Perhaps you’ve already come across HHC-based products on the market or might already have been hearing how your hemp-loving friends are just raving about it over the last few months. Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) is a game-changing cannabinoid that has challenged our ideas of the chemical composition of the hemp plant. Now, HHC is making its way onto the market in all kinds of exciting product forms coupled already with its unique effects as you will soon find out here today.
What is HHC and How Does It Work?
HHC was first created in 1944 by the American chemist Roger Adams when he added hydrogen molecules to Delta-9 THC. This process, known as hydrogenation, converts THC to hexahydrocannabinol (HHC). [Source]
Now that we covered the history, hexahydrocannabinol) is one of over 150 cannabinoids found in the hemp plant, and while we don’t know exactly when it was discovered, we do know that it was only recently isolated in the plant’s chemical composition. HHC behaves quite differently from other cannabinoids that we’re used to like cannabidiol (CBD), delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8 THC), and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9 THC), primarily because HHC is the only cannabinoid we know of thus far that’s actually a hydrogenated compound- it’s charged with hydrogen. In the simplest of terms, HHC is a hydrogenated version of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is why the two compounds share a lot in common with one another – but more on that later.
Quite fascinatingly, hexahydrocannabinol exists in the seeds and pollen of the hemp plant, rather than exclusively in the flowers where we find the cannabinoids we’re more accustomed to. It’s also a ‘trace cannabinoid’, which is why it was only discovered recently, since we now have the technological methods to analyze hemp more closely than ever before.
Another aspect of hexahydrocannabinol that stands out is that it’s extremely chemically stable because of its hydrogen component, which means that it’s less prone to degrading as it’s less sensitive to the environment than other cannabinoids that many of us take regularly.
It’s important to keep in mind that once again, because hexahydrocannabinol is so new to our awareness, there is still, quite understandably, a lot to learn about it. While we have decades worth of research on the properties and characteristics of some of the more well-known and mainstream cannabinoids that are out there, you will find little research-based information on HHC, for now, at least.
Is HHC Natural or Synthetic?
Well, the straight-to-the-point answer is hexahydrocannabinol is unearthed naturally in the pollen and seeds of the hemp plant. However, the issue is that HHC isn’t extracted from these sources. Instead, HHC is produced through a chemical process, like when it was first discovered. Similar to other hemp-based cannabinoids, HHC is crafted from hemp-derived CBD. CBD is extracted and isolated into a refined form.
- CBD is extracted and isolated into a refined form.
- HHC is then created from CBD through a chemical reaction inside of a chemical reactor utilizing a catalyst. Exact details of this process are unknown, but toxic chemicals are likely involved.
What is HHC Capable of?
One thing we do know is that due to hexahydrocannabinol’s unique traits, it seems to behave almost identically to delta 9 THC. Basically, the two cannabinoids appear to interact with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in an identical manner, attaching to certain cannabinoid receptors at the same rate of efficiency. What this means is that, for one thing, HHC likely has the same psychoactive value as delta 9, thus making it a no-brainer alternative for those who want delta 9 but can’t obtain it due to laws where they live. People who take HHC often say that the high feels the same not only in terms of potency but its effects on both the body and the mind.
We know that hexahydrocannabinol works with both CB1 receptors (nervous system) and CB2 receptors (digestive/immune systems), which means that its effects are likely very widespread, much like those of delta-9 THC. Already, it has been suggested that the non-psychoactive properties of HHC also match those of delta-9, such as effects on discomfort, nausea, appetite, mood, etc. Like we’ve said, we await more studies to demonstrate exactly how its properties perform.
Is HHC Legal?
It’s always important to know that you’re taking a hemp product that is actually legal where you live, for obvious reasons. Hexahydrocannabinol is a federally legal derivative of the hemp plant thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, making hemp products legal as long as they contain a maximum of 0.3% delta-9 THC.
Things get a little more interesting when we look at state laws. While thirteen states have outlawed THC compounds due to their psychoactive effects, hexahydrocannabinol isn’t technically a THC derivative. So, what this means is, it’s likely that at least for the time-being, HHC is legal in all 50 states. Keep in mind that hemp-related laws can change at any time on a state level, which is why you always want to double-check with news on hemp in your state prior to making a purchase.
HHC: A Cannabinoid with Lots of Exciting Potential
There’s no doubt that hexahydrocannabinol offers a lot of promise thanks to its unique effects that closely resemble a more controversial cannabinoid. The good news is that HHC products are already making their way onto the market, so that we can explore these effects for ourselves and see what this cannabinoid can do for our daily lives. If you’re interested in the psychoactive side of the hemp plant, HHC is certainly worth exploring. It’s a bit more potent than delta 8 and delta 10, so remember this when it comes to how much of the cannabinoid you take.
Check out the HHC products from CBD Farmhouse, because you will know that what you’re buying has been lab-tested and formulated with the most carefully sourced ingredients possible.
