Hexahydrocannabinol, or "HHC," is a cannabinoid, a type of substance that binds with cannabinoid receptors in your body, including in your brain. These receptors are part of your body's endocannabinoid system that controls many of your daily functions, from how you feel to what you think to how you eat and sleep.
Scientists have found more than 100 cannabinoids. The most commonly known types are Delta-9 THC and cannabidiol (CBD).
HHC vs. THC
THC is the ingredient in marijuana that makes you feel high. CBD is the ingredient in many CBD products that claim to help with everything from pain and soreness to anxiety, depression, and sleep problems. HHC, which is sometimes called HXC, is chemically like Delta-9 THC, but it's a semisynthetic CBD. It's made in a lab from CBD taken from low-THC cannabis or what you might know as hemp. A special chemical process called hydrogenation gives CBD additional hydrogen atoms, which turns it into HHC.
HHC vs. Delta-8
Like HHC, Delta-8 THC is a cannabinoid that's begun to show up more and more often on vape store shelves and online. It, too, is made by taking some other cannabinoid and changing it slightly in a chemical lab. It's unclear whether HHC is more potent than Delta-8. Neither has it been well-studied.
Will HHC Make You High?
Some people refer to HHC as a "lite" form of cannabis that won't get you as high as THC. But not enough studies have been done to prove that's the case. Other reports describe the high you get from HHC is similar to that from THC. Again, there's not enough data to be sure whether this is true. One study found that although HHC has two isomers (molecules) that bind to the body's cannabinoid receptors, only one binds as well as THC.
How long does HHC high last?
There's no way to tell just how much HHC is in a product, if it will get you high, or how long that high could last. The lab process that's typically used to make HHC can also make it hard to get a consistent amount, even in the same batch.
Is HHC safe to use?
There's also not enough data to know if you could have side effects or even long-term negative effects from HHC. Much more research is needed, not just about how HHC affects you but also how the products are made. For instance, labs that make HHC often use heavy metals like platinum, but it's unclear if traces of those linger in the products and, if so, how they could impact you over time.
HHC drug test
If you take a drug test, HHC could show up on it—especially if your urine is tested. That's because traces of drugs stay longer in your urine than in your blood. The concentration is also higher.
Manmade cannabinoids can show up in your urine 72 hours after you take them. If you use cannabinoids often, they can take even longer to get out of your system.
Takeaways
Hexahydrocannabinol, also known as HHC or HXC, is a man-made version of THC and can get you high.
Source: WebMD
What is HHC