Product
Our HHC products are a really popular choice for anyone looking to find a middle ground between the mildness of delta 8 products and the intensity of delta 9 products. This minor cannabinoid is stirring up quite the buzz as people become more aware of what it can do.
However, there’s also a ton of uncertainty surrounding HHC, particularly from a legal and drug testing perspective. How long will HHC stay in your system, and does HHC leave your system faster than THC? Does HHC show up on a drug test in the first place?
We’ve put together this guide on the HHC duration to help you set your expectations, and we’ll even share some tips on clearing it out of your system quicker if need be. While some users might pass a test within a few days of using HHC, others will need a full 4-6 weeks to get clean.
Learn more about all the factors influencing the HHC drug test window and how to get hhc out of your system – but first, what is HCC?
The Basics of HHC
Hexahydrocannabinol, as the name might clue you into, is a hydrogenated derivative of THC. That just means it has an extra hydrogen atom in its molecular structure. That probably doesn’t mean much to you, though – so what does HHC do exactly?
It offers a unique balance between delta 8’s mild effects and delta 9’s stronger psychoactivity – the sweet spot for many people. Although it’s found naturally in cannabis, it’s incredibly rare. That’s why the vast majority of HHC is synthetically manufactured.
There are a few ways to do go about it, but most of the HHC products you’ll encounter are created through a hydrogenation process, which stabilizes the molecule and makes it less susceptible to degradation from heat and exposure to oxygen.
You can expect a smooth, uplifting high from HHC with relaxing body effects. But we’re not here to talk about all the benefits of HHC – how long does HHC stay in your system?
How Long Does HHC Stay In Your System?
As we said from the start, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Those who occasionally use HHC will have a much shorter detection window than those who use it on a regular basis.
There are so many other moving pieces at play, too, like metabolism and how you’re testing for HHC. Detection for HHC generally falls into two categories:
- Short-term detection: Identified in saliva shortly after use, typically within hours. HHC can also be detectable in blood for up to 24 hours post-use, sometimes longer for heavy users or those with slower metabolisms.
- Long-term detection: Metabolites can be detected for much longer in urine, which is the go-to method for drug testing. Occasional users will be detectable for a few days up to 3 weeks, while chronic users can test positive for metabolites well after a month.
We’ll take a closer look at what you can expect from the HHC duration in just a bit – but does HHC leave your system faster than other cannabinoids?
Does HHC Leave Your System Faster Than Other Cannabinoids?
There have been claims that because HHC produces different metabolites than traditional THC, it could clear out of the system faster.
But the truth is, HHC follows a somewhat similar metabolic path as traditional THC, so no, it won’t make its way out of your system any quicker than other cannabis metabolites.
It’s stored in fat cells just like THC metabolites, which means your body fat percentage and metabolism play a prominent role in how quickly you can get HHC out of your system. Speaking of metabolism, let’s unpack the journey this cannabinoid takes from consumption to exit.
How is HHC Metabolized in Your System?
It all starts with monohydroxylation, the first step in breaking down HHC and excreting it from the body. Carboxylic acid metabolites are formed as oxidation occurs.
The liver does a lot of the heavy lifting for breaking down HHC just like it does with other cannabinoids. The cytochrome P450 enzyme system, specifically the CYP3A4 enzyme, is doing most of the work. However, other enzymes like CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 pull their weight as well.
Eventually, 11-hydroxy-hexahydrocannabinol (11-OH-HHC) is formed. This is the HHC version of 11-hydroxy-THC, which is formed when the body processes THC. Oxidation continues after hydroxy metabolites are formed, leading to carboxylic acid metabolites production.
The primary one identified is 11-nor-9-carboxy-hexahydrocannabinol (HHC-COOH). Again, this is HHC’s version of THC-COOH, the tell-tale indicator of cannabis use in drug tests.
HHC-COOH, and any other cannabis-related metabolites for that matter, live in fat cells until they eventually make their way out of the body through urine.
But removing HHC metabolites from your body isn’t as simple as overhydrating and peeing them out as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, there is only one surefire way to speed up the HHC duration from a detection perspective: speed up your metabolism.
Don’t sweat it, though. We’ll share more advice on how to get HHC out of your system faster to pass a drug test in just a few moments. You should understand all the factors influencing your detection window first, though.
4 Factors Affecting How Long Before HHC Fully Exits Your Body
So how long does HHC stay in your system – where exactly will you fall on that spectrum from a few days to a month or longer? It depends on how much HHC you consume and how often, your body fat percentage, and a couple of other details.
Dosage and Frequency of Use
It makes sense that higher HHC doses generally linger for longer than lower doses. If you take a 5mg edible, it’ll work its way out of your system much quicker than if you took a 20mg edible. So, think about how much HCC you take in setting your expectations for the HHC duration.
Similarly, how often you use HHC impacts its staying power. This goes back to the simple fact that the more you use HHC products, the more metabolites you’ll have living in your fat cells.
In this sense, someone who uses HHC once a week will have an easier time passing a drug test than someone who hits their HCC vape pen multiple times a day.
Individual Metabolism and Body Fat Percentage
Knowing how HHC is metabolized, you can see the role your metabolism plays in influencing how quickly you can get it out of your system. Individuals with faster metabolic rates tend to eliminate HHC faster than those with slower ones.
For instance, athletes with typically faster metabolisms may eliminate HHC from their systems more rapidly than someone who works a desk job, eats poorly, and doesn’t get any exercise – their metabolism will likely be much slower.
Remember, HHC is stored in fat. The more body fat you have, the longer traces of HHC can stay cooped up. That’s why women tend to need a bit more time to pass an HHC drug test – they generally have higher body fat percentages than men.
How You Consume HHC
Your usage method will dictate your HHC duration to some degree as well. Smoking or vaping HHC has been linked to quicker elimination than oral ingestion, such as through edibles or tinctures.
Hydration Levels
We want to be clear in saying you can’t flush HHC out of your system by just drinking as much water as possible. This myth has led many to fail their drug test.
Sure, water helps remove metabolites out of your system but they still need to work their way out of fat cells, and there’s nothing you can do to speed that process up aside from raise your metabolism.
But there is a caveat here – you can technically dilute your system to the point where HHC metabolites are undetectable in your urine, as you’re essentially peeing out pure water. The risk is that many tests can see through this tactic now by testing the weight of your urine.
Do Different Drug Tests Have Different Detection Windows?
We know you’re stressing about the HHC duration because you have an upcoming drug test you need to pass. Knowing what sort of test you’re in for is really important as some tests can look much further back at your usage than others.
Urine (3 days to 1 week detection time) and hair tests (90 days detection time), for example, provide longer detection periods than blood tests (24-48 hours).
So if you have a urine test, your best bet is to stop using HHC at least a month in advance. If you have a blood or saliva test, you can get by with stopping less than week before the test – but these aren’t really used as plan tests as much as they are for roadside DUI assessments.
Oh, and if you have a hair test coming up? Good luck! You better have at least a 3-month runway to get ahead of the issue. Shaving your head or bleaching your hair won’t work, either, so don’t bother.
That being said, we do want to share a few tips on how to get HHC out of your system faster.
How to Get HHC Out of Your System Faster to Pass a Drug Test
Again, only time can help you pass a drug test. Don’t waste your money on detox kits, they’re a gimmick with a really low rate of success. Plus, they can be unsafe for their own reasons. Instead, follow these proven tips on how to get HHC out of your system faster:
- Stop Using Immediately: The sooner you quit, the more time your body has to process and remove HHC. Even occasional use can leave traces for days to weeks depending on metabolism and body fat. Stop altogther, and spoil yourslef with some HCC gummies after you’ve passed the test.
- Hydrate Consistently: Drinking plenty of water and herbal teas supports kidney function and helps flush metabolites through urine. But don’t assume you can hydrate your way to a clean test – burning metabolites out of your body through exercise is really your best bet.
- Exercise (But Not Right Before a Test): Cardio and weight training burn the fat where HHC is stored and in turn release those metabolites so they can be peed out. Get as much exercise as you can until 24-48 hours before testing. This way, you can stop releasing more metabolites into the bloodstream.
- Eat Clean: Getting plenty of fiber, leafy greens, and lean proteins will help your liver function better and aid in digestion to clear metabolites naturally. Steer clear of processed foods and excess sugar.
As for the day of the test, you should make sure to drink plenty of water to the point where you’re peeing clear and using the restroom every 20-30 minutes. You’re essentially peeing out pure water at this point.
But drug testers see overly diluted urine as a red flag and will ask you for a new sample later on. So, try to mask this by consuming plenty of electrolytes, creatine, and B vitamins – this will keep your urine looking normal and if they check the weight/gravity of your urine, it’ll pass there as well.
We recommend you check your status with an at-home THC test to gauge whether you’re still testing positive. This will help you figure out if you’re in the clear and can provide some much-needed peace of mind if you’re stressing about the test.
It also clues you into whether or not you might need to take more drastic steps to pass your test. We’ll refrain from speaking on the substitution method, but if you’re out of time and still can’t pee clean, it could be your only option to save your job.
Final Thoughts on the HHC Duration
So how long does HHC stay in your system? In closing, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It can range from a few days to well over a month depending on how much you use the cannabinoid, your metabolism, and the steps you take to get it out faster.
We hope this HHC duration guide has provided you with some much-needed clarity and left you feeling confident in how to get HHC out of your system faster if you have a drug test coming up.
Once you pass your test with flying colors, treat yourself to the finest HHC products online at Delta Munchies. Discover why HHC is a fan favorite today!
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