HHC, or hydrogenated hemp cannabinoid, is a form of THC that has been modified to be legally available in the United States. It is similar to THC in terms of effects and potency, but has a longer lifespan. While there is no evidence that HHC is less safe than THC, it is not regulated for adult use, meaning there are no standards for purity and strength. To ensure safety, it is best to buy HHC products from trusted sources and reputable brands that offer third-party tests to verify the contents.
HHC products are available in various forms, such as vaping carts filled with HHC oil, gummies, disposable vaporizers, tinctures for oral consumption, rubbing concentrates, and even “HHC” flowers. The dosage of HHC is not well understood yet, so it is difficult to say how much HHC is needed to approach an experience similar to that of THC. HHC is obtained by hydrogenating cannabinoids derived from hemp under pressure with a catalyst such as palladium. This process adds two additional hydrogen atoms to the structure of THC delta 9, creating HHC.
This makes HHC a legal hemp product and offers protection to manufacturers and sellers of HHC (and delta 8 and delta 10 THC, THC-O and THCP). User reports generally describe the HHC high as somewhere between Delta 8 and Delta 9 for THC. However, there is no solid research on the metabolites of HHC yet, which means that 11-hydroxy-THC may be present after consuming HHC-related products. To ensure safety when consuming HHC products, it is important to buy them from trusted sources and reputable brands that offer heavy metal testing and certificates of analysis to customers.
Future research may discover that HHC is as safe as THC, but for now it is best to take precautions when consuming any form of cannabinoid.
