Is HHC stronger than Delta-8?

Is HHC Stronger Than Delta-8?

Is HHC (Hexahydrocannabinol) stronger than Delta-8 (Δ8-THC)? The answer is simple: no. But where it gets complicated is that for some people, it can feel stronger. In short, some people describe the feeling of HHC as being “more stimulating” which is very similar to the “high” of Cannabis Sativa. While Delta-8 (Δ8-THC) is known to have a “high” more like Cannabis Indica where the body feels heavy and very relaxed.

Both HHC and Δ8-THC compounds are known to cause an interruption in the brain's CB1/CB2 receptors. This is within the brain's endocannabinoid system. What’s interesting to note about this is that it’s still relatively unknown as to how the brain chooses to have these receptors cause reactions to the central nervous system (CNS) and cause a relaxed feeling.

Key takeaways

  • Some people describe the feeling of HHC as being “more stimulating” which is very similar to the “high” of Cannabis Sativa. While Delta-8 (Δ8-THC) is known to have a “high” more like Cannabis Indica where the body feels heavy and very relaxed.
  • Both HHC and Delta-8 (Δ8-THC) are known to cause the CB1/CB2 receptors in the endocannabinoid system in our brain to be temporarily interrupted. Causing an impact to our central nervous system and making us feel “relaxed.”

Is HHC stronger than Delta-8?

The reality is that both compounds only contain 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol in them. And both compounds are very similar to one another. The main difference with HHC is that it’s a hydrogenated derivative of the Δ8-THC oil.

The way you consume Delta-8 or HHC and its “intensity”

The way that you consume the compounds can also have varying effects. And thus, make them feel “stronger” than one another. For example, if HHC is consumed through vaping or dabbing, your body can use about 30-40% of it. With oils or tinctures, it's around 20-30%, and with edibles, it's about 10-20%. This process is called your “bioavailability.” Meaning, if you’re choosing to dab or vape one of the products, it may actually feel “stronger” than the other if you’re comparing them against each other.

HHC and Delta-8 dosage facts

Both HHC and Delta-8 (Δ8-THC) have roughly the same dosage guidelines. You may choose to ingest more or less depending on the frequency of your use and your overall weight or height.

To determine the appropriate dosage amount based on your body weight and based on average dosage amount, here is what you should know:

  • Low-Strength Dosage: Multiply your body weight in pounds by 0.05 to find your dosage in milligrams.
  • Medium-Strength Dosage: Multiply your body weight in pounds by 0.1 to find your dosage in milligrams.
  • High-Strength Dosage: Multiply your body weight in pounds by 0.2 to find your dosage in milligrams.

To calculate your body weight and milligram of consumption, refer to this chart below:

Body Weight

Low Strength

Medium Strength

Strong Strength

100lbs

4mg

8mg

16mg

120lbs

5mg

10mg

20mg

140lbs

6mg

12mg

24mg

160lbs

7mg

14mg

28mg

180lbs

8mg

16mg

32mg

200lbs

10mg

20mg

40mg

220lbs

11mg

22mg

44mg

240lbs

12mg

24mg

48mg

Effects of both HHC and Delta-8

Here are both the positive and negative effects of HHC and Delta-8:

Negative Effects

Delta-8

HHC
  • Anxiety
  • Dizziness
  • Dry mouth
  • Increased appetite
  • Insomnia
  • Paranoia
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Red eyes

Yes

Yes

Here are some of the positive effects of both compounds:

Positive Effects

Delta-8

HHC
  • Euphoria
  • Relaxation
  • Pain relief
  • Increased mood
  • Slower response times

Yes

Yes

Common questions

Questions about HHC and Delta-8:

Is HHC more like a “sativa” high or an “indica” high?

Most people describe the feeling of an HHC “high” as being very stimulating, more similar to what someone would experience when they consume Cannabis Sativa. While on the other hand, Delta-8 (Δ8-THC) is more similar to an “indica” high where the person is going to feel a larger amount of body relaxation.

Why does HHC feel more “potent” than Delta-8?

According to Peter Grinspoon, MD, the endocannabinoid system in our brain is relatively undiscovered. While there is a lot of evidence that the CB1/CB2 receptors have an impact on our overall central nervous system (and thus give us that very “relaxed” feeling when they’re inhibited), there is still much we don’t know about this part of our brains. As a result, it’s somewhat unclear why a hydrogenated version of the Delta-8 (Δ8-THC) has a “stronger” effect on some people, while on others, it does not.

Related HHC resources:


Sources

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