HHC: the truth about this new cannabinoid

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Since July 13, 2023, the Italian Ministry of Health has included HHC in the list of narcotic and psychotropic substances, making it fully illegal.

Lately in the sector of CBD There is a lot of talk about a new cannabinoid naturally found in the Cannabis sativa plant: HHC. HHC has attracted the attention of researchers and producers, who have listed its various benefits for human health, but the EMCDDA (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction) had already tried to provide a technical overview of HHC and the potential risks arising from this new unregulated market as early as April 2023.

What do we know about this cannabinoid?

What does HHC mean?

HHC stands for hexahydrocannabinol, a cannabinoid produced in very small quantities by cannabis sativa plants, mainly found in the pollen and seeds of the plant.

What is HHC?

To summarize and discover for the first time theHHC (hexahydrocannabinol)) was Roger Adams in 1940. Adams was an American chemistry researcher, at that time director of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Illinois.

HHC is defined as a synthetic or semi-synthetic cannabinoid. It is a cannabinoid present in very small concentrations in the seeds and pollen of hemp. Its extraction from the plant can be very complex, as well as costly and unprofitable. That is why, once its molecular structure has been identified, it is preferred to reproduce it in the laboratory.

has a chemical structure similar to that of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) the cannabinoid in cannabis that causes psychoactive effects.

Despite being discovered in 1940, the pharmacological and toxicological effects of HHC on humans have never been studied.

In Italy and Europe, it has been sold as the legal alternative to THC, but if the effects of HHC seem to be similar to those produced by THC, there is great uncertainty about the short- and long-term effects of its synthetic reproductions, which could cause unexpected psychotoxicity. If you want to read the technical report of the EMCDDA (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction), is available in English PDF at this page.

What effects does HHC have?

The HHC was first identified in Europe in May 2022. Since then, other similar synthetic compounds have emerged, such as HHC acetate (HHC-O) and hexahydrocannabiphorol (HHC-P).

As we have seen, a very small number of laboratory studies on animals suggest that HHC has effects very similar to those of THC. This data seems to be confirmed by those who have taken it and by the report of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction in Lisbon.

The effects of HHC can therefore be:

euphoria
sense of relaxation
ilarity
sense of hunger
anxiety
tachycardia
temporarily altered perceptions
reduction of any pain

So does HHC get you high? Wow, how cool!

Well yes, the communication and marketing around HHC are based precisely on the claim: "The legal and safe substitute for THC."

The problem, however, is that the production of HHC is almost never compliant with the "good manufacturing practices" that regulate the market of certain natural products, such as those based on CBD, for example.

Since it is a synthetic compound not regulated nor tested, it is not known what effects might be caused by synthetic by-products and contamination with extraction residues or the hydrogenation process.

But they don't tell you this!

Is HCC legal in Italy?

No, since July 13, 2023, the Ministry of Health has included theHHC in the table of narcotic and psychotropic substances, pursuant to the decree of the President of the Republic, October 9, 1990, no. 309.

To be as precise as possible, in Table I of the decree where all narcotic and illegal substances are listed, HHC, HHC acetate, HHCO, HHC_P, and HXC have been included.

The Ministry of Health reports the following reasons in the decree:

HHC, HHC-acetate, and HHC-P are semi-synthetic cannabinoids, structurally related to THC

a technical report on the substance published by the European Observatory on Dependencies in Lisbon considers its effects identical to those of THC

the association Imprenditori Canapa in Italia has reported the presence on the Italian and European market of products containing HHC

The possible toxicity of HHC could cause serious problems for those who take it

In 2022, HHC was the subject of several seizures in Italy

The legality of selling HHC depends on the legislation of each individual state. Until recently, Italy was in the gray area of legislative vacuum that many producers thought to take advantage of. However, things have changed rapidly, but it was predictable.

Analyzing paragraph six of article 14 of dpr 390/90, in fact, it was clear that also "tetrahydrocannabinols, their natural analogues, substances obtained by synthesis or semi-synthesis that are attributable to them by chemical structure or by pharmacotoxicological effect" could have been banned.

The article of law, prior to the latest revision on July 13, continues by declaring all plants containing active ingredients capable of causing hallucinations or sensory distortions, as well as similar substances obtained through chemical synthesis, to be illicit substances. Given that the effects of HHC have never been explored from a scientific point of view (unlike THC, for which there is still extensive literature) and there are no regulations regarding its synthesis, it is not possible to rule out that it may be able to alter the central nervous system and cause even significant side effects.

This is the main reason why HHC has been made illegal in Italy as well as in France.

HHC and THC: similarities and differences

is undeniable that the marketing claim has real foundations. Just like the THC and CBD in fact, HHC seems to be able to bind to the CB1 and CB2 receptors present within our endocannabinoid system.

has a chemical and molecular structure similar to THC, but remains a cannabinoid with different characteristics.

The first fundamental difference is that HHC, although naturally present in the hemp plant, can only be obtained through the hydrogenation process of THC. Thanks to this process, HHC ends up possessing hydrogenated carbon atoms, an additional carbon bond, and an ester atom, that THC does not have.

HHC also appears to be a more stable compound than THC and less susceptible to degradation from exposure to heat and light. This characteristic makes it interesting for cannabinoid producers, as it would allow for long-term preservation.

Another difference, no less important, is that currently the sale of THC is prohibited in several countries, while the sale of HHC is, for now, prohibited only in Italy and France.

Several manufacturers claim without scientific basis that HHC is a cannabinoid as safe as other natural cannabinoids, but there are still no recognized studies on the effects of this cannabinoid and its potential toxicity for humans. However, there are many studies on THC, which, although illegal, is also used as therapeutic cannabis in hospital settings.

Is HHC detected by drug tests?

There is still no scientific clarity on this point; however, given the molecular structure similar to THC, it can be hypothesized that HHC could be detected by drug tests using advanced techniques.

could be argued, however, that precisely because the molecular structure is similar but not identical, HHC breaks down into metabolites different from those of THC and therefore may not be detectable by drug tests, but given the decree updating Table I on July 13, they will certainly find a way to detect HHC and its derivatives in a test.

The choice to use or not use HHC should not depend on the fear of being caught, but on the willingness not to consume a substance for which there are still no scientific studies on humans, which, mind you, exist for numerous narcotic substances.

We hope that over time research will provide in-depth answers and case studies on the use and effects of HHC on humans, until then...Keep safe...

Is HHC safe? What does science say

For this study on synthetic analgesics derived from cannabinoids, hydroxylated compounds similar to hexahydrocannabinol were reproduced in the laboratory and administered to laboratory animals that had already taken HHC. HHC had a powerful pain-relieving effect on the animals, but the synthesized compound was not found to be active in the same way. Furthermore, these synthetic compounds caused behavioral changes in non-anesthetized animals. Two of the compounds produced effects similar to those of cannabinoids, and two others appeared to cause depression in the animals.

In an article published in November 2022 in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research on HHC in the light cannabis market, the main concern of researchers focuses on the fact that despite the lack of thorough studies on the action, potency, toxicity, and safety of HHC, this cannabinoid is finding its way into the market very easily.

Certainly, researchers state, this phenomenon occurs due to a lack of legislative clarity. However, the intention of those involved in cannabis, cannabinoids, and safety at the scientific level is to include in analytical tests, which usually involve Δ9-THC, THC-A, CBD, and CBD-A, also "new" compounds that may not be fully safe, cause addiction, and other side effects, such as HHC.

CBD is better

Unlike cannabidiol, HHC is neither regulated nor widely studied, and the long-term effects on the human body are not yet clear. This means it could pose health risks. In contrast, CBD has been the subject of numerous scientific studies for decades, proving to be safe, legal, and well tolerated by most people. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory, relaxing, and pain-relieving properties, CBD offers all the benefits of cannabis without psychoactive effects or unknown risks, making it the best choice for those who want to take care of themselves naturally and safely. All our CBD-based products are tested by third-party laboratories to guarantee you the highest level of safety. Try them now.