What Are the Effects of HHC?
As the hemp industry continues to grow and evolve, we’re seeing more and more mildly intoxicating products emerge that have effects similar to THC.
HHC, aka hexahydrocannabinol, is a naturally occurring compound found in cannabis. However, it exists only in negligible quantities naturally, so manufacturers synthesize the compound by first extracting CBD from hemp, then chemically altering the structure and formula of the CBD compound to produce HHC.
The HHC compound is very similar in both shape and structure to THC, and thus, its effects are also very similar. The biggest difference is that HHC is less potent—typically about three-quarters the potency of delta-9 THC.
In this post, we discuss the effects of HHC and what you can expect to feel in terms of intoxication, euphoria, relaxation, and other therapeutic benefits.
Studies Are Observing the Effects of HHC
Recently, a study surveyed 109 HHC users to hear their thoughts about the compound’s effects, including both therapeutic benefits and adverse side effects.
According to the survey, many HHC users started trying it in an attempt to help with anxiety and pain. Survey results showed that HHC yielded “more good than bad effects” and that it was beneficial in helping users relax and “achieve a sense of euphoria.”
Further details on the study were limited, but the survey results coincided with reports that HHC provides a sense of calm, peace, and relaxation, with mild intoxicating and euphoric effects.
This likely explains why so many people are using HHC to help deal with stress and anxiety, as well as to improve sleep.
What About Side Effects?
Roughly 17% of the study participants said they experienced negative side effects when using HHC. Side effects included increased anxiety, increased heart rate, fatigue, dizziness, and increased appetite.
Additionally, about 20% of study participants said they experienced withdrawal symptoms when they stopped using HHC products.
What About Euphoric Effects?
In addition to potential therapeutic benefits, HHC does have the potential to produce mildly intoxicating, even euphoric, effects.
The effects are not as potent as THC, though they are similar in terms of what you’ll feel and experience. These include feelings of peace, calm, and relaxation, as well as a warped sense of time and space.
If you’re a new or inexperienced cannabis user, we highly recommend starting with a very low dose of HHC. You certainly don’t want to overdo it and then panic at the onset of effects when you realize you’re “too high.”
Once you’re familiar with how your body (and mind) respond to the effects, you can adjust your dosage accordingly.
Factors to Consider When Choosing HHC Products (Avoid Buying Duds!)
Given that HHC is such a new product to the hemp industry, the market is ripe with not only ‘duds’ (HHC products that don’t do anything) but also untested and unregulated ingredients that may be unsafe for consumption.
As such, it is crucial if you’re considering trying HHC to only do so from known, trusted brands that have a longstanding reputation in the hemp industry.
At Premium Jane, for example, our award-winning range of hemp-extracted products has been sourced, harvested, and extracted right here in the USA for nearly 10 years.
(Shop the Premium Jane HHC Collection here.)
The most important thing you can do when shopping around for HHC products is to make sure the product has traceable lab reports that can be linked back to the specific item you’ll be using.
Lab reports indicate accurate levels of HHC and other cannabinoids, and they also test for the presence of potentially toxic compounds like fertilizers, pesticides, and heavy metals.
You’ll also want to look for products labeled with a U.S. Hemp Authority stamp. This stamp indicates that the hemp source for the HHC product came from known, trusted, and regulated hemp in the USA.
If the HHC product you’re considering doesn’t have these two things – stay away. It’s not worth the risk of consuming potentially dangerous compounds and/or unknown levels of HHC and other cannabinoids.
Summary of the Effects of HHC
To summarize, the effects of HHC can generally be stated as follows:
- Provides a calming, relaxed sensation
- Often produces mildly euphoric effects
- Can help improve sleep
- May make you feel tired or lethargic
To maximize the beneficial effects of HHC, it’s important to listen to your body and adjust dosing as needed. Due to its more subdued nature compared to THC, HHC can do a wonderful job at easing stress and improving calm and relaxation.
However, dialing in the perfect dose – and the perfect HHC product – often takes several weeks of time and experimentation.
Everyone’s body is different, and everyone will ultimately have a different and unique experience with the effects of HHC.
