Beginners Guide To HHC: What Is This New Cannabinoid?

There’s a lot to know about HHC, one of the biggest cannabinoids to hit the market in the past few years. With so many new products on the shelves and available online, it can be confusing keeping up with the differences between them all.

So is HHC the right cannabinoid product for you? Here’s a guide to get you started. Learn everything you need to know about HHC from us. This will include information on what HHC is, its potential effects, and how it is different from other popular cannabinoids that are available today.

So let’s get started by talking about what exactly HHC is and where it comes from.

Table of Contents:

• First Things First: What Is HHC?
• How Safe Is HHC?
• Is HHC Legal?
• What Does HHC Feel Like?
• HHC Vs. Delta-8
• Where Does HHC Come From?
• HHC Vs. THC: What’s The Difference?
• Does HHC Get You High?
• Does HHC Show Up On A Drug Test?
• Final Thoughts

First Things First: What Is HHC?

The first thing you should know about HHC is that it is a compound that is originally found inside of both hemp and cannabis plants. It is found alongside many other cannabinoid compounds that you may be familiar with like Delta 8 and Delta 9.

One unique quality that HHC has is that it is only found in small amounts inside of these plants. This means that to harvest enough to match the growing demand, it must be scientifically created by professionals inside of a lab setting.

HHC, although its own unique cannabinoid compound, contains THC, which is the main component of hemp and cannabis plants that is responsible for the potential effects produced. Because of this, you can assume that the potential effects are going to be similar to those of other THC products you may have more experience with.

HHC is an extremely popular precursor cannabinoid. What this means is that it is very commonly used as the base for other products like HHC-O and HHC-P. These products have a slightly different effect profile than standard HHC.

Later in this guide, we will discuss how HHC is manufactured. We still need to learn a lot about it. The research on HHC is still in the very early stages but after more time has passed, we will likely know much more.

How Safe Is HHC?

How safe HHC is must be something that you will have to decide for yourself for now. There is not enough verified data on the safety of HHC to say anything for sure. HHC has not been reported to cause serious adverse effects.

Generally, cannabinoid products are not thought to cause any serious adverse effects. Of course, it will be up to you to decide whether you believe these products are safe or not and wish to try them. Cannabinoid products are believed to not cause overdoses, though larger amounts can cause an overwhelming experience.

As long as you use HHC products in amounts that line up with your experience level, you will likely have no issues trying these products. You always need to make sure that your HHC products have been created using hemp grown in the US and that they come with verified third-party lab results.

These lab results can give you insight into the manufacturing process as well as the ingredients in your HHC products for some extra peace of mind. Things may be a little different if you have some type of medical condition or are taking some other medications that have been prescribed by your doctor.

If this is the case for you, you should talk to your doctor beforehand and they will be able to tell you whether or not HHC is a good idea for you to try. The most important thing to do when trying HHC is to start with smaller doses until you know how it affects you.

Is HHC Legal?

HHC legality is a little tricky to define concretely. Although HHC created using hemp and containing less than 0.3% THC is legal federally, under the 2018 Farm Bill, that does not necessarily mean it is legal in your state.

Since the boom in the cannabinoid market after the 2018 Farm Bill was written into law, several states have decided to write up their own laws for handling hemp products containing THC. These laws typically place some sort of extra regulations or restrictions on these products that overrule federal law.

In most states in the US, HHC is legal. Just to be sure, you should still check your state’s laws on THC and hemp products to ensure that they are legal before attempting to purchase them. Online retailers will typically not ship to states where it is known that HHC is illegal, so you won’t really have to worry about purchasing them online and receiving them if they are outlawed in your state.

The laws surrounding hemp-derived cannabinoid products are changing all the time. This means that the law could change in your favor at any time if they are not currently legal where you live. On the flip side, it also means that states, where HHC is legal, could change as well.

As long as you are keeping up with your state’s laws on THC and hemp products, you will have no issue determining whether HHC is legal in your area.

What Does HHC Feel Like?

HHC will affect everyone in slightly different ways but most report that it is very similar to Delta-9. This means that you can expect the standard effects of THC that you may have experienced from other products.

If you have never tried any products containing THC, you may do well to ask someone you know that has what you can expect from your experience. Most people say that HHC is extremely effective and satisfying.

While THC typically has recognized effects, individual experiences can vary. Trying HHC is the best way to determine how it personally affects you. Starting with smaller amounts can help acclimate you to the sensation of HHC without overwhelming yourself.

Higher doses of HHC will likely be much more effective and you will be able to experience what the cannabinoid has to offer much more intensely. This is only recommended if you have a lot of experience using THC products and are comfortable with smaller doses of HHC.

The effects of THC have been thoroughly documented and can be researched on your own if you wish to know more about what you can expect. If you have tried THC before, you can expect the effects to be very similar, albeit a good bit more effective if you have never tried HHC before.

HHC Vs. Delta-8

Delta-8 and HHC differ in many ways. Their only similarity is that both are derived from hemp and cannabis plants and contain THC. One of the most notable differences between them is their effectiveness.

Delta-8 is a much milder form of THC, meaning that it is  potentially less effective when compared to standard Delta-9. HHC on the other hand, is only potentially slightly less effective than Delta-9. This means that if you are looking for the potentially most effective choice between the two, HHC is the one you should be interested in.

Delta-8 is more suited for those looking for a mild THC experience, like someone who isn’t used to the effects yet or hasn’t ever tried any THC products. HHC will still not be quite as effective as standard Delta-9 but will definitely provide a more significant experience than Delta-8.

Another difference is the legal status. Delta-8 enjoyed a widespread legality for many years but more recently states have begun to crack down specifically on the compound. Delta-8 has since become outlawed in several states specifically, making it much harder to acquire legally around the United States.

HHC, on the other hand, has not been specifically outlawed due to any state laws as of yet. There may still be laws that outlaw all hemp-derived THC products in some states, but none that target HHC specifically. This means that HHC is likely much more accessible in your area than Delta-8 is.

Price is another thing to consider. HHC is generally a bit more expensive than Delta-8 due to the complex manufacturing process and the quality and potential effectiveness of the compound. It is usually not much more expensive but you will probably notice the price difference when comparing it side-by-side.

As far as the actual potential effects go, HHC and Delta-8 will be quite similar. Only in the level of effectiveness will they ultimately differ.

Related Article: HHC VS Delta 8 – Key Difference Between 2 Cannabinoids

Where Does HHC Come From?

HHC can originally be found inside the hemp and cannabis plants. There is too little inside the plants to harvest effectively, so the HHC in products that you purchase in-store or online must be created another way.

This process is called hydrogenation. It was first used in 1947 and is still the preferred way to create HHC for use in mass-marketed THC products. Simply put, hydrogenation involves altering the chemical makeup of another cannabinoid compound like Delta-9 or CBD.

The addition of a hydrogen atom to either Delta-9 or CBD changes the overall effectiveness and chemical makeup in such a way that a new compound is formed. This is how HHC is created. Delta-9 and CBD are the two most common cannabinoids to use because they are found in higher amounts inside both the hemp and cannabis plants

You could consider HHC a semi-synthetic cannabinoid since it is partially made in a lab for most products. Only professional cannabinoid scientists can make high-quality HHC. This is because the process of hydrogenation can be quite dangerous and requires the use of pressurized equipment. This process also accounts for the increase in the price of HHC over other cannabinoids like Delta-8.

HHC Vs. THC: What’s The Difference?

HHC and THC are not really comparable because they are basically the same. HHC contains THC, as do many of the cannabinoids you can extract from hemp and cannabis plants. THC is a cannabinoid on its own but is found inside popular cannabinoids like Delta-8, Delta-9, and HHC.

This means that there is no real difference between HHC and THC. HHC is just a form of THC, one that has been harvested or created in a lab setting. HHC will produce all of the same effects as THC due to the amounts of it contained inside.

This can be confusing but to break it down, HHC contains THC, meaning that it will produce all of the same effects as THC. THC is what is responsible for creating the familiar effects of all cannabinoid products.

Related Article: What is HHC and How Does it Compare to THC?

Does HHC Get You High?

HHC will provide you with effects that are similar to any products containing THC that you may have experienced. Using HHC will provide you with a significant experience. As previously mentioned, HHC affects everyone in slightly different ways.

If you have a high tolerance for THC, you might find that HHC is not as effective at small doses or even at larger ones if you are experienced using standard Delta 9 THC. This means that you may be better off using Delta-9 or a stronger cannabinoid if you are looking for maximum effectiveness.

There are some people out there who swear that legal cannabinoid product cannot be as effective as standard Delta-9. HHC users will tell you that this assumption is simply untrue. HHC is actually one of the more effective legal cannabinoid products on the market today.

Many people who do not believe that HHC can be effective wind up trying too much and wind up overwhelming themselves. This is a tough lesson to learn and one that can be avoided by being aware of how effective it can be, at low and high doses.

It is a good rule of thumb to start your HHC experience slowly, with low to moderate doses. This provides an opportunity for you to become familiar with the potential effects and understand how it may affect your sensations. Once you are totally comfortable with lower doses of HHC, you can increase the dosage to a point where you are getting the experience that you are looking for.  

Does HHC Show Up On A Drug Test?

THC can be detected in any product containing THC. That being said, there is still not enough information on legal cannabinoid products to say for sure how they work when pitted against a standard drug test.

It is best to assume that the THC contained in HHC can eventually build up in your system enough that it is detectable by a standard five-panel drug test. This is unfortunate, but this assumption can help keep you out of trouble when presented with an upcoming drug test.

Luckily, legal cannabinoid products like HHC can only contain 0.3% THC. This means that it will likely take a lot longer to compile in your system than standard cannabis THC. Any THC that you use will ultimately be broken down in THC-COOH once metabolized.

Drug tests look for THC-COOH when testing for THC. THC-COOH stores itself in the fat cells of the body, making it incredibly difficult to clear once enough has built up. Those with better metabolisms or lower levels of fat on the body will find it clears faster, but still not at a rapid pace.

Depending on how frequently you use HHC products, it could take anywhere between a week to a month for it to clear completely. There is no real way to speed up this process, though exercising and abstaining from using HHC products can encourage the cleansing process.

The best thing you can do if you know you have a drug test coming up is to stop using HHC for at least two weeks before your test. This will give you a pretty good chance of clearing enough of the THC from your body naturally to pass your test.

It is likely going to be a while before drug tests can tell the difference between legal and illicit cannabinoid products. Until then, you should play it safe and use HHC cautiously if you know that you are subject to drug tests.

There is however some hopeful research indicating that HHC may not metabolize the same way as standard THC. This research hopes to prove that HHC is not as likely to trigger a positive result on a drug test as other popular cannabinoids. As of yet, nothing has been confirmed in this research.

Final Thoughts

That’s all there is to it, you now know everything you need to know about HHC. Hopefully, this guide has helped you decide if HHC is the right product for you. If this guide has piqued your interest in HHC, you should check out our website for the highest-quality HHC products currently on the market. You won’t know how HHC is until you try it, so don’t wait!

Related Articles:

• HHC vs Delta 9 THC – What’s the Difference?
• Is HHC Stronger Than Delta-8?
• HHC vs. Delta-8 THC: What Are the Differences?
• HHC vs. Delta-9 and Delta-8 THC: What Are the Differences?
• CBD vs. HHC: What is the Difference?