HHC vs. CBD - similarities and differences
HHC and CBD: close or distant relatives?
The year was 1944, and American chemist Roger Adams added a hydrogen molecule (H2) to THC, replacing the double bonds in the compound's structure. He thus applied the hydrogenation process to THC, now widely used, for example, in the food industry to convert liquid vegetable oil into margarine. This change makes the resulting molecule much more stable, meaning that it has a longer shelf life than THC before it loses its potency. HHC is essentially THC without double bonds in its chemical structure. It is exactly the opposite molecule to CBN (cannabinol), which is formed by the breakdown of THC and gains additional double bonds in its structure.
Today, tetrahydrocannabinol is no longer used for the production of HHC. The use of THC, however different the resulting compound, is not permitted by legislation. No cannabis element containing more than the permitted amount of THC can enter into production. This is fixed at 0.3% for most countries and 1% for the Czech Republic from January 2022.
Over time, several research groups have been able to synthesize HHC using two organic compounds, citronellal, an aldehyde found, for example, in a particular species of lemon grass, and olivetol, found in a particular genus of lichen. But it was only in 2020 that a group of Spanish scientists discovered that HHC also occurs naturally in the cannabis plant. Unfortunately, it is only present in very small quantities and extracting it would be costly. That is why they are turning to the laboratory method, making it a semi-synthetic cannabinoid. HHC is currently synthesised in several ways - one of which is a method that uses CBD and artificial gastric juices.
It is clear from the above that hexahydrocannabinol is very similar in chemical composition to THC and therefore has similar effects. However, it is said to be half as potent on the human body. Cannabidiol is more complicated. Each component has its own field of action and they are complementary in their effects rather than sharing many similarities.
|
CBD |
HHC |
|
|
Chemical sample |
C H O21322 |
C H O21302 |
|
Legal |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Natural |
Yes |
It is semi-synthetic |
|
Unwanted effects |
Nausea and diarrhoea Dry mouth Only at high doses |
Paranoia Dizziness Reddened eyes |
|
Effects |
Sleep support Relieve anxieties Pain relief |
Appetite support Mood improvement Weaker feeling of euphoria |
HHC or the great unknown
HHC has a lot of potential, unfortunately there is a lot of confusion and controversial information around it. There is also uncertainty about the legality, or rather the expected length of time that the authorities will tolerate hexahydrocannabinol balancing "on the edge". Research is ongoing, but so far has not yielded any generalisable conclusions, and so the popularity of HHC relies solely on user reviews. Another curious fact is that the production of HHC produces two different molecules - active and passive. The former, 9R HHC, can bind to the body's CB1 endocannabinoid receptor and produce delta-8 THC-like effects when ingested in large quantities. The second molecule, 9S HHC, is only slightly different in molecular structure but lacks a similar ability and is therefore referred to as passive. The resulting product always contains both molecules. Manufacturers try to vary the ratio of active to passive molecules to maximise the effects on the human body, but the highest possible ratio is 2:1, and the proportion of 9S HHC is still quite high.
HHC flowers are in
CBD is the most popular cannabis ingredient and the range of products containing it is very rich (oils, capsules, gummies, flowers, liquids, patches, lubricating gels, topicals, gummies and more), but HHC is also on the rise and manufacturers are responding flexibly. Gummies, drops, concentrates, vaping pens and flowers are all available.
HHC flowers are de facto flowers of CBD-rich varieties that are sprayed or soaked in HHC distillate. The flowers remain high in cannabidiol, and the HHC content averages around 15 %. However, there are also flowers with many times more potency, with hexahydrocannabinol content reaching 40 %.
Potential benefits and risks
No research has yet demonstrated the benefits of HHC for the human body or the side effects. Most of the information comes from users themselves. Their experiences vary, however, and so the range of effects of this cannabis ingredient is quite wide.
Benefits:
- Pain relief
- Strong feeling of relaxation
- Relief of nausea
Side effects:
- Dry mouth
- Insomnia
- Accelerated heart rate
- Anxiety states, paranoia
- Dizziness
The positive and negative effects are constantly increasing. When consuming, it is important to remember that HHC affects each person differently and the body's reactions should be monitored.
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