Substitutes to traditional delta 9 THC and CBD are surfacing these days quickly in the cannabis science rush. HHC is one of the most novel cannabinoids to hit the market.
It has a comparable impact as THC, but there is no indication that it shows up on routine drug testing.
Because HHC is immune to oxidation, temperature, and UV light, it’s the highest stable state of THC, so you don’t have to fret about your stockpile decaying and losing its effectiveness.
Here’s all we understand about HHC, including its legal status and possible future applications.
What Exactly is HHC?
HHC-hexahydrocannabinol was first invented by an American scientist in 1944 who added H+ ions to the naturally occurring THC. This hydrogenation process is the same as the process used to convert vegetable oil to margarine.
Although Adams synthesized it from THC obtained from typical marijuana, the cannabinoid is now usually synthesized from hemp, a low-THC cannabis plant that Lawmakers deemed officially legal in the 2018 farm bill in USA.
It came to Europe in 2021, Some pioneers in the CBD industry hope that this will become a new turning point for the Hemp industry. Because HHC is technically not THC, low-THC products are legal in most EU countries.
Are all HHC same?
There are two different type of Hexahydrocannabinoid molecules after manufactured: 9R HHC takes an active role in binding to the body’s natural endocannabinoids receptors, The molecular structure of 9S is slightly different, and its activity is lower than that of 9R.
The degree of activity of the molecules depends on the production process, batch and raw material, but they need to be at least 50% active to be effective. Usually organic hemp extracts are used as raw materials, and the products obtained will have a higher degree of activity.
How is HHC made?
Because HHC is found organically in hemp, although only in small amounts. A complex method is used to cover THC with hydrogen ions in the vicinity of extreme pressures and a reagent such as nickel or palladium.
The molecular composition of THC is broken and replaced with hydrogen, but the cannabinoid’s properties and strength are basically intact. This conjugated version of THC has at minimum 10 isomers known today.
THC’s interaction capacity for the CB1 and CB2 receptors and the TRP pain receptors is increased by this apparently minor change.
Furthermore, because THC is particularly vulnerable to oxidation and breakdown in its raw state, this modification in its chemical composition makes it much more persistent.
THC risks losing hydrogen atoms whenever it oxidizes, and 2 additional double bonds are generated alternatively. CBN (cannabinol), the resultant substance, has only roughly 10% of THC’s psychotropic power.
When exposed to oxygen, HHC, on the other side, does not lose its effectiveness nearly as fast. It is also heat and UV light resistant, allowing it to be an excellent cannabis choice for longer shelf life.
Is it safe to make HHC?
In a well-equipped facility, HHC can be safely generated. However, as production increases, so do the dangers. Eruptions are a possible risk with it.
Companies will need an “explosion-proof” area to make it safely.
What Does HHC Feel Like?
It has an impact profile comparable to THC’s intoxicating sensation. It will make you feel euphoric, change your visual or auditory sensation, enhance your hunger, and momentarily raise your heartbeat.
Many HHC consumers classify it as falling between delta 8 and delta 9 THC and describe it as more calming than exciting.
In fact, the cannabinoid’s chemical structure implies it has many of THC’s medicinal and health outcomes, but little research has looked into its medical potential.
In one research, the cannabinoid beta-HHC showed amazing anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties in rodents but requires further research to assess its entire range of health benefits.
Will HHC Make you Fail a drug test?
Besides HHC’s long shelf life, consumers tout that it is undetectable by a typical 12-panel drug screening.
Some folks consider this appealing because other THC options, such as delta 8 or delta 10 THC, will appear on THC urination or blood testing if taken in high quantities.
For the time being, the proof for this assertion is primarily subjective, while early study indicates that HHC does not convert into 11-hydroxy-THC. This primary THC metabolite will provide a positive test.
If you ever need to pass these tests, taking HHC is your responsibility because it isn’t confirmed.
Does HHC contain heavy metals?
Heavy metals can be present in all processes from the farm to the laboratory, from the air and soil to the production line. Our test results for the final HHC Distillate are satisfactory, and all heavy metal tests have passed.
Click to buy HHC Vape Pen
Is HHC safe to consume?
The recent spike in awareness of HHC, like other cannabinoids, hasn’t been matched by rigorous investigations into its toxicity and benefits; much of the information provided on HHC is anecdotal.
Early research suggests that it seems to have a safety profile comparable to THC, with documented adverse effects comparable to those associated with high THC dosages.
HHC may cause the following adverse effects:
· Anxiety
· Sleepiness
· Dry mouth
· Increased Appetite
· Fear
· Fast heartbeat
· Red eyes
Is HHC legal?
Technically, HHC is not THC. In Europe, cannabis products with less than 0.3% THC are generally legal. Regulations vary from country to country. For example, in the Czech Republic and Switzerland, the THC in Hemp products can reach 1.0%. If HHC or any substance with same chemical structure is already listed as a controlled drug in your country，then HHC is not considered a legal Hemp extract locally.
In USA, The legal standing of HHC and other cannabinoids, including delta 8 THC, is unclear.
Many suppliers argue that it is allowed because it occurs naturally, and no regulation prohibits it. Nevertheless, because it does not occur in large quantities organically, different chemical steps are required to obtain useable concentrations.
Nevertheless, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released a temporary regulation under the umbrella of the 2018 hemp farm bill to explain the restrictions imposed on cannabis and its elements. According to any synthetically derived tetrahydrocannabinol are Schedule I controlled substances.
As a result, the legality of HHC is primarily dictated by if it is a synthetic or natural molecule. If the Judge Rules that it is organic, the finished product must be produced from hemp and have less than 0.3 percent delta 9 THC to be officially legal. If it’s considered synthetic, though, it’s unlawful under federal law, as D9 is.
The reality is that HHC is something in the middle — it’s a so-called “naturally-derived” version of THC, but existing hemp rules don’t allow for much complexity.
It’s hard to say for sure if it is lawful or not before a legal ruling or issues a statement on the matter, so utilize it as your own responsibility.
Is HHC legal in Europe? (Latest update 22/03/2023)
It’s still not illegal in most countries, but before you’re ready to carry or use it in another country, it’s a good idea to check the laws in that region. Here are the latest updates:
*HHC is not scheduled in the EU Green List:
Green List – List of Psychotropic Substances Under International Control (International Narcotics Control Board (INCB))
*EMCDDA Monitor:
On December 16th 2022,The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) begins to monitor HHC products on the market, and new regulations may be issued in the near future.
Jan. 17 – Czech Republic National Anti-Drug Coordinator Jindřich Vobořil prepares a draft proposal to regulate the substance in response to reports that the Czech Internet has been flooded with HHC. His team created a draft list of “psychomutants,” new compounds with low to moderate risk that recommend strict regulation, but with no “reason why it must be banned.”
April 14 – In a sharp departure from Mr Vobořil’s position, the country’s National Anti-Drugs Headquarters and the Ministry of Defense, with the support of the Ministry of Health, put forward a proposal to include HHC on the list of addictive substances from July 2023.
May 10 – The Czech Republic has proposed a draft regulation to add HHC and tetrahydrocannabinol (THCP) to the list of controlled substances, excluding industrial hemp and hemp extracts, according to the European Commission’s TRIS database.
Iceland
Jan. 19 – Iceland invokes emergency rules to remove HHC and THCO immediately from the market as it notifies the European Commission that it has submitted a bill to add cannabinoids to the list of controlled substances, marking it the first European One country that attempted to do so included HHC in its narcotics regime.
Jan. 30 – Weeks later, amendments to the country’s narcotics list are published to include both substances.
Estonia
1 February – A day later, Estonia becomes the first country in the European Union to follow suit, publishing a bill adding HHC to its list of psychotropic substances.
Austria
8 February – Austrian opposition parties table a motion calling on the government to include HHC in its New Psychoactive Substances Ordinance (NPSO), noting that offering the product through a legal loophole poses “significant risks”.
28 February – The Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection proposes a draft amendment to the NPSO to include HHC on the prohibited list.
23 March – Media reports confirm that HHC has now been placed on the Prohibited Substances List and its sale, including remaining stock, has subsequently been banned.
Switzerland
April 4 – The Swiss Federal Ministry of the Interior announces revisions to its narcotics and psychotropic substances legislation, banning HHC and 10 other substances.
Poland
April 6 – Poland announces to the European Commission plans to add HHC-O (the acetate version of HHC) to its list of narcotics and confirms that it has listed HHC as a narcotic, but the exact date is unknown.
Sweden
April 17 – The Swedish Public Health Agency announces that another cannabinoid, H4-CBD, has now been added to the list of substances under investigation, while confirming that HHC will be added in October 2022. While this does not mean that the substances are banned, it does mean that the agency has submitted a request for their classification.
Bulgaria
April 20 – Bulgaria’s National Pharmaceutical Council says it will draft a bill to ban the production, trade, possession and use of HHC, listing it as a Schedule 1 substance along with THC.
Denmark
May 2 – While it is understood no concrete proposals have been made to parliament, Denmark’s health minister tells local media that she is planning to ban HHC, saying that when new substances emerge and prove to be dangerous, “we have to react ‘.
France
April 28 – The Bloc République raises the question in parliament whether HHC will soon be banned by the government.
May 15 – The country’s health minister, François Braun, tells local media that while HHC is not currently classified as a narcotic, according to the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) stipulation, “Honestly, I think it will be soon”) is expected soon.
The Takeaway?
Although HHC remains a riddle, here’s a quick rundown of everything we do understand:
· HHC is a natural chemical in hemp. However, it is rarely seen in large amounts.
· Its production from hemp necessitates the conversion of THC via a catalyst and intense pressure.
· HHC is a THC that has been hydrogenated.
· HHC possesses a more persistent chemical structure and is temperature, light, and air tolerant than THC. Therefore, the shelf life of HHC is much longer than THC.
· Owing to the chemical methods required for its separation, the legal standing of HHC is unknown.
· A conventional THC drug test doesn’t always identify HHC, but this is primarily circumstantial data.
