If you’re anything like me, you really struggle with staying focused. Call it ADD, scatterbrained, easily-distracted, or what-have-you, the modern world we live in is filled with things that fight to grab your attention. This undoubtedly puts a strain on our ability to concentrate for long periods of time.
More and more people are looking for remedies to improve concentration.
And sure, you can go the pharmaceutical route and load up on medications like Ritalin and Adderall. But if you were ever a younger cat that might have experimented with “recreational substances,” you might have realized that both of those options are terrible for the other parts of your body.
What if there was something that is derived from mother nature, that possesses significantly less adverse side effects, and does wonders in helping you focus? Oh wait…that’s Delta-8!
Many users of our favorite psychoactive minor cannabinoid swear by its ability to improve attention-span. What does the science say about this? Well, that’s what this article is for – so let’s eat one of our new Delta-8 Rice Krispie Treats and dive right in!
Before We Start: What is Delta-8 THC?
Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinol, otherwise known as Delta-8 or Delta-8 THC is one of the many active chemical compounds found in hemp. It’s important to note, however, that Delta-8 is a minor cannabinoid, meaning it only appears in trace amounts. Therefore, brands like Eighty Six rely on a process called isomerization to effectively convert to Delta-8 from more-abundant cannabinoids such as CBD.
Delta-8 is very similar to its popular cousin, Delta-9 THC in that both cause psychoactive effects in an albeit milder version.
Legally, Delta-8 falls under the 2018 Farm Bill that effectively legalizes all hemp-derived compounds as long as the Delta-9 THC content does not exceed 0.3%.
The Science of Delta-8 for Focus & Concentration
To understand how Dleta-8 may help you achieve increased focus and concentration, it’s important to understand how cannabinoids affect both your body and mind. Cannabinoids such as Delta-8 THC, Delta-9 THC, and CBD interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which basically acts as the central command to modulate how you perceive change. If you fall off your bike and sustain a bruise on your knee, for example, your body registers that pain and your endocannabinoid system tells the rest of your body to treat the impact and while doing so, a bruise shows up.
Composed of three components, your ECS contains cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, metabolic enzymes, and endogenous cannabinoids. Endogenous cannabinoids such as Delta-8 THC bind to these receptors to further modulate the various biological and cognitive functions we rely on to maintain homeostasis. Going back to the falling off your bike example, a bruise occurs after falling, right? Well, if you were to use a CBD lotion and apply it on the bruise, you’ll find that over time, your body would fire off less signals that that is an irritated area.
How does all this play into improving your concentration through Delta-8? Not much! Currently, there aren’t any concrete studies affirming or rejecting Delta-8’s efficacy in doing so simply because of how new the cannabinoid is to research. However, we do know that one of Delta-8’s inherent properties includes its affinity to the CB1 receptor and can bind relatively easily to modulate the various cognitive functions that are associated with attention span, concentration, and memory retention.
How to Use Delta-8 to Improve Focus & Concentration
If you’re interested in taking Delta-8 to help improve your focus and concentration, there are a few factors to take into consideration:
1) Consumption Method Plays a Major Role
When it comes to Delta-8, you can enjoy the various benefits of the cannabinoid through several consumption methods including, but not limited to: Delta-8 vape cartridges, disposable pens, edibles, pre-rolls, dab syringes, flower, sublingual tinctures, and even topicals.
Depending on how you consume your Delta-8, one can expect different experiences in its effects. Edibles, for example, offer a more intense and longer-lasting experience at the cost of a longer onset time. Conversely, inhaling Delta-8 through a vape offers almost instantaneous effects but doesn’t last nearly as long as eating it.
2) Strain Selection is Equally as Important
You’ve probably heard the buzzwords “indica” and “sativa” before, right? These refer to the two most common strain classifications of cannabis – and there are literally thousands of strains in each classification to choose from.
Delta-8 THC can be either an indica, a sativa, or a combination of the two. Strain selection is just as important as the consumption method in that there are different strains available to help you achieve a specific effect or use. Indica strains, for example, are known to produce whole-body relaxation whereas sativa strains lean more so in your head offering up an uplifting and energizing experience.
Your ability to concentrate and focus doesn’t only rely on strains, however. Terpenes go hand-in-hand with strains as certain terpenes pair better with helping you achieve a particular function.
Sativa strains historically have a lower level of the Myrcene terpene and known for their uplifting and energetic effects. In contrast, Indica strains typically have higher levels of this terpene to induce more sedative effects.
For some people, the energy boost from a Sativa strain makes it more difficult to concentrate. While for others, that energy boost can act as a motivational boost to focus on the task at hand.
Delta-8 users might also prefer the more-calming effects of an Indica strain, claiming that it makes them more alert. In turn, the alertness makes it easier for them to concentrate.
Ultimately, choosing a strain that works for you is entirely a personal journey. Be sure to experiment with all the products Eighty Six has to offer. We would guess that there should be at least five products that can help you out!
3) Finding that “Sweet Spot” Dosage
The amount and potency of Delta-8 you consume impacts the effects you experience. So what would be the optimal dosage specifically for improving focus?
Once again, there is no “one true” answer to this. You’ll have to figure that out for yourself.
As a general rule of thumb, start small and slowly increase as needed. Think microdose level dosages where you’ll eat the smallest bite of the 25MG Delta-8 Caramel Chew or a two-second pull off the Cereal Killer Delta-8 Disposable. You can always take more, but you can’t go back should you take too much!
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a student about to enter “midterm hell” or a working professional needing to apply some extra attention to an ongoing project, incorporating Delta-8 as a supplement to focus and concentration can be beneficial.
While research in this area is still in its infancy, we know that Delta-8 can interact with your ECS in helping to modulate your ability to focus. And since Delta-8 is derived from mother nature, there isn’t much to worry about side effects-wise. Give the cannabinoid a little love and experiment to see if Delta-8 is right for you!