How Does Delta 10 THC Impact a Person’s Endocannabinoid System?

Medically reviewed by Alexander Tabibi, MD
May 7, 2021
Delta 10 Weed and Endocannabinoid System
Delta 10 Weed and Endocannabinoid System

Delta 10 THC is the next cannabinoid to make a big splash on the hemp circuit, with mild psychoactive properties similar to delta 8 THC, but more energizing for those who enjoy a nice boost.  Being a cannabinoid, delta 10 has a distinctive role in the body of working through the endocannabinoid system to promote unique properties that are useful to our daily lives.

Each cannabinoid in the hemp plant interacts with the endocannabinoid system in its own distinctive way, and we’ll be focusing on the relationship between this system and delta 10 THC.  Although the cannabinoid is so new to the market that we do not have tons of scientifically backed information about its properties, we know enough about it to offer some helpful information for those who are curious about how it works.

The Endocannabinoid System: What It is and Why It Exists

The endocannabinoid system, for those who are not totally familiar, is a system of the body that is present in every mammal species.  In short, this system is in charge of regulating the functions of the body in order to achieve homeostasis.  What it is, in fact, is a complex network of cannabinoid receptors found throughout each system of the body, with each cannabinoid receptor corresponding with a particular process that it is tasked with regulating.

There are two main categories of cannabinoid receptors: CB1 receptors and CB2 receptors.

  • CB1 receptors are found largely in the nervous system, and therefore deal with nervous system functions like neurological regulation, mood, pain sensitivity, and more.
  • CB2 receptors exist mainly in the immune system and digestive tract, dealing with inflammation, digestion and so on.

So, where does delta 10 THC come in?

Well, all cannabinoids, like delta 10, give the endocannabinoid system its ability to do its job.  When we introduce cannabinoids into the body, they bind to distinctive cannabinoid receptors to regulate particular functions we depend on.  Some cannabinoid receptors balance their activity between CB1 and CB2 receptors, like cannabidiol (CBD), while others focus primarily on specific receptors, like delta 8 and its affinity for CB1 receptors in the nervous system.

Delta 10 THC: We are Still Learning

Delta 10 is such a new cannabinoid that we don’t yet have any studies to reference in terms of its effects.  Without a doubt, scientists will analyze the compound soon as it is more widely in circulation, to study its properties to figure out how it can be useful to us, and to determine exactly which cannabinoid receptors it works with.

That being said, we unfortunately can’t offer any medical research pertaining to the effects of delta 10, which come directly from its unique relationship with the body’s endocannabinoid system.  However, we do know enough about the endocannabinoid system and other forms of THC to offer some educated insight.

What We Know About THC and the Endocannabinoid System

As we said, each cannabinoid binds to specific cannabinoid receptors, giving it its own unique properties.  We know that both delta 8 and delta 9 work largely with the CB1 receptors in the nervous system, which is why these two cannabinoids seem to promote distinctive effects on mood, pain tolerance, neurological function, and nausea, which often has a neurological origin.

There is really no reason to believe that delta 10 TH is that different in this sense.  It likely binds to mainly CB1 receptors, as it shares a lot in common with the other two forms of THC in terms of its molecular makeup.  Those who have used delta 10 do note that it seems to offer some form of a motivation boost as well as enhanced creativity and sociability, while promoting almost euphoria-like effects.  This would indicate that the cannabinoid successfully binds to CB1 receptors to trigger these types of actions through a process of regulation.

Delta 10 is a mildly psychoactive compound, offering probably around the same potency of intoxication as delta 8 THC.  Its psychoactive properties due come from its influence on the endocannabinoid system, and that is a property of the compound that everyone will experience when taking it.

What to Expect When Taking Delta 10 THC

All that being said, there are some things that you can expect when you first take delta 10.

  1. Creates a high.
  2. Likely offers a mood boost while making you feel more exhilarated than sedated.
  3. If you’re a hemp enthusiast who explores different strains, then you’ll appreciate the fact that many people say that delta 10 is like a sativa, while delta 8 acts like an indica.
  4. Because of the role of cannabinoid receptors in regulating the nervous system’s response to pain stimuli, delta 10 may offer some form of pain regulation by lowering the sensitivity of pain receptors. Note: This has yet to be proven in scientific studies, and we can only base this information off of what we know about similar cannabinoids in the hemp plant.

Factors that Play a Role in the Effect on Your Endocannabinoid System

There are several aspects of your specific delta 10 usage that can determine how it interacts with your endocannabinoid system.  Knowing these will help you personalize your routine based on how strongly you want the properties of the compound to be felt.

Strength

Like CBD and delta 8, delta 10 comes in different milligram strengths, indicating the potency of the delta 10 in a product’s formula.  Obviously, higher milligram strengths will give you more potent effects that impact the endocannabinoid system.  Delta 10 comes in basically the same range of milligram strengths as CBD.

Delivery Method

Different delivery methods affect the endocannabinoid system in different ways.  For example, inhaling delta 10 allows the fastest-acting and strongest endocannabinoid system response, while ingesting delta 10 in the form of an edible or capsule takes up to 2 hours to take effect, and the effects are usually more subtle but long-lasting.

Other Hemp Compounds

The other hemp compounds in the formula can play a role in how strongly you feel the delta 10 THC, and what it’s actually doing when it binds to your cannabinoid receptors.  For instance, taking delta 10 with other cannabinoids promotes a synergistic experience in which the presence of multiple cannabinoids can lead to a stronger experience overall.  Further, some terpenes in hemp help cannabinoids absorb more efficiently into the body for maximum desired effects, which is one reason why so many delta 10 products are enhanced with terpene profiles taken from the same plant material.

Your Individual Endocannabinoid System

Everyone’s endocannabinoid system is unique.  We know that some people have fewer cannabinoid receptors in their bodies than others, and this seems to correlate to a need for higher strengths to compensate.  Basically, the more cannabinoid receptors you have, the less cannabinoids you need to get the results that you want.  Further, body weight is a factor that influences how much you need to take to get the desired results, with higher body weights typically needing higher strengths than others.

No Doubt, Everyone Should Have a General Idea of What Delta 10 THC Can Offer Your Body Before Taking It

The best way to understand what delta 10 is capable of is to observe its relationship to the endocannabinoid system, as this relationship explains the unique effects that cannabinoids like delta 10 can offer.  Ultimately, everyone’s experience with delta 10 will be unique, but overall, when taking it, you can expect a gentle high that offers enjoyable uplifting effects as described by those who have had the opportunity to try it so far.