What is ND THC?

With the world of hemp and cannabis expanding so quickly, it is understandable that there are plenty of terms out there that people just don’t understand. This is especially the case when it comes to legal terminologies and various designations assigned to cannabis products regarding their THC contents.

Of course, THC is the number one psychoactive compound found in cannabis, but the problem is that in the grand scheme of things, it’s not really legal across the USA, particularly not in high quantities or when taken from the cannabis plant. For this reason, companies might label their products as ND THC or THC-free, which stands for “Non-Detectable THC”.

In layman’s terms, this means that the product has so little THC in it, that most modern scientific tests can’t even detect it, which should therefore also mean that it is legal at a federal level. It’s also worth knowing that “Non-Detectable THC” or being “THC-free” doesn’t necessarily mean that there is no THC present at all.

Let’s determine what exactly ND THC is, what qualifies as non-detectable, and how manufacturers ensure that their goods meet the legal limits as set out by the 2018 Farm Bill and their state governments.

Key Takeaways

What is “Non-Detectable THC”? – These are products that contain THC levels that are generally not detectable through regular testing methods.
ND THC however does not necessarily mean that a product is 100% THC-free. Trace amounts may still be present.
According to federal law, products that have ND THC levels should be legal (at the federal level, although individual states may vary).

Click here to find out what THC-JD is.

The Basics of THC

THC or tetrahydrocannabinol is one of the two primary cannabinoids in cannabis plants, along with CBD. It is generally found in cannabis or cannabis plants, as opposed to hemp plants.

THC is the primary psychoactive compound found in cannabis plants, which means that it produces a mind-altering effect. THC is what people aim to purchase when they are looking to get high from their buds.

THC may exhibit various effects on the human mind and body. THC can make people feel uplifted, talkative, energetic, giggly, more social, and creative, and produce a strong cerebral or head high overall, characterized by feeling euphoric, happy, and more balanced.

These effects are generally associated with Sativa strains of cannabis. Indica cannabis strains are generally associated with feelings of sedation, lethargy, heaviness, and general relaxation.

Keep in mind that Sativa strains tend to be more uplifting whereas Indica strains tend to be more sedative, but they do both produce a cerebral and body high to a certain degree.

Technically speaking, there are various forms of THC, with Delta-9 THC being the regular version that is found in abundance in cannabis plants, although there are also others, such as Delta-8 and Delta-10 THC.

This is interesting to note, especially as far as today’s topic is concerned because at a federal level, Delta-9 THC is more or less illegal.

According to the 2018 Farm Bill, any cannabinoid product available for sale must not contain more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC, which simultaneously means that it also needs to be harvested from the hemp plant, which also needs to contain under 0.3%.

However, according to that same 2018 Farm Bill, other forms of THC, such as Delta-8 and Delta-10, do not have to adhere to that 0.3% limit, as long as they don’t contain over 0.3% Delta-9 THC. Our own Botany Farms Delta-8 THC Tincture is super tasty! We also have this Delta-8 THC Live Resin Cart that is perfect for vaping some THC without getting way too high.

THC vs CBD

To clear up any confusion, THC and CBD are two different cannabinoids, with THC occurring most frequently in cannabis plants and CBD occurring in its highest quantities in hemp plants. Where THC is a psychoactive compound that can get you high and produce mind-altering effects, CBD is generally considered to be non-psychoactive.

This means that it should not get you high or produce any of the feelings that THC produces as discussed above.

Although, CBD may still be able to provide you with various therapeutic benefits, such as the potential to relieve nausea, help you sleep better, and may even be able to relieve symptoms associated with stress, anxiety, and depression. It doesn’t get you high, but may still be able to benefit you.

Here’s a great Live Resin CBD Tincture for you to check out!

Furthermore, CBD also tends to enjoy a much more relaxed legal status in the USA, both at the federal level and within the various states. Remember, cannabinoid products are legal as long as they contain less than 0.3% THC, at least at the federal level. This means as far as the federal government is concerned, CBD should be legal across the country. Find out how to take CBD for beginners.

Decoding “ND THC”

To answer the question of the day, ND THC stands for “Non-Detectable THC”. This simply means that the vast majority of scientific testing methods out there at this time are not able to detect such low levels of THC.

Generally speaking, if a product is labeled “Non-Detectable THC”, it means that it has well below 0.1% THC. Unless you were to consume massive quantities of a cannabinoid product with 0.1% or less THC, you should not notice any psychoactive effects whatsoever. That is a minuscule amount of THC, and usually not enough to intoxicate you.

While there are some high-quality testing methods out there that may be able to detect as few as 25 parts per million of THC, the vast majority of testing methods out there are not that sensitive. Therefore, the label “Non-Detectable THC” means that the majority of testing methods out there can’t detect THC in a product if it is present in such low quantities.

Understanding ND THC: Key Points

Importance of Non-Detectable THC

Seeing as any cannabinoid product at a federal level that contains more than 0.3% THC is not considered legal, it is therefore important that products feature non-detectable THC limits.

Once again, non-detectable generally means that the product has less than 0.1% Delta-9 THC, which is therefore well within the legal limits as set out by the federal government. Therefore, if a product is labeled as non-detectable, it should mean that it is legal at a federal level, although beware that individual state laws may differ.

This is not only important in terms of the legal ramifications of THC contents in various products, but also for your own benefits. Not everybody wants to get high, and there are plenty of people out there who want to consume cannabinoid products without feeling intoxicated.

For instance, there are many CBD products out there that people take for a variety of potential therapeutic benefits, but also won’t get you high.

Therefore, having a CBD product that features non-detectable THC levels means that people can enjoy the potential benefits of CBD without risking getting high. If you would like to try some Delta-9, check out our Botany Farms Nano Delta-9 Microdose Gummies.

How is ND THC Achieved?

One way to achieve non-detectable THC levels in cannabinoid products is by extracting CBD from hemp plants that naturally contain barely any or no THC to begin with.

Technically speaking, it is also possible to remove THC from CBD and other hemp-derived extracts. This is a process known as THC remediation, which can effectively remove over 99% of THC from any extract.

Another method to create products that feature non-detectable THC levels is known as chromatography.

Various chromatographic methods, with flash chromatography being one of them, use a stationary phase and solvents to fractionate cannabinoids from each other. Scientists can separate various cannabinoids from each other, therefore leaving behind only the ones that are desired.

Although all of these methods are very advanced, none of them are 100% perfect. There is a chance that some trace amounts of THC may be left behind, which is where third-party laboratory testing comes into play. Here, third-party or independent laboratories are hired to test these cannabinoid products for THC levels.

These are designed to be the last line of defense against selling a potentially illegal or even harmful product.

Remember that third-party testing usually also tests for other contaminants, such as heavy metals. These third-party agencies help ensure that cannabinoid products are completely legal as far as THC limits are concerned. In other words, they can confirm whether or not a product indeed qualifies as having non-detectable THC.

The Limitations of Testing

As mentioned above, while assuming testers may be able to detect quantities of THC as low as 25 parts per million, most cannot. Many testing methods have trouble detecting THC levels under 0.1%. For this reason, if the test comes back saying that the product does not contain THC, it may still contain up to 0.1%, give or take, depending on the exact test in question.

These tests are not 100% sensitive, and this means that there may always be trace amounts of THC left in products that are technically defined as being non-detectable or even THC-free. You have to take caution if you choose a product that is labeled as “THC free” because there’s always a chance that it may still contain minute amounts.

However, the amounts would usually be so low that they would not produce psychoactive or intoxicating effects at all. Furthermore, in most cases, the levels of THC, even if present in trace amounts, would be so low, that it also would most likely not show up on a drug test. Does THCO show up on a drug test?

ND-THC Products in the Market

There are at this time some products on the market that are frequently advertised as featuring “Non-Detectable THC”.

These are usually hemp products, such as CBD extracts and isolates. These might include CBD flower and pre-rolls that you can smoke, various edibles like gummies, lozenges, chocolates, and even concentrates designed for dabbing and vaporizing.

“Non-Detectable THC” products can be beneficial for consumers who want to reap the benefits of various other cannabinoids, such as CBD, without feeling intoxicated.

It’s also important that these products are properly labeled so that people can rest assured that they will indeed not get high, or more importantly, suffer any kind of legal consequences.

Final Thoughts

The bottom line is that while testing is not yet perfect if performed by a reputable agency, a product that is labeled as having “Non-Detectable THC” should be trustworthy. If you do want to try some THC, take a look at this sample pack of tasty and mellow Nano Delta-9 THC Microdose Gummies.

ND-THC: Frequently Asked Questions

Let’s quickly answer some of your most frequently asked questions about “Non-Detectable THC”.

Is ND THC the Same as THC-Free?

“Non-Detectable THC” and “THC-free” are labels that are often used interchangeably. Once again, most tests are not sensitive enough to determine whether or not a product is truly free of THC.

Can I Fail a Drug Test if I Use ND THC Products?

Realistically, no, you should not fail a drug test if you use ND THC products. With that being said, this is not a 100% guarantee.

Are ND THC Products Legal Everywhere?

While these products should be legal at a federal level, individual states may still ban them. You will always want to check the laws in your state.

How Can I Verify a Product’s ND THC Claim?

The best way to verify a product’s “Non-Detectable THC” claim is to refer to the third-party testing results.

Do ND THC Products Still Have Benefits?

There are plenty of cannabinoids out there other than THC which all have big potential benefits that you can reap.