Legal THC in Iowa

CIV PLUS IS A REGISTERED RETAILER FOR CBD AND LEGAL HEMP-DERIVED CANNABIS PRODUCTS IN IOWA.

CIV Plus believes in the process of extracting isolates from industrial hemp and supplying consumers with cannabinoid blends that better target specific needs but aren’t often available in medical or recreational dispensaries.

CIV Plus noticed the lack of availability of isolates in cannabis spaces and worked directly with the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) to get registered in early 2021.

Since then, CIV Plus has built a diverse selection of clean, full panel tested products and has become a leading retailer of rare and minor cannabinoids in Iowa. Our goal is to provide access to everything this versatile plant has to offer.

All our products come from Certified Industrial Hemp small farmers and registered manufacturers. At CIV Plus we are an advocate for fair treatment of farmers as well as cannabis research and education.

Take control of your individual wellness and see how these products can benefit you.

About Delta 9

  • Full name of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol
  • With delta written in symbol as Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-9-THC)
  • Or commonly called delta 9 or delta 9 THC, or simply THC

What Is Delta 9 THC?

As recently as the 1960s, scientists had no idea what it was about marijuana that was making people feel “high.” One scientist set out to discover why. His research has become the foundation for much of what we know about CBD, other cannabinoids, and THC and its variants.

Discovery

Israeli doctor Raphael Mechoulam, professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel, is credited with the discovery of THC, giving him the nickname the “godfather of cannabis.”

His work was important because it kicked off more research and understanding about just how varied the components of the Cannabis sativa plant are, opening a world of health, wellness, and fitness applications, and many potential medical ones. His curiosity about cannabis essentially birthed the CBD industry that you now see dominating health and wellness markets.

Continued Study and Regulation

Mechoulam discovered the active component of the Cannabis sativa plant that produces a psychoactive effect on the human body. That component was delta 9 THC. This means that yes when consumed in larger quantities, it can get you high.

For today, the FDA regulates the amount of delta 9 THC that is allowed within any type of CBD product, CBD oil, or CBD topical solutions, which is 0.3 percent. There is a currently active bill called the Hemp Advancement Act of 2022, which, if passed by Congress, could increase this amount to 1 percent.

Delta 9 is one of nearly 113 molecular components of the Cannabis sativa plant, along with cannabinoids like CBD, CBG, CBN, and others, as well as various flavonoids and terpenes. Delta 9 grows naturally in the plant and can be extracted for use. Along with his studies on cannabinoids, Mechoulam also developed the theory of the endocannabinoid system, which explains how cannabinoids operate within the human body.

Extraction

You may have seen the term “industrial hemp,” which is also Cannabis sativa, but a variety less THC-rich and more abundant in other cannabinoids. Marijuana growers use strains of Cannabis sativa that are very high in THC and these plants are usually called marijuana plants. It is important to distinguish the difference here. THC for CBD products does NOT come from marijuana if producers are conforming to federal standards.

CBD products come from plants like industrial hemp, which is less abundant in THC since they don’t need so much THC for the creation of wellness products.

Delta 9 THC is extracted from various structural parts of the hemp plants and purified using liquid solvents. Other forms of THC can also be made by how these molecules are handled in the extraction process. You’ll see these labeled as delta 8, delta 10 or others, named for where the double carbon bonds are located within the molecules.

It’s all still THC, but different variants can be more or less effective. Consider delta 9 THC the “regular form” of THC.

Effects of Delta 9 THC

We know from science that THC has a psychoactive high effect – and that at these lower amounts found in CBD products, you don’t have to worry about that. It’s simply not enough to create a high feeling. But it is enough to help with other things.

Delta 9 THC can help with a greater feeling of wellness, relaxation, or sense of calm. This may help some people who use CBD products to get more help in this area by switching to a full spectrum CBD oil rather than broad spectrum. Because each body responds differently to cannabinoids, you may find that the opposite is true. But overall, THC seems to be more calming.

Delta 9 THC also seems to help people who have difficulty sleeping even when they are already on a broad-spectrum CBD formula. While this may be sufficient for many people, others need a little more help falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping well. For these folks, switching to a CBD product with Delta 9 THC in it could be that extra needed support.

Delta 9 THC is making big waves in the athletic industry with athletes sharing that it helps with post workout recovery, more so than using a broad-spectrum CBD. While both are helpful and supportive, the formulas with delta 9 THC or other varieties of THC seem to be preferred for this kind of use. Note: For competitive athletes, check your athletics organizations to be sure CBD products are allowed, specifically the ones with THC in them.

Does CBD Oil Contain Delta 9 THC?

Product labeled full spectrum or include CBN, CBG and delta are the plant parts, including THC.

Secondly, check product labeling or ask a sales associate directly what products contain delta 9 THC, delta 8 THC, delta 10, or some other kind of THC, or if there is a combination blend of THC in the products it must be under .3% THC. Product Lab report are available at all locations. Feel free to look over that prior to making any purchases.

How Does CBD Work With The Body?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is an organic phytocannabinoid that works with our endocannabinoid (ECS). And our ECS contains two essential components – CB1 and CB2 receptors. Our CB2 receptors attach to our peripheral nervous system, which is an extensive network of nerve fibers that connect to several organs, including the skin, muscles, and limbs.

How Does CBD effect the Endocannabinoid System?

CBD itself is a nonintoxicating cannabinoid that produces no euphoric effects or a “high” feeling.  And it typically bonds with the CB2 connectors. The receptors send signals to various body parts after encountering CBD, which affects their functions.

CBD and the Blood-Brain Barrier

To reach the ECS, CBD and any other cannabinoid typically must get into the bloodstream by passing through our blood-brain barrier – a protective, biological material between the blood vessels in our brain and the cells and other elements comprising our brain tissue, according to the Queensland Brain Institute.

Traveling through the body and crossing into the blood-brain barrier affects how long it takes for CBD oil to work with you – depending on how you mainly use CBD oil.

How To Use Tinctures

CBD oil comes in many different forms, such as tinctures, gummies, capsules, bath bombs, etc. But there are only a few ways you can get CBD into your system: sublingually, topically and by inhalation. Currently the state of Iowa does not allow inhalation and flower. Each method has its advantages based on personal needs and an educated estimate of how long it will take for CBD oil to work.

Sublingual (CBD Oil Under Tongue)

With CBD oil tinctures, you can place a dropperful or two of CBD oil underneath your tongue, hold it for 30 to 60 seconds, and then swallow. This method allows CBD to become absorbed through the capillaries under the tongue and directly into the bloodstream.

Sublingually taking CBD oil is one of the quickest and most straightforward means of getting CBD into your system. Usually, it takes up to 30 minutes for the CBD oil to work. And you should feel it for a few hours.

Inhaled CBD – CURRENTLY NOT LEGAL IN IOWA

With CBD oil vapes or other means of smokable CBD, you can inhale CBD into your lungs. The CBD passes through the lungs and directly into your bloodstream. This method is, by far, the most powerful and fastest absorption of CBD. However, its impact is brief – lasting only an hour or two.

Edibles

With capsules, gummies, or other edibles, you can consume or swallow CBD. In contrast to other methods, ingestion is generally the slowest because the CBD must be broken down through first-pass metabolism before it enters the bloodstream.

Going through the digestive system could take up to 90 minutes. But this estimate could vary depending on whether you’re taking CBD alongside a large meal or on an empty stomach.

Topicals 

With CBD creams, lotions, or bath bombs, you can absorb CBD through the skin. Earlier, it was mentioned that CBD and other cannabinoids typically need to get inside the bloodstream to make a difference. However, that isn’t the case with CBD topicals.

They work on contact with the CB2 receptors associated with the skin, so it’s possible to feel it soon after use. And no matter how much you massage into your skin; the CBD never permeates through into the bloodstream.

Even though these methods have general estimates for how long it takes CBD oil to work, it doesn’t mean that everyone using CBD oil will have similar experiences. Our bodies are uniquely different from one another.

And how each of us processes CBD, along with other factors, will affect how long it takes CBD oil to work individually.

 

One very important note here – CBD product companies or anyone who sells products containing THC or other cannabinoids can only make statements about efficacy that are based on the current body of scientific research. This is federal law. So, if you see companies making outrageous claims, you may want to find a new provider for your CBD products!