Hexahydrocannabinol, also known as HHC, causes an intoxicating high that’s somewhat similar to what you’ll experience when using delta-9 THC. However, the slight difference in chemical structure between the two cannabinoids means that D9 is more potent.
In the 1940s, Roger Adams hydrogenated D9 to create HHC, although it is also present in trace amounts in the cannabis plant. These days, manufacturers use a different process to bring HHC to the masses.
This article investigates the type of high you may experience when using HHC. It also outlines why some people try the cannabinoid and highlights the safety concerns relating to a compound that has yet to be the subject of significant research.
What Does the High Feel Like?
First and foremost, it’s important to realize that the effects of HHC are not uniform. Even if you and a friend both consume an HHC gummy containing the same amount of the cannabinoid, you could have very different experiences.
Factors such as bodyweight, metabolism, and cannabinoid tolerance all contribute to the experience. Furthermore, since HHC is typically created in a lab, the end product can vary wildly from one manufacturer to the next. Indeed, any individual brand could have different results from one batch to another!
In any case, the onset time depends on how you consume the HHC. If you vape it, you should feel the effects quite quickly. If you use an edible, it could take an hour or two.
Most users find that HHC helps them feel calmer and more relaxed. Many of these individuals admitted that the high made them feel like sitting or lying down and chilling out. In some cases, users stated that they fell asleep and rested soundly for the whole night. Yet certain consumers assert that HHC affected them similarly to a sativa-dominant marijuana hybrid, which included feeling a burst of energy.
You might also notice an absence of anxiety and an improvement in your general mood.
What’s interesting is that there are varying reports on the duration of the effects. Some users claim that their high lasted longer than when they used delta-9 THC. Others suggest the feeling of intoxication was shorter than with D9, as well as being milder overall.
Why Do People Use HHC?
At the time of writing, there is little or no reliable scientific research into the effects, benefits, and side effects of HHC. Like other cannabinoids, it interacts with the human endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS regulates numerous bodily functions, including:
- Appetite
- Mood
- Reproduction and fertility
- Memory
- Sleep
This may help explain why the apparent positive effects of HHC include better sleep and an elevated mood. HHC mainly binds to the CB1 receptors within the ECS. These receptors are primarily located in the central nervous system. Yet, we have no clear idea of the true effects of the cannabinoid when it binds to such receptors.
A significant degree of research is required to gauge whether HHC has medical potential and if its pros outweigh its cons.
Is HHC Safe?
The lack of scientific evidence means that analysis of HHC’s benefits and adverse effects boils down to anecdotal evidence. Given its close links with delta-9 THC, HHC may share some of the good and bad aspects of the famous cannabinoid associated with marijuana.
Possible side effects of using the cannabinoid may include:
- Confusion
- Anxiety
- Increased heart rate
- Reduced reaction times
- Lethargy
- Loss of memory
- Red eyes
- Low blood pressure
HHC & Psychosis
There is also a concern that HHC usage could result in psychosis. This is a controversial theory that’s broadly based on the suggestion that delta-9 THC usage can lead to this condition.
However, the evidence to date suggests that the link between THC and psychosis relates to chronic marijuana users. Individuals who consume extremely large amounts of weed each day are at risk.
Furthermore, it remains unclear whether people who develop symptoms of psychosis after habitual, long-term use of THC are already predisposed to the condition. Are they consuming the substance as a means of helping them make their way through life, or is marijuana the actual cause?
Even if it is the latter, the fact that HHC is only about 75% to 80% as potent as delta-9 THC could somewhat mitigate the risk. Without any accompanying evidence, barring suppositions, it is tough to make any definitive case one way or another. Most of the evidence to date is comprised of a limited number of case studies.
It ‘should’ be clear, however, that consuming an excessive amount of ANY intoxicating, potentially addictive substance is a terrible idea!
Concerns Over Manufacturing Processes
One thing that should concern users of HHC products is the standard of what’s on the market. Remember, it is chemically hydrogenated from other compounds (the process typically involves turning CBD into delta-8 THC and finally converting D8 into HHC).
Thus, one must look at the reputation of the brand selling it. It’s quite possible that impurities and contamination can become problems when the hydrogenation process is poorly completed.
Detailed research into the seller’s trustworthiness is particularly important when you consider the industry’s lack of regulation at present. Indeed, HHC has been banned in many American states due to concerns over what happens during the creation of HHC in labs.
You should NEVER purchase HHC from any company that fails to provide updated third-party lab reports from reputable brands. Such products could easily contain residual heavy metals or other harmful chemicals.
Rather than spending eons trying to find a reliable seller amid a sea of scammers, it’s wise to play it safe and stick with a tried and trusted organization like Premium Jane. Its range of HHC products boasts certificates of analysis (COAs), which outline the cannabinoid content and prove the absence of contaminants.
HHC Does Cause a High, So Use It Sensibly
Once you consume a certain amount of HHC, you’re likely to experience a high. The nature and intensity of the experience depend on various factors, such as the consumption method, the amount of HHC used, and your genetic makeup, among other things.
Those who have tried HHC say that the high is more mellow than what they experience from delta-9 THC. They feel relaxed and content and potentially sleepy, although, conversely, some users claim to feel more energized.
There are, however, concerns over whether HHC causes adverse effects similar to delta-9 THC. A more serious accusation is that the cannabinoid can cause psychosis or at least increase the risk of an unpleasant episode occurring in individuals predisposed to such issues.
If you decide to try HHC, please ensure you use a seller you can trust. Third-party lab reports are mandatory, and it helps if the brand in question also has a stellar reputation.