Delta-8 vs. Delta-9 vs. THCa: What's the Difference?

Walk into any North Carolina dispensary and you'll see products labeled Delta-8, Delta-9, and THCa. All three are legal, all three are hemp-derived, and all three can get you high. But they are not the same thing — they differ in potency, effects, how they're made, how long they last, and what happens to them after November 2026.

This guide breaks down every meaningful difference so you can make an informed choice at the counter.

TL;DR: Delta-8 is ~67% as potent as Delta-9, with a milder, clearer high. Delta-9 is the classic "marijuana" cannabinoid — full potency. THCa is non-psychoactive raw but converts to Delta-9 when smoked, so THCa flower ≈ marijuana. All three are legal in NC under SB 455 and the Farm Bill. All three will trigger drug tests. All three face a federal ban effective November 12, 2026 under P.L. 119-37 (British Journal of Pharmacology, 2022; Congress.gov CRS, 2025).

The Quick Comparison

Before we go deep, here's the overview:

How They're Made: Three Very Different Paths

Understanding how each cannabinoid reaches the shelf explains a lot about quality and safety.

Delta-8: Synthesized from CBD

Delta-8 THC exists naturally in cannabis at less than 1%, which makes natural extraction economically impossible. Every Delta-8 product you see at a dispensary is made by converting CBD into Delta-8 through acid-catalyzed isomerization — a chemical process using solvents and acid catalysts to rearrange CBD's molecular structure (ACS C&EN, 2021).

This process can produce unwanted byproducts. A 2022 study in Molecules found that all 10 Delta-8 products tested contained impurities ranging from 8–17% beyond declared purity, including undeclared cannabinoids and unknown compounds (PMC, 2022). Another study found Delta-8 vape cartridges containing unlabeled adulterants, synthesis byproducts, and heavy metals (PMC, 2022).

This is why COAs matter more for Delta-8 than almost any other product. The manufacturing process introduces risks that don't exist with products derived directly from the plant. See our COA reading guide for how to evaluate lab reports.

Delta-9: The Dry Weight Math Loophole

Hemp-derived Delta-9 THC products — almost always gummies and edibles — exploit a math loophole in the Farm Bill. The law caps Delta-9 THC at 0.3% by dry weight. A heavier product can contain more THC while staying under that percentage:

• A 5-gram gummy × 0.3% = 15mg of Delta-9 THC (a full psychoactive dose)
• A 10-gram chocolate bar × 0.3% = 30mg

The Delta-9 THC itself is extracted from hemp through standard processes. For the full math breakdown, see our Delta-9 gummies guide.

THCa: Grown in the Ground

THCa flower is the most "natural" of the three. It's cannabis bred for high THCa content (20–30%) while maintaining less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC at harvest. No chemical conversion is needed — farmers grow specific cultivars, harvest at the right time, and cure the flower to preserve THCa content.

The "loophole" is that current law only tests for Delta-9 THC, not THCa. So flower that would test at 22% total THC (after conversion) is legal because only the 0.2% Delta-9 THC counts. For a deep dive on THCa flower, see our THCa flower guide.

Potency and Effects

Delta-8: The Mild Option

The first clinical trial comparing Delta-8 to Delta-9 in over 50 years (Johns Hopkins, 2025) confirmed what users have reported anecdotally: Delta-8 produces similar but milder effects than Delta-9 at equivalent doses (NORML, 2025). Previous pharmacological research estimated Delta-8's potency at approximately 67% of Delta-9 based on CB1 receptor binding affinity (British Journal of Pharmacology, 2022).

A survey of 521 Delta-8 users at the University at Buffalo found that 71% reported relaxation, 68% euphoria, and 55% pain relief, while paranoia and anxiety were rated between "not at all" and "a little" (UB News, 2022). Interestingly, 51% reported using Delta-8 to treat health conditions, and 78% hadn't told their doctor.

Best for: People who want THC effects but find Delta-9 too intense, especially regarding anxiety or paranoia. Also good for daytime use when you want to function.

Delta-9: The Standard

Delta-9 THC is the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana — the one everyone thinks of when they think of getting high. It's the potency baseline that Delta-8 and THCa are compared against.

Effects include euphoria, relaxation, heightened sensory perception, altered sense of time, and increased appetite. At higher doses, it can cause anxiety, paranoia, and impaired coordination.

In hemp-derived edibles, Delta-9 kicks in more slowly (30–90 minutes) but lasts longer (4–8 hours) than smoked or vaped THC. This is partly because your liver converts Delta-9 into 11-hydroxy-THC, a metabolite estimated to be 1.5–7× more potent than Delta-9 itself in certain tests (Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 2020). This is why edibles hit harder than smoking at the same milligram dose.

Best for: Experienced users who want the full-spectrum cannabis experience. Available in NC as gummies and edibles.

THCa: Delta-9 in Disguise

When smoked, THCa converts to Delta-9 THC. So smoking THCa flower at 25% THCa produces effects essentially identical to smoking 22% THC marijuana (accounting for the 87.7% conversion factor). Raw THCa is non-psychoactive.

Best for: People who want the traditional flower experience. THCa is the choice if you want to smoke or vape.

Onset, Duration, and Consumption Methods

How you consume each cannabinoid dramatically affects the experience:

Product availability by cannabinoid:

• Delta-8: Vapes, gummies, tinctures, concentrates. Rarely available as flower (usually sprayed onto CBD flower).
• Delta-9: Almost exclusively gummies and edibles (the dry weight math only works for heavier products).
• THCa: Flower, pre-rolls, concentrates. Some THCa edibles exist but are less common.

Drug Testing: All Three Will Get You Caught

This is the one thing all three cannabinoids have in common: they all produce THC-COOH, the metabolite detected by standard immunoassay drug tests. Your body processes Delta-8, Delta-9, and THCa (after decarboxylation) through the same metabolic pathway.

A 2023 study in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology found that Delta-8 THC showed 87–112% cross-reactivity across commercial immunoassay platforms at the standard 50 ng/mL cutoff (Oxford Academic, 2023). In plain English: Delta-8 triggers the test just as reliably as Delta-9.

Detection windows are the same for all three:

• Single use: ~3 days
• Moderate use (few times/week): 5–7 days
• Daily use: 10–15 days
• Chronic heavy use: 30–60+ days

Confirmatory testing (LC-MS/MS) can distinguish Delta-8 from Delta-9 metabolites, but most employers use the initial immunoassay screen, which cannot. If you're subject to drug testing, none of these products are safe to use. For more on this, see our hemp vs. marijuana guide.

Legal Status in NC (As of February 2026)

All three are currently legal in North Carolina under the 2018 Farm Bill and NC Session Law 2022-32 (SB 455), which excludes "tetrahydrocannabinols found in hemp or hemp products" from the state Controlled Substances Act.

UNC School of Government professor Phil Dixon confirmed in January 2026: "State law in this area has not changed and all the hemp products discussed above remain legal as a matter of state law" (UNC SOG, 2026).

For the detailed legal breakdown of each cannabinoid, see our dedicated guides: Delta-8, Delta-9 gummies, and THCa.

What Happens After November 2026?

P.L. 119-37 (signed November 12, 2025) fundamentally changes federal hemp law. Here's how each cannabinoid is affected:

Delta-8 faces a double ban: P.L. 119-37 both includes Delta-8 in the total THC calculation AND excludes cannabinoids "synthesized or manufactured outside the plant" from the hemp definition (Regulatory Oversight, 2025). Since commercial Delta-8 is converted from CBD, it's excluded on both counts.

Delta-9 gummies are eliminated by the 0.4mg cap. The current dry weight math that allows 15mg gummies becomes irrelevant when the total THC per container is capped at 0.4mg — roughly 1/37th of a single standard gummy.

THCa flower is eliminated by the total THC formula. Flower with 25% THCa has ~22% total THC, far exceeding the 0.3% limit.

For NC's hemp industry — which supports roughly 9,000 jobs and generates up to $1.1 billion in annual sales (Port City Daily, 2025) — the impact would be devastating.

Pricing at NC Dispensaries

Which One Should You Choose?

Here's a practical decision framework:

Choose Delta-8 if:

• You want THC effects but are prone to anxiety or paranoia
• You prefer a functional, clear-headed experience
• You want vapes or tinctures rather than flower
• You're a beginner looking for something milder

Choose Delta-9 (gummies) if:

• You want the classic, full-potency THC experience
• You prefer edibles over smoking
• You want precise, consistent dosing (each gummy = exact mg)
• You're comfortable with 30–90 minute onset and 4–8 hour duration

Choose THCa (flower) if:

• You want the traditional smoking/vaping experience
• You enjoy the ritual of grinding, packing, and smoking
• You want the strain variety that comes with flower
• You want effects comparable to marijuana

Where to Buy in the Triangle

Most Triangle dispensaries carry all three cannabinoids. Here are shops with strong selections across the board:

• Sherlocks Glass & Dispensary — Raleigh, 4.9 stars. Premium THCa flower, full range of edibles and vapes.
• Carolina Hemp Hut — Durham, 4.8 stars. NC's largest selection. Same-day delivery.
• NC Hemp Shoppe — North Raleigh. Voted Best of Raleigh. Full Delta-8, Delta-9, and THCa menu.
• Hempie's — Two 24/7 Raleigh locations. IndyWeek 2025 winner. All three cannabinoids.

Browse the full Triangle dispensary directory for all options.