Currently, THC is the most popular cannabinoid next to CBD, and people are still realizing that there are different THC derivatives out there. If you are a fan of Mints, or have been following the hemp and marijuana industry, you may be familiar with delta-8 THC. Now that delta 8 has taken the main stage for hemp products, we are seeing more cannabinoids come to light. Of the lesser known cannabinoids, we have selected one that we believe can step up to the competition of delta 8 and CBD. That cannabinoid is HHC.
What is HHC?
HHC (Hydroxyhexahydrocannabinol) is becoming increasingly popular, and if you haven’t already heard, is legal throughout the United States. Because of its current legal gray status, many brands have literally poured tons into producing HHC products for recreational use.
When THC was first discovered, more research at the time had led to the creation of the simplest compound that could still bind to receptors in the endocannabinoid system and produce a noticeable reaction. This was when HHC was derived, and has been reported by many consumers to produce a very mild high. Overall, HHC is a more simplified, yet closely related version of delta 9 and delta 8 THC.
How is HHC Produced?
Now, with the cannabis industry having a better understanding of cannabinoids, are able to synthesize cannabinoids from other cannabinoids. For instance, since delta 8 is a minor cannabinoid naturally found in trace amounts, other cannabinoids that are abundantly available like CBD are chemically converted to delta 8 for commercial scale. Like delta 8, HHC follows a similar approach to being produced. By adding hydrogen to THC molecules and altering its physical properties, HHC is created. This process is called hydrogenation, and has allowed for HHC to be created en masse since the 1940s by chemist Roger Adams
Hexahydrocannabinol, or “HHC,” is a cannabinoid, which are naturally occurring compounds in cannabis plants. Scientists have found more than 100 cannabinoids, each with slightly different effects from the next.
The most commonly known cannabinoids are Delta-9 THC and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is the active ingredient in marijuana that makes you feel high. Cannabidiol is the ingredient in many CBD products that claim to help with everything from pain and soreness to anxiety, depression, and sleep problems. That all being said, the FDA has not approved any THC drug for use in a medical setting.
There is one CBD product, Epidiolex, that the FDA approved for use with medical supervision to treat seizures in limited cases. There are also three FDA-approved synthetic cannabis-related products to treat nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Beyond that, there is not enough evidence to know if these products are safe to use over the long term or whether their claims are true.
Cannabinoids like Delta-8 THC and HHC have appeared more recently in the marketplace. They are made by starting with THC or some other cannabinoid and changing it slightly in a chemical laboratory. There is very limited information about their safety and usefulness, but there are some reports of bad and good effects.
Will HHC Make You High?
Like THC, HHC gives many people an enjoyable feeling when they take it. But just exactly what that feeling is may be harder to pinpoint. At least for now.
Some people report similar effects to conventional THC products, but there is not enough data to be sure whether this is true, nor is there enough data to know if there may be bad side effects or even long-term negative effects from taking HHC.
What Are the Dangers of Cannabinoids Like HHC?
Research is still emerging about the possible dangers of HHC. But scientists are already aware of possible issues that could take place when you use cannabinoid substances in a setting that is not medically supervised. Intoxicating cannabinoids like delta 8 and delta 9 THC could lead to problems like:
- Lowering your baby’s birth weight if you use them during pregnancy
- Raising your risk of a car accident
- Habitual use can make it hard to stop (cannabis use disorder) especially in teens
- Negative effects on relationships and productivity at home, work, or school
- Higher risk of injury in older adults
- Dizziness on standing up, raising risk of passing out and falling
- Raising mental illness risk in some people
Even in the FDA-approved drug Epidiolex, some people have side effects like:
- Diarrhea
- Sleepiness
- Signs of abnormal liver function
- Problematic drug interactions
Of course, these problems are easier to manage with a medically prescribed and carefully regulated drug like Epidiolex. That’s not the case with most cannabis and cannabinoid products, the vast majority of which are not regulated by the FDA. That gives manufacturers wide leeway in what they can claim about their products.
You might not even know exactly what the product contains. For example, in 2017, scientists made a close study of more than 80 CBD products sold online. They found that more than 40% contained more of the active ingredient than listed and about a quarter of the products contained less than what was listed.
Where Do You Get HHC?
Lots of online outlets and vape shops sell HHC in different forms similar to other cannabinoids. At Mints Market, we have the highest quality products for all hemp derived cannabinoids by testing every batch of our goods to ensure consistency and purity.
How Do People Use HHC Products?
Though some use it for various medical purposes, there is not yet any research to support these uses. Whether it be through an edible, vape, or tincture, Mints Market has you covered.
Is HHC Legal?
It’s not entirely clear. The 2018 Farm Bill (The Agriculture Improvement Act) appears to allow use of parts of the cannabis plant that contain 0.3% or less of THC. The legal term for these parts of the plant is hemp.
Products like Delta-8 THC and HHC can be made from hemp, which allow them to be federally legal. That being said, delta 8 has faced more recent regulations at the state level. When consuming delta-8 THC, it is important to be familiar with your state laws. With HHC, that is not the case. Currently, HHC is federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill and continues to be legal without state intervention.
Where to Find HHC
If you have followed Mints from the beginning, you would know that it has taken us some time to bring you our HHC product line. Now, you do not have to look any further for HHC than Mints Market. The experts at Mints have spent countless hours to make sure HHC is not only a cannabinoid we want to believe in, but also a product that is crafted from the best. The team at Mints is proud of stocking HHC on our shelves, and we did not cut corners on quality. We have introduced our HHC pods exclusively in our Live Derived strains to ensure that you are getting the best experience possible when using HHC. What are you waiting for? Check out our HHC products and see for yourself what the buzz about!
