All about HHC
The cannabinoid HHC (Hexahydrocannabinol), like CBD, is slowly but surely becoming a celebrity in the hemp industry. And there is nothing to be surprised about. Since it is a very similar active ingredient to the psychoactive THC, with weaker side effects, better effectiveness and a more stable chemical bond, its popularity is skyrocketing both among consumers and producers.
So what are the effects on the human body when you managed to build such a large fan club in such a short time? How does it even arise when it naturally occurs in hemp only in very small amounts? If you’re interested in more, then definitely read on, because we’ve compiled a summary of the best of the best we know about this increasingly sought-after cannabinoid today.
What is HHC?
The cannabinoid molecule was discovered in the 1940s by a renowned chemist named Roger Adams. He managed to achieve the hussar feat through a technique called hydrogenation, when one cannabinoid is chemically transformed into another. The substance can be created in the laboratory, for example, from the cannabinoid THC Delta 9, which occurs naturally in hemp. If something like this happens, a hydrogenated derivative of Tetrahydrocannabinol is created – in other words, a mildly psychoactive and euphoric substance with the professional name of HHC.
However, it should be noted that even in this case the golden rule applies, that there is no substance like substance. And that’s because the manufacturer has different input materials or different production processes. There are both honest and less honest brands that offer products with significantly less potency than the more honest ones. Potency basically refers to the potential of the effects of the cannabinoid, so if it is high, the user can expect a more noticeable effect in practice. In other words, a lot of music for little money.
“This is the most stable cannabinoid there is. It is resistant to many things that traditional Delta-9 THC is sensitive to, such as heat and UV radiation, and has a much longer shelf life than other types of cannabinoids due to its additional hydrogen atoms. The substance you find on the market is isolated from Delta-9 THC, which is naturally found in the hemp plant. It’s almost identical to THC, but it has two more hydrogen atoms, so the body absorbs it more efficiently.” LEAFWELL.COM
Chemist Roger Adams, after World War II in 1947, used organic hemp extract from marijuana to synthesize (produce) a previously unknown cannabinoid. It occurs in nature as a by-product of the degradation of the substance THC, while in 2020 it was also found as part of the Cannabis sativa hemp seed. But the most interesting thing is that hemp naturally contains substances with a very similar chemical structure, which includes, for example, a substance with the prefix 9α-hydroxy or 7-oxo-9α-hydrox. A similar effect is therefore offered by several other organic cannabinoids.
Effects of HHC on the human body
What effects does HHC have on the human body and mind? The answer is not clear-cut, because it is basically a hot new thing in the hemp industry. From the available information, however, it can be deduced that we are dealing with a weaker, but significantly better THC alternative. Some experts believe that the strength of HHC from quality substances can reach approximately 70% of the strength of the mentioned psychoactive substance from nature. Although HHC also binds to the CB1 cannabinoid receptor, it interacts with a weaker affinity than THC, indicating that it is not as strong. The effects can last from one hour to three to four hours, depending on several factors, such as the potency of the product, the type of product, or the method of consumption.
Possibilities of using the cannabinoid
- chronic pain
- inflammation
- nausea and vomiting
- bad sleep
- anxiety and depression
But the problem here is that Hexahydrocannabinol on the counters of local stores and e-shops in the vast majority of cases contains both active and inactive cannabinoids. Therefore, an effect is not like an effect. Sometimes three vape puffs are enough, sometimes even ten for a change. However, there are still high-quality HHC products that are not affected by this at all. There aren’t many of them, but they do exist. If you happen to come across one, it will very likely have the High Potency label on the package, which is basically a label for high quality. Percentages do not play any important role in this case, so they have been replaced by more accurate milligrams in many higher quality products.
The difference between HHC and THC
Is there a difference between THC and HHC? Certainly yes. Even if in practice these two active substances are strikingly similar, there are still some differences between them. Marijuana, for example, has more intense, longer-lasting psychoactive effects than Hexahydrocannabinol, which can basically be described as a weaker decoction of the organic cannabinoid THC Delta 9. Whether it is an energetic or sedative effect depends to a large extent on whether it is a hemp product with the terpene profile SATIVA (energy), INDICA (sedative) or with the balanced HYBRID profile.
There are indications that the chemical structure of hemp contains HHC similar to THC, but apparently only in very small amounts. Many manufacturers have therefore learned in recent years to implement a high-quality conversion of well-available cannabinoids into poorly available cannabinoids, thanks to which they can offer relatively high-quality and affordable products. There are several ways to achieve something like this, including the aforementioned hydrogenation, while a similar process is used today not only to convert vegetable oil into margarine.
“Hydrogenation is a chemical reaction between molecular hydrogen (H2) and another compound or element, usually in the presence of a catalyst such as nickel, palladium or platinum. The method is commonly used to reduce or saturate organic compounds.” WIKIPEDIA.ORG
Through a process called hydrogenation, the molecules of active substances in hemp extract are chemically transformed into molecules of active substances that are naturally found in the plant either in very small amounts or not at all. The THC Delta 9 or CBD commonly found in hemp can be relatively easily, quickly and cheaply changed to HHC, THC Delta 8, Delta 10 or the psychedelic substance THC-O.
Combination of HHC with THC
What is the combination of the active substance HHC with the substance THC? Since these are very similar substances with a similar chemical structure, their combination can create an environment where both cannabinoids help each other. In other words, this means that HHC can increase the potency of THC’s effects and vice versa. This is a very similar case, which also occurs when the cannabinoid CBD is combined with the cannabinoid CBG or CBN in a higher concentration. The so-called accompanying (synergistic) effect, which is created by combining similarly functioning cannabinoids, significantly enriches their basic effects on the human body and its endocannabinoid system.
Is HHC legal in Slovakia?
How is it with the controversial substance HHC in Slovakia? Is it enabled or disabled? The answer is clear at the moment, because the list of prohibited substances currently includes only a version of the substance called 9-nor-9beta-hydroxyhexahydrocannabinol. HHC has quite a few related compounds that can be described as different substances with similar effects, and the mentioned version of 9-Nor-9Beta-HHC seems to be among them. Therefore, it can be said that the cannabinoid HHC as such is not banned anywhere in the world, including Europe, Slovakia or the Czech Republic. Only its alternatives with very similar names are prohibited, as evidenced by part of the text from Wikipedia.
“Hexahydrocannabinol should not be confused with the related compounds 9-Nor-9β-hydroxyhexahydrocannabinol, 9-hydroxyhexahydrocannabinol, or 11-hydroxyhexahydrocannabinol.” WIKIPEDIA.ORG
Simply put, Hexahydrocannabinol can be modified in the laboratory into other forms so that it is not detectable, or so that a specific version of the cannabinoid is not detectable. Therefore, it is very problematic to ban something like that at the legislative level. It is no longer a substance directly from the plant, but a substance that is obtained by converting another substance in hemp, so it can be relatively easily manipulated to avoid a potential ban.
The substance HHC is sold in the United States of America as part of the 2018 federal Farm Bill legislation, which allows hemp products with cannabinoids and their derivatives to be offered without the need for approval by the American agency called the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). The only condition is that they contain less than 0.3 percent of the psychoactive substance THC Delta 9.
What HHC products are there?
Although it may not seem like it at first glance, there is a fairly decent range of HHC products on the consumer cannabis market these days. There is a choice of vape or cartridge, as well as oil, hash or flowers, which are ordinary cannabis flowers, but with the difference that they are sprinkled with a highly concentrated isolate. Manufacturers are also quite inventive in this market segment, so it is possible to see interesting news quite often thanks to the increasing demand.
Among the most popular products are the cartridge vape pen or the disposable vape pod, which provides discreet inhalation of the active substance without smoke or tar. Some users also look for edibles in the form of gummy candies or tasty brownies, which have slightly more intense and stronger effects than vaping water vapor from a thick hemp distillate. There are already quite a lot of options today, but the most sought-after ones are mainly vaporization pens and their aerosol, which can provide a very fast and very effective effect. And that without too many harmful substances getting into the body like when smoking joints, when carcinogenic smoke with tar is produced.
HHC vape is TOP
HHC vaping is popular mainly because it involves inhaling the active substances through water vapor, rather than the tarry smoke produced by smoking flower or hashish joints. The vape user can thus better enjoy the taste of the given strain and can also count on a more effective effect. Among other things, when dry hemp is burned, cannabinoids and hemp nutrients are damaged, which is why substantially fewer substances enter the bloodstream than when using, for example, a vaporizing pen on a cartridge. Electronic cigarettes with high-quality hemp concentrate basically only contain purely natural substances that have been obtained by extracting the hemp plant. No PG, VG or controversial glycerin.