Does HHC get you high? Yes, consumers of the product have mentioned that it does feel as though HHC gets you “high.” Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) is a product that’s derived from hemp oil. Inside HHC is less than 0.3% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). But due to the way that the Hexahydrocannabinol affects the CB1/CB2 receptors in the brain, many of its users feel a euphoric “high” from the product.
Key takeaways
- Hexahydrocannabinol does have “euphoric” and “relaxing” effects on consumers of the chemical compound. Making users of the chemical feel a state of “altered consciousness” or a “high.”
- The percentage of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that is in HHC is less than 0.3%.
- Because the percentage of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that’s in HHC products is less than 0.3%, they are legal to sell according to the 2018 Farm Bill.
Does HHC get you high?
The short answer is yes, HHC (or Hexahydrocannabinol) can get you high.
Before answering the question with extreme clarity. And understanding “why” it gets you high. We have to examine how Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) is made. To be clear, HHC is “a hydrogenated derivative of CBD oil. HHC is created by first converting CBD oil and its limited tetrahydrocannabinol (or “THC”) properties into Δ9-THC or Δ8-THC intermediates and then into its final hydrogenated version of the oil (HHC).” To learn more about what HHC is, read our full guide right here.
The hydrogenated version of the Δ8-THC (Delta-8) derivative is known to have stronger effects on the end consumer than regular Δ8-THC (Delta-8). The addition of the hydrogen molecule on its molecular atoms can have a stronger effect on the CB1/CB2 receptors in the brain.
A study released in 2009 compared the effects of Delta-9 and CBD. Suggesting, “These differences in the behavioral effects of Δ9-THC and CBD are paralleled by differences in their mechanism of action at the molecular level. Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol binds to neuronal CB1 receptors,which are found on GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons throughout the brain and are thought to be receptors for endogenous anandamide.”
Since the end Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, Δ8-Tetrahydrocannabinol, and Hexahydrocannabinol aren’t too distinctly different from one another—we can presume very similar effects.
The effects of HHC
The effects of HHC are as follows:
- Euphoria
- State of relaxation
- Altered perception
Negative side effects would include:
- Anxiety
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth (or Xerostomia)
- Increased appetite
- Insomnia
- Confusion
- Paranoia
- Rapid heart rate
- Red eyes
Comparing an HHC “high” to a THC “high”
Hexahydrocannabinol does not have as strong of psychoactive altering effects on the body. Hexahydrocannabinol affects the cannabinoid receptors in our brain (CB1/CB2). Primarily, attaching to our endocannabinoid system in the brain. The net result may not be a strong “body high” that you would get when consuming Cannabis Indica, as an example. Although, you would receive a more “relaxed” state of consciousness.
Here is a simple way to understand the differences between HHC and traditional THC products:
|
Effects |
THC |
HHC |
|
Euphoria |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Relaxation |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Altered perception |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Psychoactivity |
Yes |
No |