HHC – What you need to know about hexahydrocannabinol

Currently, there is much speculation about Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and health-related effects are being suggested. But caution is advised here. The fact is: There is still no solid scientific data or clinical studies on HHC to date. Although the active ingredient was discovered and synthetically produced as early as 1940, there is little information on exactly how HHC works. However, its THC-like chemical structure suggests that it probably also binds to the known CB1 and CB2 receptors. To what extent and how strongly the cannabis active ingredient acts psychoactively and to what degree is currently still being evaluated by researchers. Consequently, the question of the legality and regulation of this cannabinoid arises. Many questions related to the hemp active ingredient hexahydrocannabinol occupy the community – we try to summarize the current state as far as possible: Because HHC is usually only present in very low concentrations in the hemp plant, the active ingredient is chemically synthesized from THC. Since the two cannabinoids have similar chemical structures, psychoactivity in HHC is also conceivable. A research paper from the 1970s showed that HHC even has some similarities with painkillers such as morphine. However, since no further clinical studies have been conducted since then, the significance of the therapeutic effect is based only on very limited data.

How does the cannabinoid HHC come into bloom?

While more and more hemp producers are jumping on the trend and keeping their manufacturing processes secret, there is a lot of misinformation circulating on the internet regarding the production of HHC. Since HHC, if at all, only occurs naturally in extremely low concentrations in the cannabis plant, it is obvious that the active ingredient must be produced synthetically or semi-synthetically. One method of synthesis is the hydrogenation of THC using natural cannabis extracts. But synthetic THC variants can also serve as a basis for HHC. In addition, catalysts such as nickel, platinum, or palladium are used during production to accelerate the process. In the end, the lab-produced HHC, or its acid variant HHCA (hexahydrocannabinolic acid), is sprayed onto industrial hemp flowers or other herbs. Since obviously, with few exceptions (for example, pharmaceutical manufacturers with officially approved exemptions), no producer can legally procure and process regulated THC as a medicinal and narcotic substance, HHC providers will be in the crosshairs of the authorities. And end consumers should also ask themselves from which structures their herb originates and how quality controls are ensured.

Is HHC legal?

Regarding the question of whether something is legal or not, there should actually be a very clear answer. Not so with HHC. Because there is neither publicly available information from health authorities, nor is the legal regulation the same everywhere. Whether HHC tests positive on THC drug tests is also uncertain. Therefore, caution is advised here. The so-called “health claims” such as the "healing and inhibiting" properties sometimes attributed to HHC have not yet been scientifically confirmed in a substantiated manner. Even though other cannabinoids like CBD and THC do have significant clinical potential, there are no clear facts on the table yet for the trendy HHC. Even though medicinal cannabis is generally attributed with pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, further specialized research is needed that deals with the mode of action of individual cannabinoids. Whether the "legal" HHC high then also delivers what the manufacturers promise remains to be seen. What is certain is that the hemp plant with its dozens of natural cannabinoids offers an incredibly wide spectrum of active substances. Since THC has become legally available in Germany through cannabis legalization, natural THC will probably outrank chemically produced HHC.

Sources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1806940/
https://www.hanf-magazin.com/medizin/cannabinoide/hhc-das-neue-cannabinoid-2022/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/839438/

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