HHC – What You Need to Know About Hexahydrocannabinol

When you open Google and type in "HHC," there are only a few results that the search engine spits out. Many of the articles are neither objective nor informative. Currently, there is much speculation about hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and health-related effects being suggested. But caution is advised here. The fact is: There is still no solid scientific data or clinical studies on HHC. Although the active ingredient was discovered and synthetically produced in 1940, there is little information on how HHC exactly works. Its THC-like chemical structure suggests that it likely also binds to the known CB1 and CB2 receptors. To what extent and how strongly the cannabis active ingredient is psychoactive, and to what degree, is 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 are preoccupying the community – we try to summarize the current state as much as possible: Because HHC is usually only found 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 shares some similarities with painkillers such as morphine. However, since no further clinical studies have been conducted since then, the statement about its therapeutic effect is based only on very limited data.

How does the cannabinoid HHC come to fruition?

While more and more hemp producers are jumping on the trend and keeping their manufacturing processes secret, there is a lot of misinformation circulating online regarding the extraction of HHC. Since HHC, if at all, only occurs in extremely low concentrations naturally in the cannabis plant, it is obvious that the active ingredient must be synthesized or semi-synthesized. 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 in the production process to accelerate it. In the end, the lab-produced HHC, or its acid variant HHCA (hexahydrocannabinolacid), is sprayed onto industrial hemp flowers or other herbs. Since, evidently, with few exceptions (for example, pharmaceutical manufacturers with government-approved exceptions), no producer can legally obtain and process the regulated medicinal and narcotic THC, HHC providers will be in the crosshairs of authorities. And end consumers should also ask themselves where their herb comes from and how quality controls are ensured.

Is HHC legal?

On the question of whether something is legal or not, there should actually be a very clear answer. Not so with HHC. Because there are neither publicly available information from health authorities, nor is the legal regulation the same everywhere. Whether HHC shows up positively on THC drug tests is also uncertain. Therefore, caution is advised here. Even the so-called "health claims" such as the "healing and inhibiting" properties that are sometimes attributed to HHC have not yet been scientifically confirmed. Even though other cannabinoids like CBD and THC certainly have significant clinical potential, there are no clear facts on the table for the trendy HHC. Even though medicinal cannabis is generally attributed 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 also delivers what the manufacturers promise remains to be seen. What is clear is that the hemp plant, with its dozens of natural cannabinoids, offers an incredibly wide range of active substances. And since the legalization of cannabis is practically at the door in Germany, natural THC is likely to outshine the 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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