Does HHC Test Positive for THC?

Assorted delta 8, delta 9 and HHC products from Delta Munchies on a black background.

If you are looking at your calendar app nervously because a drug test is coming up, you might find the next article useful. Cannabis users have a sworn enemy that comes one way or another: drug tests.

Whether you need a test for school or work or just a regular check-up, you might have a scare or two because you had a joint or gummy a few days ago. Or even worse, you might want to go for the last resort diet, like using fake pee or even trying a novel product to “excrete” THC.

Now, the cannabis-scene nowadays has changed a lot. With cannabinoids like delta 8 THC, CBD, and HHC on the market, you might wonder if you should worry about having a few tokes of your new pen.

In the following article, we’ll explore if HHC could test positive for THC, how these drug tests work, and what are the main ways that cannabinoids are detected in these examinations. 

So without further ado, let’s check out some valuable information about HHC and HHC metabolites.

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Key Takeaways

  • Drug tests work by looking for traces of certain cannabinoids specifically designed for THC or CBD.
  • HHC is a psychoactive cannabinoid that’s pretty similar to delta 9 THC.
  • Most drug testing does not differentiate between the sub-product of HHC and THC, meaning they will still react in most cases.
  • HHC and other cannabinoids are usually kept in fat tissues and can remain anywhere between 4 and 8 weeks in your body, depending on the last use and frequency.
  • Some products claim that they could help you flush out toxins, but the actual evidence of this working is pretty scarce.

 

How Do Drug Tests Work?

So, how do drug tests work? 

Usually, these tests will have a urine sample that analyzes if there are traces of certain substances. While some look directly for certain compounds or drugs, like cannabis, cocaine, or other illegal substances, others can even detect medications and opiate-based prescriptions.

Other tests include hair-follicle inspection and blood tests. These can be more precise, but they are also a little rare or are usually used for medical checkups and specific uses. Most tests will go for a urine sample instead.

The compound that urine tests look for is called metabolites. These kinds of compounds are the breakdown of certain molecules, like cannabinoids. Some metabolites can stay in your body for weeks or months, depending on many factors, including your metabolism itself.

Nowadays, the most common test is by analyzing urine samples. Some tests have even specialized in finding CBD or THC metabolites or finding cannabinoids in general.

But before you go nuts trying to sweat out CBD, let’s check first what metabolites actually are and whether they affect the testing.

 

What Are THC Metabolites?

Let’s go step by step with metabolites. 

Regularly, whenever you consume cannabis, you are actually getting THC into your body. This cannabinoid is known for its psychoactive factor and is responsible for the “high” we all know and love.

Now, when THC enters, your body will slowly break it down depending on the method of consumption. Most delta 9 will be broken down by enzymes through your liver. The compounds coming from this process are called metabolites.

Much like cannabinoid-based sub-products, THC metabolites are stored in fat tissue and eventually excreted in the urine. This is where drug tests come in. They look for traces of metabolites in your pee, blood, and other fluids and test positive for these traces of cannabinoids.

 

Does HHC Show Up on a Drug Test?

Things get a little complicated from here. 

THC breaks down into a metabolite 11-hydroxy-THC. Some have called it Delta 11 THC as well, but it transforms regular delta 9 into a new particle. Regular delta 9 also breaks down into THC-COOH, which is another name for this cannabinoid.

When you go through a drug test, it will look at this precise metabolite or traces of it around your system. However, not all tests are the same; some might even look for cannabinoid traces of all kinds, not only this subproduct.

HHC is a psychoactive compound that’s semi-synthetic. This happens because while you can naturally find it in minor doses, there’s not enough to extract and use it commercially. Hence, producers use a process called hydrogenation to change delta 9 THC to HHC.

It is also important that not all hemp-derived compounds break down into the same molecules. Specifically, HHC does not break down into Delta-11, but its own subproduct, thanks to its chemical structure. When consumed, it transforms into a different subproduct called 11-hydroxy-HHC. 

Confusing, right? Well, it is also a little confusing for drug tests themselves, especially most drug tests that look for cannabinoid presence in general. This leads to the following question: would a test for THC look positive for this kind of product? Let’s go a little more into detail about this.

 

Does HHC Test Positive for THC?

While technically, the subproduct of HHC should not raise any red flags in a test, it all comes down to the kind of testing done. Over-the-counter tests might not be as precise as lab testing, which could get you a pass as they don’t have the technology to recognize the difference between THC and HHC byproducts.

This is a double-edged sword, as some OTC products will look for any cannabinoid traces. So while some users were safe after a drug test, others might have the bad luck of getting a test that looks for any cannabinoid.

More dedicated testing will definitely show that you have HHC in your system. While most labs won’t make a fuzz about it as this cannabinoid is relatively new, it can still appear in a medical test.

So, in general, HHC may appear in a THC test. While we cannot guarantee for sure you’ll make it safe, and it is more probable that the test will detect cannabinoid metabolites in general rather than just THC traces.

Another key thing is that HHC might stay longer in your body due to its hydrogen atoms that bind to your receptors.

 

How Long Does HHC Stay In Your System

This is kind of complicated to answer, as it depends on different things. Like other cannabinoids, it depends on the frequency you use them, the amount, your personal tolerance, age, gender, and metabolism.

Other hemp-derived cannabinoids have a little bit more research on how much time they stay in your system, like delta 9 and delta 8 THC. Some carts stay in your system for a few days to even weeks, but it depends on the factors we talked about. Specifically, delta 9 can stay in your system for several weeks and even months, especially in the hair.

Blood and urine of regular consumers can also determine if they are detectable in tests, as cannabinoids can be stored for up to 6 weeks in your fat tissues. Furthermore, exercising might not be helpful in this case.

This study found that delta 9 THC levels rose when their research patients had physical activity. While sweating can help to excrete THC, scientists found that it could increase the levels, so cannabinoids could stay in your system shortly by burning fat.

That said, HHC research is not as widely available yet, so we can assume it works similarly to delta 9 THC as it is a hydrogenated form of this cannabinoid. Light users should be good to go with 3 weeks, while regular users might want to go full detox for at least a month before taking a test.

 

Cannabis Kits

Looking around on the internet, you’ll find what we know as detox kits. These use a mix of natural supplements to help your metabolism eliminate toxins, including cannabinoids. Some claim to flush out of your system, while others say they can get you a system boost, so you flush it out yourself.

These come in all different varieties and sizes. From full-on supplements with drinks to pills and herb-like supplements, you’ll be able to find them in many ways as they’ve become pretty popular with hemp and cannabis users.

Some even use specific liquids or foods to go with and give you a supplementary diet plan, including exercise and precise scheduling. Others include support and a dietary companion to aid recovery and frequent checkups, but these are much pricier services than cleansing kits.

Do Cannabis Kits Work?

Sadly, there’s not enough evidence to have a conclusion about these kits. While some products can naturally help you remove traces of HHC or other cannabinoids, many claims around them haven’t been fully researched.

These kits are usually pricey, and some can even cause side effects that aren’t that fun. Kits that “flush” out water can even cause symptoms of dehydration or even unbalanced chemical processes in your body.

So, the risk of using these kits is greater than the possible positive outcome. It is best to have a balanced diet, and while they might work for some people, it all relies on your metabolism and how it works.

Our recommendation is to stay hydrated, try some homemade solutions, and exercise moderately before the test to help liberate the cannabinoids before the test.

 

Best HHC Products to Try

While it is uncertain whether HHC will show up or not in your next lab exam, you might want to try this cannabinoid on your own terms. Well, if you want to check it out, we do recommend trying from a dispensary with third-party lab reports, like the HHC products from the Delta Munchies store.

If you want to try HHC in general, we actually recommend starting with edibles since they stay fresh for longer. 

The HHC gummies are available in three delicious flavors: Melon Dreams with a sweet taste,  Fruit Punch for a tropical sense, and the Blue Razz with sour and berry notes. They both come in two varieties, 25 or 40-piece packs, and each gummy has 25mg of our high-potency HHC extract.

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Now, for a classic, you can go for an extract-filled cartridge with your favorite battery. You can try this incredible formula in two strain-inspired flavors: the indica Grand Daddy Purp HHC Vape Cart with delicious grape notes or the more tropical sativa Maui Wowie HHC Cart.

We also have the HHC version of our iconic Dart XL line, which features two total grams of extract per pen. These can give about 1000 tokes per device and have an automatic draw, which is perfect for toking discreetly. We recommend this in the Apple Gelato flavor, which has delicious creamy, and pie-like notes.

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