9-THC) or delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆8-THC). Research indicates that ∆8-THC is more effective as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic than ∆9-THC.
History of delta-8 flower
Delta-8 flowers were first cultivated in 1998 by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. It was later tested for safety and potency at the University of Mississippi. The strain was discovered to be 10 to 20 times weaker than marijuana and was therefore kept in cold storage.
Cannabis Medical Market Growth Depends on Delta 8 Flower
Delta-8 flowers are in high demand because they target different symptoms that cannabis users may be having at any given time. As a result, companies are starting to rework their products to make the extracts more suitable for vaporization instead of smoking or ingesting through edible food products or edibles topicals such as lotion and cream containing THC.
Future of delta-8 flower
Delta-8 flowers are a prime candidate for becoming one of the smoking marijuana’s most popular extracts in the future due to their ability to help users with inflammation, depression, anxiety and insomnia among other conditions. The market for delta-8 flowers is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of ~37% from 2015 to 2020, resulting in a total market size of $3.7 billion by 2020.
Delta 8 flower advantages as a vaporizer
delta 8 flower work best as vaporizers since they do not burn like other forms of smoking for consumption. By burning the THC molecules that are contained in delta-8 flowers, the cannabinoids are introduced into the lungs which may lead to unpleasant side effects such as nausea and vomiting. This is because cannabis utilizes compounds known as lipids that can actually be absorbed by the lungs when burned.
Conclusion
Delta-8 flowers have been a popular alternative to other forms of cannabis consumption such as smoking and eating/inhaling through edibles. The advantage with delta-8 flowers is that patients can control the dosage that they want to consume, giving them more flexibility over their consumption. In addition, people who do not want the extreme effects of ∆9-THC and ∆9-THC are now able to use delta-8 flower for its anti-inflammatory effects which can be vaporized and inhaled since it is not burnt like marijuana.