Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
This feature tracks the removal of support for Python 3.8 since it will be end-of-life as of October 2024. See https://devguide.python.org/versions/ for details.

Describe the solution you'd like

• Remove code specific for Python 3.8
  • calls.py has sys.version_info >= (3, 9):
  • hashlib_insecure_functions.py has sys.version_info >= (3, 9):
• Remove classifier in setup.cfg claiming 3.8 support
• Update unit testing to minimum version of 3.9 (pythonpackage.yml)
• Update publish-to-pypi.yml to 3.9
• Update publish-to-test-pypi.yml to 3.9
• Update setup.py python_requires to 3.9
• Update tox.ini envlist to py39
• Remove python 3.8 in bug-report.yml
• Update faq.rst to using 3.9 and 3.10 as examples
• Update .readthedocs.yaml to 3.9

Should also put this feature in a new minor release (1.8.0)

Describe alternatives you've considered
n/a

Additional context

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