How Long Can HHC Be Detected in Your System?

There's no one-size-fits-all answer to figuring out the duration windows of HHC. Those who occasionally use HHC will have a much shorter detection window than those who use it regularly.

There are so many other moving pieces at play, too, like your metabolism and the testing method you’re using. That said, as mentioned above, detection for HHC generally falls into two categories:

Short-term detection

• Saliva: HHC is identified in saliva shortly after use, typically within hours.
• Blood: It can also be detectable in the blood for up to 24 hours post-use, sometimes longer for heavy users or those with slower metabolisms.

Long-term detection

• Urine: Emerging studies reported in the National Library of Medicine show HHC metabolites can be detected in urine. While exact detection windows aren’t fully established, some sources suggest that frequent users might test positive for up to 30 days or more, and occasional users for a few days to a few weeks.

It helps to take a closer look at what you can expect from the HHC duration. But how does HHC compare to other cannabinoids?

Does HHC Leave Your System Faster Than Other Cannabinoids?

Your own sense of how long HHC stays in your body might be influenced by claims that its unique metabolites help it leave the system more quickly than traditional THC.

But the truth is, HHC shows up on a drug test because it 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 your fat cells just like THC metabolites, which means factors like body fat percentage and metabolism have a big impact on how long the compound stays in your system and how long the effects last. As for metabolism, let's unpack the journey this cannabinoid takes from consumption to exit.

How is HHC Metabolized?

1. Monohydroxylation

It all starts with monohydroxylation, the first step in breaking down HHC and excreting it from the body. As oxidation occurs, carboxylic acid metabolites are formed.

2. Breaking Down of HHC by the Liver

The liver does most of the heavy lifting to break down HHC, just like it does with other cannabinoids. According to research published by Snider, Walker, and Hollenberg, the cytochrome P450 enzyme system (specifically the CYP3A4 enzyme) does most of the work. When it comes to determining how long HHC stays in your system, other enzymes like CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 also pull their weight during this process.

3. Formation of 11-hydroxy-hexahydrocannabinol (11-OH-HHC)

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 the production of carboxylic acid metabolites.

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 (Jorgensen et al, 2023).

4. Where Does HHC Stay in the Body?

Questions related to the duration of HHC and its effects also entail understanding where it lives in the body. Most cannabis-related metabolites 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. Hydrating for long periods does make your HHC high shorter. Unfortunately, there is only one surefire way to speed up the HHC duration from a detection perspective: speed up your metabolism.

But that’s not all. There are 4 primary factors that might influence your detection window.

4 Factors That Determine When HHC Exits Your Body

1. Dosage and Frequency of Use

Higher HHC doses generally linger longer than lower doses. For example, if you take a low-dose edible (2.5 to 5mg), it'll work its way out of your system much quicker than if you took, say, a strong edible (20mg+). So, think about the dosage of HHC you take and set your expectations for the duration accordingly.

Similarly, how often you use this compound impacts how long it stays in your system. This goes back to the simple fact that the more you use these products, the more metabolites you'll have living in your fat cells.

So, someone who uses HHC once a week will have an easier time passing a drug test than someone who hits their HHC vape pen multiple times a day.

2. Individual Metabolism and Body Fat Percentage

For individuals with slower metabolic rates, HHC tends to stay in their system for a long time. Conversely, higher metabolic rates help you eliminate HHC faster.

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, as their metabolism will likely be much slower.

Remember, HHC is stored in fat. The more body fat you have, the longer traces can stay in your system. That's why women tend to need a bit more time to pass an HHC drug test, as they generally have higher body fat percentages than men.

3. 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.

4. Hydration Levels

We want to be clear in saying simply drinking a lot of water won’t reduce the duration of HHC in the body. Things simply don’t work that way, as you can't flush this compound out of your system like that. Believing in this myth has led many to fail their drug test.

Sure, water helps remove metabolites from your system, but it will not guarantee that HHC won’t show up on a drug test. They still need to work their way out of fat cells. There's nothing you can do to speed that process up, aside from raising your metabolism.

There is a caveat here, however. 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. But 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?

If you’re preparing for an upcoming drug test you need to pass, knowing what sort of test you're in for is really important. This is because some detection methods can look much further back at your usage than others.

• For urine tests, 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 a week before the test. But these testing methods aren't really used as planned tests as much as they are for roadside DUI assessments.
• For a hair test, it’s good to have at least a 3-month runway to be in the clear. Shaving your head or bleaching your hair won't work, so pausing HHC use is the only solution.

4 Effective Ways to Get HHC Out of Your System Faster

Detox kits are just a gimmick with a really low rate of success, and HHC will probably still show up on a drug test. Plus, they can be unsafe for various reasons. And although time is the one thing that can help you pass a drug test, we still have some tips for you to speed up this process.

1. Immediately Stop Using HHC Products

The sooner you quit, the more time your body has to process and remove the compound. Even occasional use can leave traces for days to weeks, depending on metabolism and body fat.

2. Hydrate Consistently

Drinking plenty of water and herbal teas impacts how long an HHC high lasts and supports kidney function to help 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.

3. 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 ejected via urine. Get as much exercise as you can, but stop 24-48 hours before testing. This way, you can stop releasing more metabolites into your bloodstream.

4. 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 excessive sugar.

What to Expect on the Day of the Test

Electrolytes & Hydration

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 since HHC won’t stay in your system for long, given time and hydration.

But since drug testers see overly diluted urine as a red flag, they might ask you for a new sample later on. Though not guaranteed, you can try to prevent this by consuming plenty of electrolytes, creatine, and B vitamins, as this will keep your urine looking normal. Even if they check the weight/gravity of your urine, it should pass the test.

Take An At-Home THC Test

You can check your status with an at-home THC test to gauge whether you're still testing positive. It’ll give you some peace of mind before your official drug test. This can help you figure out if you'll be in the clear or whether you might need to take more drastic steps to pass.

We'll refrain from discussing 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. But beware that tampering is detectable through various checks.

Final Thoughts

HHC can stay in your system 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.

Hopefully, this HHC duration guide has provided you with some much-needed clarity prior to your drug test and left you feeling confident about getting this compound out of your system faster.