Anxiety is one of the main reasons our customers turn to hemp products. However, many people find that delta 9 THC, the cannabinoid most prominent in weed, sometimes creates anxiety and paranoia as a side effect – which isn’t exactly conducive to the goal of reducing anxiety.
As a result, we’ve begun recommending two other cannabinoids: CBD and delta 8 THC. These two cannabinoids have very different effects, but similar benefits for promoting mental relaxation.
In this article, we’ll get you an in-depth comparison of the therapeutic effects CBD and delta 8 have to offer for anxiety, as well as a comparison chart. Now, you’ll know how they work and which to choose.
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a cannabinoid found in the hemp plant (hemp is just cannabis containing less than 0.3% THC by dry weight). There are more than 100 cannabinoids in hemp, but CBD stands out because of its wide variety of therapeutic benefits.
CBD has been researched for use with anxiety, pain, inflammation, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel diseases, and more.
Unlike some cannabinoids, CBD is not psychoactive and will not cause a head high.
What is Delta 8?
Delta 8 tetrahydrocannabinol (also called delta 8 THC or simply delta 8) is also a cannabinoid found in the hemp plant. However, it only occurs in very small amounts, so it’s synthetically produced for use in products.
Like regular THC (which is delta 9 THC), delta 8 is psychoactive and will get you high. It’s used for recreation, but its milder head effects have made it an increasingly popular choice for therapeutic use.
CBD vs. Delta 8 for Anxiety: How They Make You Feel
CBD and delta 8 both help with anxiety, but they do so very differently.
CBD is not psychoactive and will not render any sort of a head high – you can use it in large amounts and won’t feel a head effect. Instead, CBD renders subtly calming effects. Many people say that CBD makes feelings of anxiety feel “more distant” and “not as important,” but that they don’t “feel” it working.
Delta 8, on the other hand, creates noticeably relaxing effects and will get you high. It’s only about as half as strong as delta 9 THC, but it still promotes feelings of euphoria and relaxation.
The benefit of delta 8 over stronger cannabinoids, however, is that it’s less likely to cause anxiety and paranoia as side effects.
Neither CBD nor delta 8 promotes strong feelings of drowsiness, but you may feel this as a side effect, especially if you take too much.
Benefits of CBD for Anxiety
CBD may help with anxiety in a few different ways:
Relaxation
Research suggests that CBD has potential as a direct treatment for anxiety. One research review examined multiple studies around CBD for anxiety and concluded that it has “considerable potential as a treatment for multiple anxiety disorders.”
Many people have tried CBD for anxiety and found it to work better than their prescription anxiety medication. CBD is commonly used to substitute medications like Xanax, Ativan, and Lexapro, and in some cases, replace them altogether.
Another study examined the anti-anxiety effects of CBD on participants undergoing a public speaking test.
Public speaking and social interaction are common causes of anxiety, and the study found that CBD reduced anxiety, cognitive impairment, and discomfort in participants who used it, as compared to those who did not.
Based on scientific and anecdotal evidence, CBD has therapeutic potential to reduce feelings of anxiety, as well as remove the feelings of brain fog anxiety often causes.
Sleep
Poor sleep is a major contributor to anxiety. Not only will feeling tired multiply any negative emotions you’re already experiencing, but there’s actually a scientific link between getting less sleep and feeling more anxious.
When you don’t sleep well, your body produces more cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that, among other things, contributes to feelings of stress and anxiety. This is why good sleep is paramount to good mental health – and just about everything else.
Research suggests CBD has therapeutic potential to address insomnia and other sleep issues. One research review stated that CBD may hold promise for REM sleep behavior disorder and excessive daytime sleepiness.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that CBD can help you get into a more relaxed state, thereby helping you sleep sooner and stay asleep throughout the night. This may lead to improvements in mental health and reductions in anxiety.
Pain & Inflammation
Inflammation and pain can also contribute to feelings of anxiety. When you’re dealing with physical discomfort, you tend to worry about when the pain will come, how long it will last, and when it will go away.
Addressing pain and inflammation is critical to feeling mentally at ease.
There are a variety of studies suggesting CBD may have anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain-relieving) effects. Research indicates CBD may reduce neuropathic pain, and many people have replaced medications such as gabapentin with CBD for nerve pain and related issues.
CBD is also frequently used for joint pain, tendonitis, gout, and even tooth pain.
Overall, scientific and anecdotal evidence shows that CBD may address physical discomfort, and therefore help promote mental relaxation.
Benefits of Delta 8 for Anxiety
Here are the main ways delta 8 may promote mental relaxation and help with anxiety:
Relaxation & Euphoria
Anecdotally, delta 8 is known to provide a relaxing, euphoric high experience for users.
However, some scientists from the University of Buffalo in New York decided to conduct formal research into how delta 8 makes people feel. In an online survey of over 500 delta 8 users, participants reported experiencing relaxation (71%), euphoria (68%), and pain relief (55%) after using delta 8 products.
These results indicate that delta 8 is capable of providing both mental and physical relaxation, and that it may help with feelings of anxiety and stress.
And since delta 8 isn’t as strong as cannabinoids like THC-O, HHC, or delta 9, many users report that microdosing it throughout the day can render relaxation without creating a stoned feeling.
Sleep
Delta 8 may help you fall asleep sooner and stay asleep throughout the night, further contributing to its benefits for anxiety.
Pain
Like CBD, delta 8 may address physical discomfort, and thereby indirectly contribute to feelings of mental relaxation.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that unlike delta 9, which renders a very strong head high but relatively small amounts of relaxation, delta 8 is able to render both physical and mental relaxation at the same time.
CBD vs. Delta 8 for Anxiety: How They Work
All cannabinoids, including CBD and delta 8, work by interacting with your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS).
The ECS is a receptor system in your body responsible for regulating most vital functions, including your mood and mental state.
There are two types of receptors in the ECS:
- CB1 receptors, which are responsible for the mental effects of cannabinoids
- CB2 receptors, which are responsible for the physical effects of cannabinoids
Delta 8 primarily binds with the CB1 receptors, thereby influencing your mental state. CB1 receptors do also have some influence over things like pain and inflammatory sensations, so delta 8 is able to render full-body effects through this interaction.
CBD, for its wide array of benefits, doesn’t actually bind heavily to either CB1 or CB2 receptors. Instead, it’s thought to render benefits by supporting the overall function of the ECS. CBD may prevent endocannabinoid breakdown and generally help your ECS to better perform its job (keeping your body in a state of balance).
Research also suggests that CBD may impact the transmission of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Elevated serotonin levels are associated with calmed, focused, and happy sensations – CBD may improve serotonin transmission, thereby promoting these positive effects.
CBD vs. Delta 8: Side Effects & Drawbacks
Although CBD and delta 8 have lots of therapeutic potential for anxiety and stress, they also have side effects and drawbacks.
CBD Side Effects
Potential side effects of CBD include:
- Dry mouth
- Drowsiness
- Diarrhea
- Reduced appetite
- Fatigue
Delta 8 Side Effects
Potential side effects of delta 8 include:
- Red eyes
- Dry mouth
- Trouble with coordination
- Slowed reaction times
- Rapid heart rate
One downside of delta 8 to note is that, even in small doses, it may reduce cognitive functioning and capability. While you may feel relaxed, you won’t be able to work, study, or do any mental task as acutely as otherwise.
This means delta 8 isn’t always the best option to combat anxiety in the morning before work, class, or other activities. However, it is still perfect for the evening!
Legality & Availability of CBD vs. Delta 8
Before deciding whether to opt for CBD or delta 8, for anxiety, it’s important to know whether your cannabinoid of choice is legal where you live.
Here are the states in which CBD and delta 8 are and are not legal – be sure to check local laws before purchasing hemp products online.
States Where CBD Is Legal
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- Oregon
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington D.C.
- Washington
States Where CBD Is Restricted (To Certain Products, Uses, or Potencies)
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- California
- Florida
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Wyoming
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
States Where Delta 8 is Legal
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
States Where Delta 8 is Illegal or Restricted
- Alaska
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Montana
- New York
- Nevada
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- South Carolina
- Utah
- Vermont
Which is Better for Anxiety? (A Chart)
To help you choose the best cannabinoid, we’ve summarized everything we discussed above into a simple chart:
How to Use CBD & Delta 8 for Anxiety: Products & Dosage
Ready to get started? Here is a rundown of the different ways you can take CBD and delta 8 for anxiety, as well as information on how much you should take.
Products
- Oils/tinctures – CBD and delta 8 oils are very potent, because you place the oil under your tongue and absorb it directly through blood vessels in your mouth. Also as a result of this delivery method, oils begin working in just 10-15 minutes. Oils are great for therapeutic use because you can measure very precise amounts of CBD or delta 8.
- Edibles and drinks – Edibles and drinks offer a fun and delicious way to take CBD or delta 8. Edibles, specifically, are fixed-dose, making them ideal for routine building. However, edibles and drinks take about 1 hour to begin rendering effects, since they have to be digested.
- Capsules – Capsules, like edibles, offer a fixed-dose way of taking CBD and delta 8. They’re quick, tasteless, and begin working in about 1 hour.
- Smokeables and vapes — There are a variety of hemp flowers, vapes, and other smokable products out there containing both CBD and delta 8. Inhalation is the most potent way to consume cannabinoids, as delivery happens through the lungs, rather than the digestive tract. Normally, we caution customers against inhalable consumption due to the health risks, but for anxiety, using a vape to take small doses of CBD or delta 8 throughout the day can be very beneficial. Inhalable products begin working in 5-10 minutes.
NOTE: Always opt for full-spectrum CBD products, unless you’re restricted to CBD isolate or broad spectrum CBD (CBD without THC) due to drug testing reasons. The array of cannabinoids included in full-spectrum CBD makes its therapeutic effects stronger than broad spectrum and isolate CBD.
Dosage
For general mental relaxation and anxiety support, we recommend taking a low-strength dose of CBD or delta 8.
You can calculate your CBD dosage using this formula:
(0.1) x (your body weight in lbs.) = your daily CBD dosage in mg.
For delta 8, you’ll want to start even smaller to the psychoactive effects. You can use this formula:
(0.05) x (your body weight in lbs.) = your daily delta 8 dosage in mg.
As you go, you can slowly adjust your dose up or down depending on how you feel. Feel free to split your dose into small amounts and take it throughout the day – as long as you take your total dosage on a consistent, day-to-day basis, you’ll see results.
Conclusion: Which Cannabinoid Is Better for Anxiety?
CBD’s benefits for anxiety have been espoused by companies and people alike for years, but delta 8 is slowly becoming more popular: it’s a psychoactive cannabinoid that enables you to get high and relax without as many of the side effects as delta 9.
Still, CBD is a solid option for anxiety and overall wellness if you’re a therapeutic user who doesn’t want to get high. The beauty of the hemp plant is that there’s something out there for everyone!
CBD vs. Delta 8 for Anxiety: Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions customers frequently ask us about choosing between CBD and delta 8 for anxiety.
Should I use CBD or delta 8 for anxiety?
Research suggests both CBD and delta 8 have benefits for anxiety. CBD is not psychoactive and will not render any sort of a head high, making it great for daytime anxiety. Delta 8, on the other hand, creates noticeably calming effects and will get you high, making it ideal for evening relaxation and therapeutic use.
Should I get delta 8 or CBD?
Delta 8 is your go-to if you’re looking for psychoactive effects and full-body relaxation. It’s great for both recreational and therapeutic use. On the other hand, CBD won’t cause a head high, so it’s perfect for targeted therapeutic use, including for sleep, pain, and anxiety.
Should I take delta 8 for anxiety?
Research and anecdotal evidence indicates that delta 8 THC may be very beneficial for anxiety. Unlike delta 9 THC, which is twice as strong, delta 8 is able to provide relaxation with less risk of creating anxiety and paranoia as side effects.
How much delta 8 should I take for anxiety?
Starting out, we recommend taking a low-strength dose of delta 8 for anxiety. For most people, this is between 5 and 15 mg per day. You can use a delta 8 oil product to consume a precise dosage, or you can split a delta 8 gummy in half. After you take your dosage, assess how you feel and adjust your amount based on that.
