Is CBD or Delta 8 better for pain? That seems like a simple question, but the answer is relatively complex.
There just isn’t enough peer-reviewed scientific research available to make a clear and easy comparison between the two. However, we do know that both cannabinoids have been the subject of some surveys and research related to pain. We also know that many of our customers use CBD, Delta 8, or both to help treat pain.
Taking a closer look at each cannabinoid can help us understand its relationship to pain management.
Understanding CBD and Delta 8 for Pain Relief
What is CBD?
CBD is a chemical that naturally occurs in both cannabis and hemp plants. When extracted from hemp plants, it’s federally legal. The 2018 Farm Bill made the commercial production of hemp plants containing no more than 0.3% Delta 9 THC legal at the federal level.
These chemicals, including CBD, Delta 8 THC, Delta 9, and many others, are called cannabinoids. They interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, reaching cannabinoid receptors and producing a range of effects.
CBD is similar to many other cannabinoids because CBD products create certain effects when consumed.
Harvard Health Publishing highlighted a mix of animal studies, human research, and user reporting that indicates the benefits CBD may offer. While more research is needed, CBD may help address issues like anxiety, insomnia, addiction, and chronic pain.
What makes CBD stand out is that it doesn’t have psychoactive effects. Taking CBD oil and similar products can lead to a feeling of relaxation and calmness. However, it doesn’t produce intoxicating effects — a high — in the same way as Delta 8 and many other cannabinoids.
What is Delta 8?
Delta 8 is another cannabinoid found in both cannabis and hemp plants. Our guide to Delta 8 explains that it has psychoactive effects. That’s a major difference when compared to CBD. However, Delta 8 products have milder psychoactive effects than those offered by Delta 9 (the major cannabinoid found in cannabis plants).
When extracted from hemp plants, Delta 8 is similar to CBD in that it’s federally legal. It also falls under the 2018 Farm Bill.
US News & World Report explains that Delta 8 users generally report some other positive effects as well. Those include euphoria, relaxation, more restful sleep, and pain relief.
Should You Choose CBD or Delta 8 for Pain?
Delta 8 for Pain Management: Research and Reports
What do we know about Delta 8 for pain management? Because Delta 8 only became widely available after the 2018 Farm Bill became law, research is still in its early stages. There isn’t enough conclusive, peer-reviewed scientific evidence to make a definitive statement about the effectiveness of Delta 8 for pain management and relief.
It’s important to note that a lack of concrete evidence is not a negative sign (or a positive one, for that matter). It simply means more research is needed before anything can be presented as a fact.
What we do know is that users of Delta 8 products self-report pain relief as a positive effect. A user survey published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Cannabis Research identified pain relief as one of the most commonly reported user benefits. The top three were:
- Relaxation (71%)
- Euphoria (68%)
- Pain relief (55%)
In a survey of more than 500 respondents, a majority reported experiencing pain relief is a promising result. This tells us that, on an anecdotal level, many people find help with pain by using Delta 8.
We can also point to a wide range of reviews left by our own customers on Delta 8 products that mention pain relief and similar topics. While these reviews aren’t scientifically collected data, they are the honest opinions of individuals who have bought and used Delta 8.
CBD for Pain Management: Research and Reports
Can CBD help you manage pain? Unfortunately, CBD is similar to Delta 8 in the sense that definitive evidence of its effectiveness for pain relief isn’t available. While there is a larger body of scientific research, it hasn’t definitively answered this question in one way or another.
What available research tells us is that CBD can be effective in specific situations for treating pain caused by certain conditions. There are promising results related to CBD as a migraine treatment, for example.
Additionally, CBD is the main ingredient in an FDA-approved medication for treating seizures caused by certain types of epilepsies. This treatment is called Epidiolex.
There’s also a recent user survey, published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Pain Research to consider. This survey took responses from patients of pain management clinics in southern California. Just under 6 in 10 respondents (59%) said CBD helps them with pain. Additionally, the survey found 67.6% of respondents said CBD helped them reduce the use of other pain medications.
Can You Take Both CBD and Delta 8 for Pain?
In the sense that these cannabinoids aren’t known to interact or interfere with each other, yes, you can take both CBD and Delta 8 for pain. The combination may help some people better manage issues related to pain.
On a practical level, we know Delta 8 and CBD are often combined in products geared toward recreational users. Those users generally don’t report negative results from using that combination.
Both cannabinoids have side effects. However, they’re mostly limited to relatively mild issues like nausea and dizziness (Delta 8) and fatigue and irritability (CBD). It is important to note that cannabinoids can interact with certain types of prescribed medications. That means it’s important to discuss their use with your physician before taking them.
The combination of Delta 8 THC and CBD may promote the entourage effect. This is a theory that states cannabinoids, and other chemicals found in cannabis and hemp plants, create a different and stronger or more pleasing effect than a single cannabinoid on its own. This theory isn’t proven, but it is worth considering.
Lab Tested, High-Quality CBD & Delta 8
At Delta 8 Resellers, we only offer high-quality products from the very best brands in the industry. You can see the testing results yourself — we share independent lab reports for all of our products.
