How potent is HHC?

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Hemp products are gaining popularity due to their ability to improve users’ health and wellness. Hemp plants have various chemical compounds, and HHC is among the newly discovered compound. There are many concerns regarding HHC, including how potent it is. Herein is everything you need to know about HHC, including its legality, potency ranges, and where to buy HHC products.

Cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have been among the trending products. However, as the cannabis world expands, better alternatives for replacing the two are coming up, HHC being one of the most recent establishments. HHC products are offered in different formulations, including tinctures, capsules, gummies, and topicals, just like CBD and THC products. Notably, HHC and THC are similar in their effectiveness and side effects. HHC is a cannabis-based chemical compound and can be obtained from the hemp plant, marijuana, or cannabis sativa. Keep reading to find out more about HHC and how potent it is.

What is HHC?

HHC is a new chemical compound of the hemp plant derived from THC. HHC is the abbreviation of hexahydrocannabinol. As a new cannabis element, you might be interested in its effectiveness compared to other elements. According to Jiang (2019), HHC is obtained through the hydrogenation process that is also used in turning vegetable oil into margarine. It involves the stabilization of the chemical structure of THC through the addition of hydrogen. To have a usable amount of HHC is a complex process involving the saturation of THC through catalysts such as nickel and palladium under high pressure. This compound is infused in products such as gummies, tinctures, capsules, and vapes.

Nikas et al. (2010) noted that the process destabilizes THC and breaks it into the double bond chemical structure, replacing it with hydrogen. However, the process doesn’t interfere with cannabinoids’ potency levels or effectiveness. The change in the molecular structure of THC makes it even better and more stable, making it difficult to undergo oxidation or degradation. This gives HHC an added advantage over THC. However, HHC doesn’t occur naturally in usable amounts because various chemicals are involved in obtaining significant amounts.

How Potent Is HHC?

As mentioned earlier, HHC is likely to maintain its molecular structure even after exposure to various environments. HHC is not affected easily by air and does not undergo oxidation, unlike THC, which is highly susceptible to degradation and oxidation. The exposure to THC leads to loss of hydrogen atoms and new double bond formation, resulting in CBN (cannabinol), having about 10% of psychoactive side effects. HHC molecular structure is also incredible in that it can withstand UV light and heat. This makes it an ideal cannabinoid for post-apocalyptic preppers.

Despite HHC being derived from THC, it is not likely to show in a drug test. However, this claim is yet to be established since more research is yet to be conducted on the impact of HHC, its potential side effects, and its benefits. Although there is much to be established on HHC, there are speculations that you might need to know. Some include;

  • It is a hydrogenated formulation of THC
  • HHC and THC induce similar effects, and their potency levels are comparable
  • HHC has a longer shelf-life than THC and CBD
  • Although there is limited research on the risks of HHC, there are no indications that its dangerous than THC.
  • HHC’s legality is still unclear compared to other elements of the hemp plant
  • Although this claim is yet to be verified, HHC may not show in a drug test

Is HHC Legal?

Being a new chemical compound of the hemp plant, the legality of HHC remains unclear. During the legalization of cannabis-based compounds by the 2018 Farm Bill, HHC was not factored in. However, we can use regulations provided by the 2018 Farm Bill and the Foods and Drugs Administration to speculate on its legality.

Although the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp-based products within US soil, state governments were mandated to determine the legality of hemp products within their boundaries. As a result, 15 states restricted hemp-based products for therapeutic or recreational use. Some of these states include South Dakota, Idaho, and Nebraska.

The hemp plant was legalized, leaving out marijuana because it has sustainable levels of THC. Abernethy (2019) noted that the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp and cannabis because their THC levels are below 0.3%. According to the farm bill, hemp-based products, including HHC products, are only legal in the USA if their THC levels are below 0.3%. However, all these remain speculations until a court rules out the legality of HHC. This also means that users are to use HHC products at their risk.

How Much HHC Should I Take?

Most things on HHC are still pending, including the appropriate dose. Currently, no HHC dose has been approved. However, various factors rely on for an appropriate dose, including weight, age, and tolerance levels. If you are a new HHC user, it might be difficult to determine your body tolerance. Therefore, consider taking low potency levels for the first time, as suggested by Berghaus, Scheer, & Schmidt (1995). Adjust the doses gradually as you monitor the possible side effects. On the contrary, if you are a veteran, take average doses you have been using or slightly higher to feel the impact.

Where Can You Buy HHC?

HHC is yet to gain popularity among most hemp-based vendors, although its market keeps expounding as people understand it. One of the major challenges facing HHC is that it’s a new element and the standard protocols for testing it are yet to be determined. Therefore, it comes with a greater risk. However, you can get various formulations of HHC online or from the nearest hemp-based store. Although there are no standard measurements of HHC products, they still need to have COA’s report for quality affirmation. This will help you determine the potency and purity levels to avoid taking contaminants and overdosing.

Conclusion

HHC is a newly established element of the hemp plant that has yet to gain much attention. There are many unclear things regarding this compound, including its legality, effectiveness, and standard measurement for its safety. This means that HHC comes with greater risks to the users and producers. Since an appropriate dose is also yet to be established, you should take it responsibly to avoid any potential side effects. If you are interested in the suggested health benefits of HHC, consider hemp-based because its THC levels are below 0.3%. Lastly, HHC, a chemical compound derived from THC, shares many similarities, including its effectiveness and effects.

References

Abernethy, A. (2019). Hemp Production & 2018 Farm Bill. US Food And Drug Administration.

Berghaus, G., Scheer, N., & Schmidt, P. (1995, August). Effects Of Cannabis On Psychomotor Skills And Driving Performance-A Metaanalysis Of Experimental Studies. In Proceedings Of The 13th International Conference On Alcohol, Drugs And Traffic Safety (Vol. 1, Pp. 403-409).

Jiang, S. (2019). Controlled Activation And Deactivation Of Cannabinergic Ligands And Novel Mono-And Bi-Functional Classical Cannabinoid Probes (Doctoral Dissertation, Northeastern University).

Nikas, S. P., Alapafuja, S. O., Papanastasiou, I., Paronis, C. A., Shukla, V. G., Papahatjis, D. P., … & Makriyannis, A. (2010). Novel 1′, 1′-Chain Substituted Hexahydrocannabinols: 9β-Hydroxy-3-(1-Hexyl-Cyclobut-1-Yl)-Hexahydrocannabinol (AM2389) A Highly Potent Cannabinoid Receptor 1 (CB1) Agonist. Journal Of Medicinal Chemistry, 53(19), 6996-7010.

 

Elena Ognivtseva
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