It’s no secret that cannabis offers a variety of cannabinoids including delta 9 THC, CBD, delta 8 THC, THCP, and THC-O. But, one of the newest ways to get a dose of cannabis has been in the form of a cannabinoid called HHC. Due to its versatility, there are a number of HHC products including edibles, extracts, gummies, vapes, flower and many others. In addition, HHC provides effects that are similar to THC, but unique in their own right, making it an excellent choice for those wanting a different cannabis experience. That said, when it comes to psychoactivity, how does HHC measure up to THC? Well, HHC and delta 9 THC both derive from cannabis and are considered psychoactive, and therefore will cause a high in the body — but there’s certainly more to know. Everything you need to know about this topic will be covered in this article!
What is HHC?
HHC is a chemical compound that comes from the cannabis plant. It is usually a highly concentrated extract of HHC that gets combined with other ingredients to make different HHC products — typically done through a rigorous process of extraction — which is similarly done to all cannabinoids. HHC products not only offer psychoactivity, but they also allow consumers to avoid the intense high normally associated with THC. This makes it easy for consumers (especially e newbies) to consume cannabis in a new way without being overtaken. HHC may be consumed in the form of an HHC edible, smoked using a HHC vape, HHC-infused pre roll or flower, HHC capsules and many others. In spite of the fact that these products are relatively new, they are among the most popular and most sought after.
In terms of dosing, HHC concentrations are denoted by percent (%)s or milligrams per dose (% or mg/dose). If your products don’t list the concentration, you can determine the percent by dividing the total number of milligrams of HHC in the product by ten. For example, if your HHC product has 100mg HHC, it’s 10% HHC. The same principle goes for mg/dose, where if 500mg is divided by 50 doses, you get 10mg/dose.
Generally, a HHC product containing 100mg-200mg of HHC (or 10-20mg per dose) is appropriate for novice users. Products with this kind of strength are typically associated with a low to moderate intensity that first-time consumers can easily manage. In comparison, more experienced cannabis consumers or regular consumers, 200mg-300mg (20mg-30mg per dose) of THC will likely produce an intensely psychoactive experience — but not with HHC.
Products such as HHC-infused pre rolls and HHC-infused flower are popular among consumers looking to enjoy the effects of cannabis without having to measure out their doses. Because they are packed with concentrated amounts of HHC, it’s important that consumers start slowly and wait until they’ve seen how a product affects them before smoking more. While effects are immediate, pre-rolls and flower with low to moderate concentrations of HHC are often preferred by consumers looking to enjoy the effects of the cannabinoid without having an overwhelming psychoactive experience.
No matter the potency, pre rolls and flower with low or moderate strength should be consumed in small amounts, such as a couple puffs one serving before smoking more (or a whole joint), allowing for better control of the effects.
Is HHC Legal?
Each year brings new legislation that either decriminalized or legalized cannabis for medical and recreational use with hopes that one day the federal government will remove cannabis from its list of controlled substances, effectively legalizing the plant nationwide. This guide serves as the most recent update to the legality of cannabis and cannabinoid products in 2022, with the latest info on what states may be next in full-on legalization for adult cannabis use. Currently, there are only 4 states in the USA where cannabis and marijuana cannabis products remain entirely illegal: Idaho, Wyoming, Kansas, South Carolina. In these states, residents can’t purchase cannabis products at any retail location. In addition, current laws in these states still heavily penalize those selling or possessing cannabis.
However, grassroots campaigns in all of these states are working tirelessly to collect enough signatures to urge state congresses to pass some form of decriminalization as well as legalized medical and recreational cannabis use. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed many of these campaigns. It is still to be seen what the outcome will be – but many of these campaign leaders remain hopeful as the public’s opinion shifts more and more in favor of cannabis reform. As of now, 37 states have legalized cannabis for medical use. These states and territories offer varying access to medical cannabis products, but all allow patients with certain qualifying conditions to purchase products from state-licensed dispensaries.
States set their own guidelines for maximum purchase amounts and what qualifies as a medical condition capable of being treated with medical marijuana. With the overall conditions varying state to state, some of the most common conditions that residents are given medical marijuana cards for include chronic pain, anxiety, depression, cancer, and HIV/AIDS.
Typically, medical marijuana legalization includes growing a certain number of plants, possessing up to a certain amount of cannabis in various forms, and/or purchasing products from dispensaries. The states where medical marijuana is legal are:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Utah, Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
To get a medical marijuana card in any of these states, residents will need to see a medical professional licensed to prescribe medical marijuana, fill out a form, and pay any applicable fees for registration and consultation. As of now, 19 states have legalized cannabis in general for recreational use. These states offer varying degrees of access to cannabis products, but all allow adults ages 21 and over to purchase cannabis products from state-licensed dispensaries.
As with medical cannabis, states have different regulations as to how much a person can purchase from a dispensary at a time, the maximum dosage of THC per product that can be purchased, and even regulations to how many plants can be grown on a person’s property. Legalized recreational cannabis consumption is legal in the following states:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Illinois
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Oregon
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
Residents or visitors to these states need only present valid ID proving their age to enter and purchase the state-mandated maximums at any licensed dispensary – no prescription needed. Decriminalization is usually the precursor to legalization for medical and recreational cannabis use. Decriminalization means that possession up to a certain amount is only punishable by a small fine and includes no jail or prison time. Decriminalization is in all of the states where cannabis is legal for recreational or medical use as well as:
- Delaware
- Georgia (some cities)
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania (some cities)
- Tennessee
- South Carolina
- Utah
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
The amounts considered punishable by a fine vary from state to state and can be anywhere from a few grams to several ounces of cannabis. Therefore, it is recommended that if you are going to possess cannabis in these states, research the laws to avoid any harsh criminal penalties.
How is HHC Different from Delta 9 THC?
HHC isn’t drastically different from THC when it comes to effect, but it is different. Both cannabinoids are psychoactive and will provide a high in the body that could alter thinking and mobility. However, the effects and duration of their effects will differ by the dosage and delivery methods including other important factors such as weight, medical history, desired effects, etc. In terms of their similarities, like delta-9 THC, HHC cannabinoids in flower and pre rolls will get absorbed in the bloodstream almost immediately. When this happens, the HHC cannabinoid will cross the blood brain barrier, providing effects that could last 1-2 hours. When smoking HHC cannabis flower in any form, the cannabinoid completely bypasses the digestion process, which would explain its rapid onset of effects.
However, if you decide to eat your HHC, infused edibles will need to go through a process of digestion before effects can be felt, similar to delta 9 THC edibles. When you eat a delta-9 gummy it will have to go through the liver and be metabolized. Once this occurs, effects will have a slower onset, kicking around 1 to 2 hours. But don’t let this hinder you from consuming HHC gummies. The duration of gummy highs will depend on your tolerance, but effects are known to last much longer than other delivery methods, including smoking HHC flower. As we mentioned before, in terms of effect, gummies and flower will provide psychoactivity, however HHC gummies are thought to provide a more powerful effect, which is more than likely due to its slower onset.
On the other hand, delta-9 THC is a psychoactive cannabinoid and will cause a high in the body, so there’s no question about gummies infused with delta-9 THC also providing psychoactivity. It’s not a matter of which one is stronger, it’s a matter of what effect you are looking for. In terms of HHC, if you would like a more long-lasting effect of psychoactivity, you might opt for a gummy. But if you want immediate effects, HHC infused prerolls and HHC infused flower is the way to go. When it comes to the legality of these two cannabinoids, unfortunately things are kind of floating around in the gray area – we do know that the consumption of delta 9 THC is still prohibited in many states however as for HHC, it’s a cannabinoid that is derived from cannabis and considered federally legal under the Farm Bill to be perfectly for consumption. We’re definitely on standby for what comes next in terms of these cannabinoids sale, consumption and manufacturing.
Public opinion on cannabis has shifted dramatically in recent years, with most Americans now in favor of legalization both medicinally and recreationally. This increasing support will likely lead to even more states legalizing chemical compounds found in cannabis in the years to come, which also includes HHC.
What Are the Medicinal Effects of HHC
Given the fact that HHC is still so new, it’s hard to make definitive statements about its medicinal effects. What we do know is that it will cause a high in the body which may offer some effect to consumers, however this claim is unfounded. Not just HHC, but scientists are still trying to understand the effects of psychoactive cannabinoids and how they work in the body, as well as any potential effects. Our best hope is, with time, more time will be discovered in the future on cannabinoids and the human body. Until then, if you are wondering about the medicinal effects of HHC, it’s best to perform your own research and also speak with your primary health care provider about your options. You might be wondering then whether or not you need a prescription for consuming HHC? Generally, you don’t need a prescription or even medical card to purchase cannabis products infused with non-psychoactive cannabinoids. However, given the current murky legality of cannabis, this will greatly depend on where you reside when it comes to HHC.
If you’re living in a state that has prohibited the consumption of HHC in any form or has a set age restriction for, obtaining a medical prescription or card will not be able to help your case. But, if you don’t, then you may be able to obtain one. Right now though, the only cannabinoids that seem to be widely used in the medical sector are CBD and delta 9 THC. The medical applications of HHC are still yet to be discovered.
What Happens if My Pet Eats My HHC Products?
This is a fear of many pet owners and cannabis lovers alike, and unfortunately happens often. Pets like to rummage through things and your HHC product stash is not excluded from this. If your pet is showing signs of distress or exhibiting intense side effects as a result of eating HHC accidentally, then taking them to their regular or emergency vet will be necessary. Veterinarians are trained to handle these types of situations and will be able to provide your pet with the necessary care. In some cases, a pet may need to be hospitalized for a few days if the ingestion of cannabis edibles is severe. However, with the right care and treatment, most pets that have accidentally eaten anything infused with HHC – be it gummies, flower, edibles etc. — will make a full recovery.
To avoid this, do your part and ensure you keep your HHC products in a safe place out of reach of animals and well as children.
Will HHC show up in a drug test?
This is a tricky question — we are still waiting on more information to conclude whether or not HHC will cause a positive drug test.
What we can tell you is that these kinds of drug tests are looking for THC metabolites. Therefore, if you consume HHC in any form, the chances of the cannabinoid causing a positive test might be pretty slim in your case. However, if you’re a HHC consume and have an upcoming drug test or if your employer tests regularly, you may want to do your own research to avoid any issues.
Where can HHC be found?
HHC can be found either online or offline — this of course depends on where you purchase it. This also depends on the legality of the cannabinoid in your place of residence. If HHC is legal where you live, you may find a number of products infused with HHC for purchase online and offline including gummies, edibles, oils, concentrates, vapes, flower, pre rolls and much more. However, if you reside somewhere where the legality of HHC is still lingering in an area of the unknown or prohibited, you don’t really have much of an option to purchase the cannabinoid both online and offline, as it would be risky to. Therefore, you may want to do your research so you can stay on the safe side of things.
Bottom Line
For most people, HHC has been a great addition to their daily routines. The cannabinoid is newer, yet it seems to be gaining more and more traction with medical patients and cannabis connoisseurs alike. If you are looking to try out HHC in any form, we suggest that you be sure to pay attention to your body when consuming and also check with your local cannabis laws about its use and consumption. This will not help you have a pleasant HHC experience, but it’ll also ensure you are within the bounds of state law when purchasing and using HHC products — oh, and not to mention, always check the specific regulations for the state you reside in or are traveling to.
At Concentrated Concepts, we offer some of the best HHC products — especially in gummy form. Our HHC products are a fun and easy way to get your dose of cannabis. We offer flower, gummies, pre rolls and more in a variety of potencies, sizes, shapes and flavors. Enjoy responsibly!