More than 400 cannabinoids and terpenes have been identified in cannabis, several of which may have therapeutic effects. It’s thought that cannabinoids interact with neurotransmitters to trigger a wide variety of effects beneficial to one’s immune system, feeling of well-being, relaxation, stress management, and quality of sleep.
Although cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have received the lion’s share of attention in the cannabis research community, there is another cannabinoid that has received less attention. Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) is garnering a lot of attention in the wellness industry since it has many of the same benefits as the more well-known delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
HHC has extremely comparable effects to natural THC for people looking to use cannabinoids for therapeutic purposes or to get high for recreational purposes. What is federally legal HHC? How is it produced? What does this imply for the future of HHC vapes containing medicinal cannabinoids?
What is HHC, and how does it function?
Naturally occurring HHC cannabinoids are present in cannabis, but only at very low amounts. Manufacturers are pushing a chemical reaction in hemp’s naturally abundant cannabinoids like CBD and THC to turn them into HHC molecules for sale on the market. HHC was first developed by American scientist Roger Adams in 1944 by combining Delta-9 THC with hydrogen molecules. Hydrogenation is the term for this method.
The cannabis business isn’t the only one to use the hydrogenation process. Hydrogenated cannabinoids are used in the same process that transforms butter into margarine to extend the shelf life of both.
Adams first used this method to create HHC from THC isolated from marijuana plants, but following the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized cannabis harvests containing less than 0.3% delta-9 THC, additional producers have been using the method to CBD to create HHC.
How Does HHC Affect Humans?
HHC is a psychoactive chemical that, like delta-9 THC, may reduce pain and inflammation and affect one’s perception and cognition. THC isomers, or versions of the well-known delta-9 THC molecule, have been on the rise as individuals seek for legitimate ways to get high from marijuana.
Hemp-derived delta-8 THC and delta-10 THC are two well-liked isomers of THC. Users often contrast the effects of HHC with those of delta-8 THC, finding that the former produces a calmer high while the latter stimulates activity. Comparing the two forms of THC, we find that delta-8 THC, which is generated from hemp, is roughly 50% as strong as delta-9 THC, whereas HHC is more potent than delta-8 but less potent than delta-9. Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) is so recent that there is a dearth of research on its efficacy and safety.
The cannabinoid chemicals found in the cannabis plant are extensive. THC and CBD are the two most well-known cannabinoids. However, more than a hundred different cannabinoids have been shown to have medicinal and/or psychotropic effects. Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) is a minor cannabinoid with analgesic and anti-inflammatory actions as well as the potential for modest psychoactive effects.
Over the last several decades, cannabis research has blossomed, and we now have a deeper knowledge of these substances than we have of even harder narcotics like opiates or cocaine. However, there are still numerous obstacles to overcome before they can be used safely and effectively in therapeutic settings.
