What Are The Benefits of HHC Cannabinoid?

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The HHC cannabinoid is one of the newest players in the cannabis game and it certainly has a lot of people talking. Relatively recently discovered, HHC has presented itself as a cannabinoid worth paying attention to.

Since it’s so new, the research on HHC is still in its infancy. Muddy legal waters have slowed cannabis research for a long time, so our analysis on HHC is based mostly on a combination of anecdotal experience and the limited scientific research that’s been done so far.

We have talked about HHC before with our full informational guide on the cannabinoid, but we wanted to dig a little bit deeper into the uses of HHC, the HHC cannabinoid effects, and the benefits of the HHC cannabinoid. So read on to learn a little bit more about the HHC cannabinoid!

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What is HHC? 

HHC stands for hexahydrocannabinol. Hexahydrocannabinol is a hemp-derived chemical compound that was created in 1944 by Roger Adams, an American chemist. Adams discovered that adding hydrogen molecules to delta-9 THC during a process called hydrogenation creates a chemical reaction that converts THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) into HHC (hexahydrocannabinol.)

Just like other cannabinoids such as THC and CBD, HHC reacts with the endocannabinoid system (or ECS) within the human body to produce different feelings and effects, both physical and mental. The endocannabinoid system is comprised of two different types of cannabis receptors. CB1 (or cannabis receptors type one) are found in the central nervous system, and CB2 (or cannabis receptors type two) are found in the immune system.

The body’s cannabinoid receptors react to the chemical compounds within the cannabis plant and can affect things such as your mood, appetite, sleep, and brain function. Every type of cannabinoid—whether it’s delta 8 THC, delta 9 THC, delta 10 THC, CBD, HHC, or any of the other 113 cannabinoids that have been discovered in the marijuana plant thus far—react with the cannabinoid receptors in the body to produce the feelings that we’ve come to know and love from the cannabis plant.

What are the effects of HHC?

Once again, since the research behind HHC is still relatively young, a lot of the reports on HHC effects are anecdotal in nature. Nevertheless, some effects of HHC include:

• Mild psychoactive effects similar to a lower-THC cannabinoid such as delta 8.

• Increased levels of energy, focus, alertness, and clearheadedness.

• Elevated mood, feelings of happiness, and euphoric experiences.

Many users have described the feeling of HHC as very bright and cerebral. It can be described as similar to a Sativa strain as its main effects include things like increased focus and alertness. 

Although it’s been described as similar to a Sativa in that way, users have also reported that it doesn’t come with a lot of the negative side effects that are sometimes associated with a strong THC-laden Sativa strain. For some people, a strong THC strain can cause feelings of anxiety, paranoia, hypervigilance, increased heart rate, and feelings of loss of control. HHC has been said to deliver the energy that THC does, just without the jitters and anxiety.

What are the benefits of HHC? 

In regards to HHC benefits, the limited research means that most of the information we have is anecdotal. Thankfully, there has recently been increasing amounts of scientific research to back these claims about the HHC cannabinoid. Some benefits of the HHC cannabinoid include:

• It provides users with the psychoactive effects without being overwhelming. A big deterrent for a lot of people who want to utilize cannabis is the strong high that’s often associated with THC strains. It’s not for everyone, and that’s okay! That’s what’s so important about researching different cannabinoids and learning about how to harness them. Humans are incredibly diverse and so is the cannabis plant. There is no one size fits all when it comes to cannabis, and HHC is helping to expand that spectrum.

• HHC has been said to deliver a bright, uplighting experience. This is great for people who may struggle with depression, decreased energy output, or who may be sensitive to things like caffeine. It helps to heighten energy, focus, alertness, and can help to clear the mind. HHC is great for people who want to utilize cannabis to help them get things done, or for people who love to wake and bake.

• Because HHC is much milder than other cannabinoids like delta 9 THC, there are a lot fewer negative side effects. THC is a wonderful cannabinoid that has many benefits of its own, but because of its potency, it can be a little bit too strong for some people. This can lead to users having experiences of heightened anxiety, increased heart rate, feelings of paranoia, shortness of breath, and panic.

It’s important to remember that cannabis (including each of its cannabinoids) affects everybody differently. Just because one person has a certain experience with a cannabinoid doesn’t mean that you’ll have that same experience. Every person’s physiology is completely unique to them, so when using any type of cannabinoid it’s important to be aware of your tolerance, personal limit, and overall health. And if you’re someone who is prone to anxiety, it’s important to be aware of using cannabis in any environment that may trigger those feelings as well.

HHC FAQ

Still got some questions about HHC? Don’t worry, we’ve got answers!

Q: Is HHC legal?

A: Thanks to a loophole created in the Fam Bill of 2018, HHC is federally legal in all 50 states across America. (Disclaimer: This is as of February 2022. Make sure you are always keeping up with your local cannabis laws as they are subject to change due to various legal resistances and legislative grey areas.) 

Q: Will HHC show up on a drug test?

A: The answer to this is still inconclusive. Since HHC is so new, there hasn’t been enough scientific research conducted to answer this conclusively. As far as anecdotal answers, they have varied completely, as some people have claimed to pass a drug test while using HHC and others have claimed the exact opposite. So, to be safe, we cannot say with confidence that you will pass a drug test after using HHC. Just be responsible and use your best judgement. 

 

Q: How is HHC made?

A: HHC is a hemp-derived cannabinoid that can be described as a semi-synthetic. The process of extracting HHC is done by hydrogenation, which creates a chemical reaction that converts THC into HHC. Since there is human intervention that is involved in how HHC is extracted, some people do not consider it natural, even though it is technically naturally-occuring.

 

Q: Does HHC get you high?

A: Even though THC is the primary cannabinoid responsible for giving its users a psychoactive experience, or a ‘high,’ it’s not the only cannabinoid that can affect the way you feel. While HHC is not as potent as THC, it still delivers some mild psychoactive effects that have been described by users as light, uplifting, and energetic. It’s important to remember that every single cannabinoid will affect every single individual differently, so your experience may be different to others experiences. If you have a high tolerance for cannabinoids like THC, HHC may not feel like it’s getting you high. But if you have little to no tolerance or are not a regular cannabis user, the HHC experience will definitely feel more like it’s getting you high.

 

Q: Where can I get HHC?

A: HHC is slowly being introduced into the cannabis market next to newly-discovered cannabinoids like delta 8, so it’s availability is still a little bit limited. But thankfully, Delta Munchies is at the forefront of cannabinoid cultivation and already have a beautiful line of HHC vapes that are a wonderful way to get yourself acquainted with the HHC cannabinoid.