You may have heard of a seemingly new cannabinoid online that claims to be legal in all 50 states. This cannabinoid is called HHC, and is a synthetic derivative of delta-9 THC. LIttle you may know, HHC has been around for decades, and have only resurfaced within the past two years. In this article, we want to discuss our understanding of HHC and other synthetic cannabinoids, in order to better inform you about these types of products on the market, and whether or not they are right for you.
What is HHC (Hydroxyhexahydrocannabinol)?
HHC is becoming increasingly popular, and as you may have 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.
How to Consume HHC
Like other cannabinoids, HHC is produced in concentrate form. This concentrate is then used as the base ingredient most commonly for edibles and vapes.
Is HHC Safe to Consume?
What about the health risks? Are there any concerns with long term health? If you have thought of these questions, it is only natural to have them. Due to the lack of research outside of the companies that discovered HHC and other synthetic cannabinoids, we simply do not know.
What we do know, however, is that HHC and many other cannabinoids, organic and synthetic, were created in a laboratory owned by pharmaceutical companies. Once discovered, these pharmaceutical companies would then document their research of these cannabinoid compounds. Although compounds such as HHC would prove to induce a “high,” it would lack medical significance at the time. That being said, these discoveries were also documented as being safe to consume through animal testing. As a result, HHC and other synthetic cannabinoids would leak their way into public recreational consumption due to their known effects.
Does Mints Carry HHC?
As of now, we do not sell HHC products. That does not mean we never will! We are continuing to research HHC on our own to make sure we are always providing the best quality products. If you would like to see HHC products by Mints, please feel free to contact us and we will always take your input into consideration.
Is HHC Legal?
In the United States, THC and CBD may be federally regulated, but that does not include HHC. Even at the state level, we understand that most legislation regulates all forms of THC, which does not include HHC. So far, within federal and state laws, HHC has not hit any significant roadblocks in regulation. That being said, it is safe to say that as the popularity for HHC increases, we can also expect legislation to gain traction for including HHC in the law.
Debunking the Headlines of HHC and Synthetic Cannabinoids
If the testing was considered safe to consume, and they were created by pharmaceutical companies, why does there seem to be backlash towards these types of products? In 2016, there had been 70 people in Connecticut to have reported overdosing on synthetic cannabinoids. This was later dismissed as the cause because in every case, the synthetic cannabinoid product was also found to be mixed with fentanyl. In the same year, 300 people in the Washington DC area had also reported similar cases, only to find out that their products were also contaminated. What is interesting to note in both of these cases, is that they occurred in separate locations and both dealt with contaminated products. If synthetic cannabinoids were in fact dangerous to human health, there would be several cases all over, not in concentrated areas, and show consistent data where contamination is not present.
As with anything, we advise you as consumers to know your source. At the end of the day, we believe that a quality product is backed by trusted test results to ensure the best experience possible. We hope you enjoyed this article and gained a greater understanding of HHC and its effects. If you have any other questions, please contact us. Otherwise, feel free to check out the rest of our blog to continue learning about hemp and cannabis!
