What is HHC and Does it Make You High?

HHC, or 11-hydroxy-Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol, is a cannabinoid found in cannabis plants. It is a derivative of THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, and is known to produce a high similar to that of THC. So, yes, HHC does make you high. The effects of HHC are not the same as those of THC, however.

Compared to delta-9 THC, HHC is generally less intense and slightly milder. It is believed to be around 80% more potent than delta-9-THC, so people with a low tolerance to THC should use it with caution. The euphoria caused by HHC typically lasts between two and three hours, depending on the amount taken, how the body processes HHC, and how often HHC is used together with other products. HHC is not technically a THC molecule, so the effects are inherently different in their nature and in their strength.

CBN and HHC are very opposite cannabinoids, although they are both the result of the breakdown and degradation of THC. HHC products can cause a consumer high, just like THC products. However, since the natural concentration of HHC in cannabis is so small, producers cannot viably manufacture HHC products from it. With cannabinoids such as hemp-derived delta-8 THC becoming increasingly popular as a legal alternative to marijuana, the availability of HHC is rapidly following suit. HHC products aren't as available as CBD or THC products yet, but you can find some brands that sell HHC vaporizer pens.

Unlike the delta-10, delta-9 and delta-8 forms of THC, the element HHC is not digested into 11-hydroxy-THC, the degrading substance sought by several drug groups. In the process of hydrogenating THC to HHC, manufacturers take THC and chemically saturate it with hydrogen atoms. Since the Agricultural Act legalizes products containing other cannabinoids from hemp as long as they do not exceed the 0.3% THC threshold, producers of HHC products insist that everything is correct. However, if the HHC received after the conversion is synthetic at the federal level, currently or in the future, the possession, sale, production and distribution of HHC products may be illegal.

Kelli Prellwitz
Kelli Prellwitz

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