Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) is a naturally occurring cannabinoid found in very small amounts in the hemp plant.
It’s rarer than Delta 8 THC, which makes up less than 1% of hemp plants. Like D8, HHC is generated in large amounts from plentiful amounts of CBD extracted from hemp plants using safe and clean production processes, such as CO2 extraction and state-of-the-art laboratory equipment.
Without getting bogged down in the technicality of the process, HHC is produced by converting hemp-derived CBD into D9 using a process called isomerization. The resulting D9 is hydrogenated to break its carbon double bonds and produces HHC.
HHC effects finds itself somewhere around the similar mellow, euphoric experience of Delta 8 THC. You feel the familiar euphoria, stimulation, and relaxation produced by D8 and yet the effects are far less potent than the effects of D9. Unlike D8 and D9, which are both tetrahydrocannabinol, HHC is a hexahydrocannabinol. The two have different molecular structures, which contributes to the differences in effects.
The lack of carbon double bond in HHC is responsible for the compound’s advantages over D8 and D9. HHC typically has a longer shelf-life, prolonged potency and can withstand oxidation, heat, and UV exposure better than D8 and D9.
As previously mentioned, HHC interacts with your ECS differently than D8 and D9 would. Whereas D8 and D9 both bind to the CB1 receptors of your ECS, and D8 binds more loosely to CB2 receptors than D9, HHC binds to both CB1 and CB2. The effectiveness of the binding results in the effects of the cannabinoids on the consumer and the range of effects for all three cannabinoids.
HHC is a potent cannabinoid and chemical compound with an extremely high binding affinity for your endocannabinoid system’s CB1 and CB2 receptors (ECS). The ECS is an internal cell-signaling network that regulates homeostatic processes such as mood, appetite, digestion, and sleep.
CB1 receptors are found in your central nervous system (CNS), and CB2 receptors are found in your peripheral nervous system (PNS). HHC’s potency comes from the cannabinoid’s three enantiomers, which are different forms of the cannabinoid separated by the differences in their three chiral centers.
Each enantiomer of HHC has different effects on your body based on how their chiral centers interact with the receptors of your ECS.
Dosing HHC varies from person to person. However, when taking HHC, you should always follow the general rule of starting low and going slow. It’s the best way to gradually find the perfect dosage for yourself without running the risk of accidentally consuming more than you can handle!
Whether you’re dosing CBD, Delta 8 THC, Delta 9 THC, or HHC, start with a lower amount. When you feel comfortable with the amount of HHC you’re consuming and its effects, gradually build your tolerance until you determine your optimal dose.
Absolutely! HHC is 100% federally legal and 2018 Farm Bill compliant. However, the popularity of HHC has caused many companies to capitalize on its popularity. With this rush to profit comes the use of questionable production processes that produce low-quality products that might harm your health.
If you want to buy HHC online, you should only buy from reputable brands like Exhale Wellness, which offers a Certificate of Analysis (COA) on all of their HHC products to ensure the accuracy and safety of their products. Of course, if you need more information, we highly recommend seeking out your doctor’s advice if you want to learn more about how it can affect your body.
