What is HHC?

With marijuana legalization still going on, there are some parts of the plant that aren’t’ addictive and can be helpful. With a lot of studies alluding to the benefits of marijuana, some discussions revolving around THC along with CBD is quite common. Each version and variant of the cannabis sativa plant has over 100 different cannabinoids, with further investigation revealing not just cool effects, but other benefits that come with this too, including delta-8, and delta-10 THC, which have been utilized as the alternative to delta -9 cannabis, which is basically marijuana. One part of course that is still in the legal gray area is HHC, or hexahydrocannabinol, which is basically hemp-derived, so it’s not THC, but it does have some intoxicating results as well. 

The History 

HHC is basically hydrogenated derivatives from HTC, where you have hydrogen added to delta-9 through a process that’s called hydrogenation, which creates this. This is similar to how vegetable oil becomes margarine. While it was over 70 years since he did this, there’s practically no research for this, but the hydrogen atoms do oversaturate the molecule, increasing its shelf life, and with over 10 different versions of this, there is a lot that this has to offer. 

This is basically a double bonded sort of chemical, and it’s basically the opposite of what CBN has, since this one is basically a double bond that doesn’t break down. This one has binding affinity to both the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the body. This also is a type of chemical that has a lot longer potency, and a higher percentage, much more than what delta-9 may have, and it’s more resistant to breaking down over time. 

How it’s Made 

This is basically made from the THC that’s there, and a lot of them make it from hemp, which is something that also cause sit to sit in that weird legal gray area. The process of creating this begins with cannabidiol extraction methods directly from the hemp itself. With the CBD being isolated and distilled, this looks powdery in texture, and usually is separate from the CBD isolate that’s there and it depends on the manufacture that there. This is something is pretty proprietary in process, without focusing on the legal aspects of such. 

This also is made through lab methods, and it pretty much exposes THC in a concentrated form to hydrogen, and this is something that also has high pressure and metal acting as a catalyst, similar to nickel and palladium, and this is then removed as a catalyst, and it’s completed part of the task that’s there too. 

According to a study from 2007, this was found that you can convert CBD directly to HHC through the use of gastric juices. However, there is almost no other information on the method outlined to make this. It’s also possible to make HHC directly from citronellol as well, which is a terpene. How companies make this also does touch upon the legality that’s needed for this. 

So is it Legal? 

This is federally legal since it’s found in the hemp plant. You can make this pretty much on purpose, and you just need CBD or hemp. However, it does have some potency, even though it does have less than .3% THC, and it also contains a lot of other cannabinoids too. 

It is difficult to really figure out though if it’s the same potency as THC, since the ratios between active and inactive molecules do vary. While companies do try their best to increase the active compounds, they don’t have total control on potency.