IS HHC DANGEROUS?
Last year, a new cannabinoid took the hearts of cannabis lovers in Germany by storm. Hexahydrocannabinol, HHC for short, usually in the form of HHC flowers or HHC gummies - the most common and popular, however, are HHC vapes.
You can now find them in many places, mostly in gas stations and smoke shops, but especially on the Internet. But despite the growing popularity, many people justifiably ask the question:
Is HHC consumption dangerous? And how does HHC work?
We will get to the bottom of these and many other questions about HHC in the following article and try to answer them for you. First of all, we should perhaps take a look at what exactly HHC is and then take a closer look at the effects of HHC.
What is HHC?
Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) is one of 85 cannabinoids discovered to date and was discovered in 1940 by the American chemist Roger Adams - but received little attention until a few years ago.
The reason for this: Compared to other cannabinoids, HHC is only contained in very small proportions in the hemp plant. In order to obtain significant quantities, complex processes were previously necessary.
However, HHC can also be produced from THC using a simple process. Since the price of THC fell dramatically with the US boom in recent years, commercial production of HHC has suddenly become possible.
How does HHC work? and How does HHC work compared to THC?
It is repeatedly claimed that HHC works almost the same as THC, and that HHC is one of the few good alternatives to THC. This can definitely be confirmed pharmacologically, at least. Like THC, it binds to the body's own cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. In general, it can be said that HHC is very similar to its closest relative THC, not only structurally but also in terms of its effects.
Yes, in my personal experience, HHC's effect can hardly be distinguished from normal THC. As a cannabis lover for many years, I have to honestly say that if I were blind, I probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the effects of the two.
How does HHC affect the psyche?
In general, the first thing to mention is that people who suffer from mental illnesses or have a family history of schizoid illnesses should tend to be particularly careful - not only with HHC, but when consuming any psychoactive substances. Diseases of this type can often lie hidden for years. However..
HHC can help relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety by having a calming effect and boosting the body's serotonin supply. Indica strains like OG KUSH from Delta Munchies are particularly suitable for this.
There are also increasing reports of the improved tolerance of HHC over classic THC in people who suffer from "paranoia" and panic attacks with normal cannabis use.
For this reason, HHC continues to sell very well in the USA despite the widespread legality of classic THC.
However, it is important to note that further studies are needed to clearly assess the effectiveness and safety of cannabis and HHC.
How strong is HHC compared to THC?
The potency of HHC is difficult to quantify because intoxicating experiences are perceived rather subjectively.
It is generally believed that HHC has approximately 60%-80% of the potency of THC.
The ratio of 9R & 9S HHC seems to play a big role, as the 9R variant is able to dock much better with CB1.
How long does HHC keep you high?
The duration of action is similar to normal THC, around 3-8 hours. However, a lot depends on your tolerance and constitution. If you have a high tolerance, the duration of action is shortened like with normal cannabis. Of course, a lot also depends on how you consumed HHC. Orally, i.e. eaten, it takes much longer to be absorbed and metabolized and therefore the duration of action is extended.
Can you overdose from HHC?
To do this, you first have to ask yourself what exactly you want to call an overdose.
As with THC, there is NO risk of fatal overdose .
HHC does not have a respiratory depressant effect and a lethal dose is not known or not within a realistic range.
However, that doesn't mean that HHC is completely safe. As with cannabis, too high a dose of HHC can cause a negative intoxicating experience. Therefore, always be careful when handling HHC and do not underestimate it, especially if you are not used to cannabis. Like THC, HHC can easily overwhelm untrained users if the “correct” dosage is exceeded.
However, vape pens are very suitable for inexperienced consumers, as when vaping, the amount of HHC absorbed can be easily adjusted and tracked using individual puffs of the same length.
Unlike edibles (onset of action delayed after 1-2 hours), the effect of HHC vapes occurs almost immediately and can therefore be assessed more easily and directly.
HHC is semi-synthetic - Is HHC dangerous for people?
Essentially, HHC is a natural cannabinoid as it occurs naturally in the hemp plant as it is.
It is not to be confused with fully synthetic cannabinoids, which come entirely from the mind of a mad professor and are synthesized from start to finish in the laboratory. (One of them, JWH 018, made negative headlines a few years ago under the name Spice.) HHC is not one of those. However..
The cannabinoid occurs naturally in the hemp plant, but in quantities that are far too small to extract it economically.
Therefore, it is made from THC through a simple process called hydration. Therefore, the statement HHC is a semi-synthetic cannabinoid is certainly justified. But what dangers does this fact bring with it?
The most relevant danger in relation to HHC is not related to the effect of the substance itself, but rather it is the well-known problem of impurities in the manufacturing process.
This is probably the most important factor. The conversion of THC to HHC is in principle a very simple and harmless process. However, to speed up the process, some manufacturers use catalysts that, if not removed properly and carefully, end up in your vapes and then in your lungs.
Pesticides and toxins that are left behind when the plants used are grown improperly can also end up in your vapes.
That's why it's essential to only purchase your products from sellers who specifically ensure that they only sell HHC of the highest quality. You can be safest if you can view laboratory analyzes from independent laboratories at your dealer, such as here: LABORATORY ANALYZES
What's wrong with my pet? Is HHC dangerous for dogs?
We are often asked what effect HHC has on dogs. We suspect people either have dogs at home suffering from pain, stomach problems or inflammation or are concerned about passive inhalation of HHC smoke.
How often can one say that HHC should also have a similar effect to cannabis on dogs. However, dogs lack a prefrontal cortex, which essentially gives us humans the ability to perceive intoxicating experiences for what they are and therefore as pleasant. One can assume that the limited and altered perception could possibly cause animals fear, but it is difficult to say more precisely. To be on the safe side, you may want to avoid giving your pets HHC, even though the danger involved is probably very small.
What does 40% HHC, 50%HHC, 99%HHC mean? is 40% HHC a lot?
This value indicates whether it is pure HHC extracts or whether the HHC has been diluted with propylene glycol or vegetable glycol. Intuitively, as an inexperienced consumer you might think that it would be better to buy a less concentrated product at the beginning. However, these are usually products of significantly lower quality. These additives are usually mixed to make processing, production and consumption easier. However, at the expense of quality.
The highest quality HHC preparations are live extracts. They contain 99% HHC and are made directly from THC extracts of the corresponding variety and are not diluted. A good example is the HHC vapes from Delta Munchies . They only use live extracts - you can definitely taste it
What you should pay attention to when ordering HHC:
Price:
If you compare the prices from different providers, pay attention to the capacity (usually 0.5ml/1ml/2ml) and the purity of the extract used (50%-99%).
This way you get the best value for money.
Seller Reputation:
Customer reviews and feedback are a good way to assess a seller's reputation. But whether a seller provides laboratory analyzes also says a lot about the competence of your dealer.
Quality:
This is probably the most important factor. The conversion of THC to HHC is in principle a very simple and harmless process. However, in the end, catalysts must be removed professionally and carefully so that they do not end up in your vapes and then in your lungs.
That's why it's essential to only purchase your products from sellers who only sell HHC of the highest quality. You can be safest if you can view laboratory analyzes from independent laboratories at your dealer, such as here: LABORATORY ANALYZES
Variety/flavor:
Which variety is best for you depends on many subjective feelings. Some prefer live extracts that contain the natural terpene profile of the plant and taste like the respective strains - for example the Delta Munchies series from the USA , others prefer fruit flavors like the vapes from Eighty8 . There is no better or worse. Different strains also work differently on different people. Although a general description of the strain can be derived, exactly how it affects you depends very much on factors such as tolerance and set & setting.
Conclusion:
What can be said in conclusion? Is HHC dangerous now ? Is consuming HHC safe?
Even though HHC itself seems to be a relatively new cannabinoid that has just appeared on the market, and there don't seem to be too many long-term reports and studies on it, people still have it, albeit in small amounts (or even in larger ones :D). of classic cannabis consumption, HHC has been consumed for thousands of years.
The danger posed by the consumption of this substance itself should be relatively low .
In my opinion, a much more realistic danger is contamination during production and residues from the extraction process.
But since these products can be sold in legal markets and this is the 21st century, this should only be a matter for the retailer. You have now found a dealer who sells products that have been adequately tested by a laboratory for these same contaminations. :D
All of our HHC vapes are 100% free of any contamination, proven by independent laboratories.
Most orders received before 3 p.m. will be in your mailbox the next day. Forget the crap from the gas station!!!
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