How to Find the Best Delta-9 Gummies

By Dan Ketchum

**You must be 21+ to consume edibles. Never partake and drive, and do not consume edibles while pregnant or nursing.**

If we can be real for a moment, the answer to the question, “what are the very best delta-9 gummies?” is an honest “it depends.” What you get out of a gummy depends on what type of effect you’re hoping for, what your tolerance is, how much you take, and even what you had (or didn’t have) for lunch that day.

But it also depends on some things you have a little more hands-on, in-the-moment control over when you’re shopping for the best delta-9 gummies, like how much THC it packs per dose, what other active ingredients (and foodstuffs) it contains, and the quality of those ingredients. And when it comes to making sense of those factors, we've got you covered. 

What to Look For When Buying Delta-9 Gummies

First up, let’s get the delta-9 question out of the way if you’re still just gummy-curious or dipping your toes in. Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the naturally occurring “feel-good” chemical found in the cannabis plant – basically, it’s the main thing that gets you high. While there are other “delta” variants of THC (delta-8 being the most common you’ll see while shopping), the easiest way to put it is that delta-9 is just your regular-degular THC. And that’s what we’ll be shopping for today, so that cuts your delta-8s and other synthetically derived cannabinoids out from the jump. 

And while we’re on the process of elimination, legal guidelines for THC vary per state, so you’ll want to make sure that whatever you’re shopping for abides by those laws, too. DISA’s free guide is a good resource, but because hemp laws are changing quickly at the moment, it never hurts to triple-check that you’re good to go in your state. 

Content Matters

Now that we’ve got the deltas out of the way, what are the best delta 9 gummies? That largely depends on the substance of the gummy itself, which you should find clearly disclosed on the label or the product description when you’re shopping online. Keep an eye out for these keywords and key contents.  

• Dosage. Clocking the dosage per gummy is going to have the most effect on how hard, or how gently, a gummy hits. As a general rule of thumb, many find 5mg THC a good day-to-day dose if you’re after a laid-back high. Bumping that up to 10mg makes for a more powerful high, best reserved for veterans, celebrations, or full-on Colorado nights. Anything lower than 5mg typically makes for a mellower, lighter high, perfect for beginners or those looking for a microdose. As always, if you’re trying a new gummy, heed the advice of the ancients: start low and go slow. 
  
  

• The ‘C’ Factor. Alongside THC, you’ll notice that a lot of the best delta-9 gummies (like our Camino lineup) contain additional active ingredients, commonly a range of naturally occurring compounds and cannabinoids. Most prominently, you’ll see CBD. CBD is generally regarded as non-psychoactive, so it may not get you “high,” but you may experience relaxing effects.  
  
  There’s also CBG (cannabigerol), which we include in blends made for winding down, CBN (cannabinol), which some find calming; and CBC (cannabichromene), which is often included in the mix for its tendency to amplify the effects of other ingredients (a synergy dubbed the “entourage effect”). Likewise, you may see some gummies that contain THCV, which you may find to have a milder uplift than classic THC. THCA (tetrahydrocannabinol acid) also shows up on labels. Similar to CBD, many report that THCA helps them feel loose, with fewer psychoactive effects than THC. It is also worth noting that THCA becomes THC when exposed to heat, a process that doesn’t happen if it is consumed in an edible (your internal body temperature doesn’t get hot enough to kick-start that process).

Keep an eye out for THC and C-cannabinoid ratios to get a feel for the intended effects. Stay away from products that don’t disclose how their mg content breaks down across THC and other minor cannabinoids. Trustworthy brands (ahem, like Camino!) will always clearly break down the mg dosing for every cannabinoid included in their formulas. They’ll also provide easily readable third-party lab results (called COAs) to verify that the actual cannabinoid content matches the labeling. These COAs will also break down terpenes, residual chemicals, and foreign contaminants found in each particular batch of gummies. 

• Terpenes. Like those C-cannabinoids, terpenes occur naturally in everyone’s favorite plant. They’re also found in many plants and are often responsible for the aromatic qualities we associate with botanicals like lavender, mint, and more. Terps largely lend aromatic and flavor qualities to different varieties of cannabis, but they can also influence the effects of delta-9 gummies. 

For instance, limonene and pinene terps are considered to be more uplifting, while some find linalool (also found in lavender!) and myrcene more calming. Similarly, keep an eye out for the two most common types of cannabis strains, sativa and indica, which – broadly speaking – tend to be regarded as more energizing and more mellowing, respectively.

The “Edible” Part Matters, Too

Don’t sleep on the “edible” part of that gummy, either – in addition to getting you high, the best delta-9 gummies are also tasty treats with clean ingredients, and those should be clearly disclosed. At Kiva, for instance, we don’t just focus on terpene-tailored effects that expertly synergize to curate a variety of moods; we also only use real sugar and never use synthetic food coloring (all of the color you see in our gummies comes from natural fruit juice). In contrast, you may find gummies loaded with high-fructose corn syrup or bunches of preservatives and synthetic colors, which we’d argue aren’t the best delta-9 gummies out there.