What do HHC and CBD have in common?
HHC does not exist in a separate world from CBD. The overlap between HHC and CBD carts is there if you know where to look, despite their many differences.
legality
Well, technically they have legality in common. Under the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp-derived CBD and HHC are federally legal to distribute and possess in the United States. Products only need to contain below the delta 9 THC threshold of 0.3%. If we leave it at that, its US legality matches perfectly. In practice, however, the legality is more complicated.
As with marijuana, US states have the final say on which hemp products can be legally sold within their borders. HHC, delta 8 THC, and other intoxicating derivatives of hemp have received much more pushback than CBD. Some states have banned HHC and other intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids, or restricted them from sale through state-regulated dispensaries.
It’s unclear how strictly these restrictions apply in all states, but many online hemp sellers are unwilling to ship products to less hemp-friendly areas. Play it safe and stay away from HHC (or CBD) if it’s not allowed where you live, in the US or elsewhere.
Natural origins
CBD and HHC are phytocannabinoids, meaning they occur naturally in the cannabis flower. However, while CBD is abundant in hemp, HHC is only found in small amounts. To produce enough for commercial use, it is converted from CBD in the laboratory, as we will explain later.
For reference, it is not a given that commercial cannabinoids are natural to hemp. You may have noticed the dramatic rise and fall of THC-O, a cannabinoid that is now considered a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States because the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) says it does not occur naturally in the hemp
Therapeutic potential
We focus on the existence of research here, not its quantity. That will come later.
HHC and CBD have shown therapeutic potential. However, researchers have a much firmer understanding of what CBD is capable of, while studies on the benefits of HHC are limited.
Potential benefits of CBD include (but are not limited to):
- Anti-inflammatory
- Seizure disorders
- Pain relief
- Neuroprotection
- Acne reduction
- We are of better quality
- Relief from nausea
CBD can even help manage certain mental health conditions, such as anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (along with medication and therapy).
To date, one of the most impressive applications of the benefits of CBD is the treatment of epilepsy. A CBD-derived drug, Epidiolex, is used to treat drug-resistant seizures in people with Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes.
Preclinical studies on the benefits of HHC also look promising. It may share pharmacological properties with THC, a substance that is also poorly researched. One study suggests that HHC may be viable as an antitumor treatment. However, more research is needed to draw a conclusion.
What is the difference between HHC and CBD?
Both are cannabinoids, but HHC is not a form of CBD. Their effects, natural abundance and composition are different.
effects
Let’s start with the elephant in the room: HHC will get you high, while CBD won’t. HHC has a remarkable affinity for CB1 cannabinoid receptors, falling short of delta 9 THC in its ability to bind effectively to these receptors. The binding with CB1 is what triggers a rapid influx of dopamine, which is what gets a user high.
Users with a high tolerance may not get more than a slight buzz from HHC products, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t psychoactive. They definitely are.
With CBD, well, not so much. In fact, not only is CBD non-intoxicating, it is a known CB1 antagonist. It does not bind to these receptors and also blocks psychotropic cannabinoids like delta 9 or HHC from attaching as effectively. Consuming CBD along with THC can even reduce the intensity of the emotion.
The side effects also differ between the two. There is some overlap, but psychotropic cannabinoids tend to be the riskier bet. HHC can cause anxiety, paranoia, or even hallucinations in certain users. Extreme psychological reactions are not a concern when using CBD, CBC, or other non-psychoactive cannabinoids.
Chemical composition
Composition, HHC and CBD look very different.
CBD and the delta variants of THC are isomers. Their recreational effects may have little in common, but on a chemical level, there is no hiding the relationship. All the same atomic blocks are present, resulting in a shared chemical formula (C21H30O2) and molecular mass (314.45 g/mol).
Then there is HHC. It is not an isomer of either CBD or THC, and comes with a unique formula: C21H32O2. Those extra hydrogen atoms make all the difference. The extra volume also means that the HHC molecule is heavier (316.485 g/mol).
extraction
There is no shortage of CBD in hemp. It is the most abundant active cannabinoid, which makes extraction relatively simple. Extractors have a whole catalog of techniques to choose from. They can use CO2, butane or propane, or even steam to get it out of the plant.
Despite the natural origins of HHC, it is only found in small amounts in hemp plants and cannot be directly extracted in large enough amounts for use. Producing it semi-synthetically is the only cost-effective way to manufacture products. First, hemp-derived CBD is distilled and isomerized. A double bond movement converts CBD to delta 8 THC, which can then be hydrogenated and converted to HHC.
Dry, cured hemp is tricky for the same reason. No amount of breeding will produce high HHC cannabis, so whenever you come across “HHC flower” what you’re really getting is hemp spiked with HHC distillate. It’s still rich in CBD, but with a special bonus of HHC.
Research volume
It may come as a surprise, but CBD and HHC were identified at the same time, in 1940 and 1944, respectively.
Both have been on the scientific radar for a long time. However, awareness does not equal research, and HHC research was virtually non-existent for decades. It wasn’t until the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill that interest in HHC skyrocketed, prompting researchers to take a closer look. But even now, studies of HHC are few and far between.
Metabolization
Cannabinoids do not pass through your system unchanged. As the body processes these substances, their original forms are converted by the liver into a series of metabolites.
While CBD is first converted to 7-OH-CBD and then 7-COOH-CBD, HHC is converted to 9R-HHC-COOH, followed by 11-OH-9R-HHC.
At least, those are the main metabolites, according to research published in April 2024. The 9S-HHC stereoisomer of HHC is actually converted to 9S-HHC-COOH and 11-OH-9S-HHC. Commercial HHC products include a mixture of 9R-HHC and 9S-HHC.
Urine tests are designed to detect THC-COOH (the secondary metabolite of THC), but that doesn’t mean that HHC will necessarily save you from a positive drug test. We’re just not sure.
On the other hand, CBD metabolites alone won’t make you fail. Just stay away from broad spectrum or full spectrum extracts that contain trace amounts of THC. To play it safe, avoid all cannabis before a drug test.
