HHC is a cannabinoid found in the flower, pollen and seeds of cannabis sativa L. in very low concentrations since forever. This means that humans have been consuming it for centuries. All this has been known since 1947 when Roger Adams managed to isolate it from the cannabis plant.
But is this small percentage enough to meet the demand that has been created recently?
Developments in cannabis are now a daily occurrence as in a large percentage of civilised countries it is now free or partially regulated.
So nowadays HHC is synthesized through the hydrogenation process, which typically requires the addition of hydrogen and the use of a metal catalyst such as palladium.
In terms of chemical structure, THC and HHC are very similar. The only notable difference between the two is that HHC has hydrogenated carbons, an extra carbon bond and an ester atom.
The scientists report that HHC has very high affinity for both CB1 and CB2 receptors and that by binding to these receptors, the compound offers many of the same effects as THC.
What is the effect of HHC?
HHC is not THC but it is slightly psychoactive and in high concentration it causes a feeling of happiness and euphoria, increased energy and relaxation. It is generally reported to have the 70% effect of THC. However, it also has side effects such as dry mouth, red eyes, cravings, dizziness, paranoia, fatigue and insomnia.
Here it should be said that athletes or security forces who pass drug tests are not safe to consume HHC because it is very likely to show up in the test results.
The conclusion is that we know very little about this new cannabinoid called HHC and because it is not on the lists of banned substances it is expected to flood the market if most countries do not regulate it. However, we expect to learn more in the near future.
Note * On January 17, 2024, a government decree was announced stating that HHC is now included in the list of drugs and its sale is prohibited.
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