What is HHC?

HHC (Hexahydrocannabinol) is a relative of THC that has been known to science for a long time, but until recently was rarely discussed by cannabis users. HHC is a lesser known cannabinoid, naturally present in cannabis, but in very small quantities that make extraction not economically feasible. Because commercial production of HHC is just beginning, it is not yet widely known. Most cannabinoids can be converted to other cannabinoids by changing the chemistry of the molecules. Like Delta-8THC and Delta-10THC, commercial HHC is produced from CBD derived from cannabis in laboratory processes. HHC has a significant legal advantage over Delta-8and Delta-10: it is not called THC.

How is HHC produced?

HHC was discovered in the 1940s by chemist Roger Adams. He created HHC by adding hydrogen to the THC molecule and changing its physical properties. The process, called hydrogenation, was first described in a 1947 patent document. Hydrogenation modifies the structure of Delta-9THC by replacing a double bond with two hydrogen atoms, which changes its molecular weight and makes it more stable. According to Mark Scialdone, chemist and chief scientist at BR Brands, hydrogenation improves “stability and resistance to thermo-oxidative decomposition” – meaning that HHC has a longer shelf life and is less vulnerable to damage caused by UV radiation and heat.

Does HHC cause a psychological effect? Does it have side effects?

This is somewhat complicated. Although HHC is not technically a THC, it does produce similar effects – if enough is used. When produced in the lab, a batch of HHC is a mixture of active and inactive HHC molecules. The active HHC binds well to your body’s cannabinoid receptors, while the rest do not. Manufacturers have not yet found an efficient way to separate the high potency HHC from its low potency twin, so commercial HHC – which is a mixture of the two forms – may be a guessing game for the buyer. However, HHC does have perceived effects. Reports from users generally describe high HHC as something between Delta-8and Delta-9THC. Almost everything we know about the effects and side effects of HHC is anecdotal. However, users report the same range of side effects known to users of Delta-9THC: anxiety and paranoia, dry mouth, dry and red eyes, hunger and insomnia.

Will HHC show up in a drug test?

It appears that HHC may not be metabolised in the body in the same way as THC. Unlike the Delta-8, Delta-9and Delta-10forms of THC, there is some evidence that HHC is not metabolized to 11-hydroxy-THC, which is the substance that many panel drugs control. However, this has not been studied and is not absolutely certain. So far, no one fully knows whether HHC will leave no evidence of use in blood, urine or hair. If your employer is drug testing you, we recommend that you do not risk your job using HHC.

Does HHC have medical benefits?

HHC has not been widely studied, unlike the more understood cannabinoids such as Delta-9 THC or CBD, but there is some promising research. A 2011 study showed that certain synthetic analogues of hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) “potently inhibit angiogenesis and breast cancer tumor growth.” Japanese researchers published a paper in 2007 describing HHC’s impressive ability to inhibit pain in mice. However, it is probably too early to tell whether HHC holds much promise as a therapeutic drug.

Is HHC legal and will it remain legal?

Congress made the cannabis plant and all of its derivatives legally recognizable at the federal level with the 2018 Farm Bill to be allowed, provided that the plant or anything produced from it contains less than 0.3% Delta-9THC. Although HHC is naturally found in the cannabis plant, commercial HHC is produced by hydrogenating cannabinoids derived from cannabis under pressure with a catalyst such as palladium. Scientists at the National Cannabis Industry Association call the result a “semi-synthetic” cannabinoid compound. In May 2022, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals of the ‘PA affirmed that Delta-8THC was legal under the Cannabis Act, and that all other compounds and derivatives of cannabis are also legal as long as they do not contain more than the legal maximum of 0.3% delta-9 THC. This appears to make HHC a legal cannabis product and offers protection to manufacturers and sellers of HHC (as well as Delta-8and Delta-10THC, and THCP), although some attorneys note that other federal courts may reach different conclusions. However, HHC can still be banned by individual states. This is possible if HHC becomes popular enough to threaten sales in the legal cannabis market, as we have seen happen with Delta-8THC.

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