You’ve heard of CBD, THC, and Delta-8, and now it’s time to meet another exciting cannabinoid: HHC, or tetrahydrocannabinol. Hemp-based HHC cannabinoid products have started popping up in recent times, with vaping products, edibles, and tincture oils all selling well. HHC is psychoactive and produces effects comparable to those from delta-8 and THC.
But what exactly is HHC, where has it come from, and how is it legal? I’ll give you the lowdown on all things HHC in this guide. But let’s begin our journey by looking at the five best HHC cannabinoid products available now!
1. 3Chi – HHC Disposable Vapes
The true pioneer of the hemp industry, 3Chi has a habit of being the first brand to take the plunge on a new cannabinoid. And when they do it, they do it well, as demonstrated by these delightful and award-winning HHC disposable vape cartridges.
This 1ml cart contains 95% (950mg) HHC and 5% natural terpenes. 3Chi does not use any propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, MCT oil, or vitamin E acetate in its HHC carts. It’s all about the extract, and the final product is seriously impressive.
Made with a CCELL battery that operates via draw-activated firing, this disposable product could not be easier to use. Third-party lab-tested with less than 0.3% THC.
Flavors: Blue Dream (CDT), Pineapple Express
2. Exhale Wellness – HHC Tincture
These guys have branched out from delta-8 to HHC in fantastic fashion. The HHC Tincture Oil from Exhale Wellness is all-organic and non-GMO, with no added preservatives, artificial flavorings, or colorings. Each 30ml (1fl oz) bottle contains 600mg of HHC.
Composed of HHC extract and hemp seed oil, these drops deliver a blissful high along with therapeutic benefits from the hemp. Helpfully, the glass dropper bottle enables accurate and consistent dosing. This Farm Bill-compliant product has passed third-party tests.
3. Binoid CBD – Premium HHC Vape Cartridges
Enjoy a euphoric and anxiety-free high with these premium HHC vape cartridges from Binoid CBD. Packing in a whopping 94% HHC, these carts are up there with the strongest you’ll find. The natural terpene profiles play an enhancing role and also provide natural flavoring.
Made in the USA from natural hemp, Binoid’s HHC carts promise both a mental and physical buzz. You can choose between six sativa, indica, and hybrid vape juices and fine-tune your effects even further within each subset. Third-party approved with less than 0.3% THC.
Flavors: Hawaiian Sunrise (Sativa – Morning), Sunset Sherbert (Indica – Warmth), Cali Gold (Hybrid – Vibes), Lucid Blue (Sativa – Lucid), Super Silver Haze (Sativa – Heightened), Gorilla Glue (Hybrid – Composed)
4. Bearly Legal Hemp Co – HHC Gummies
Bearly Legal boldly claims that its HHC gummies are the best on the market today – and I would have to agree! Vegan-friendly and gluten-free, each one of these yummy HHC treats contains 20 to 25mg of HHC extract.
Hemp-derived and manufactured in the USA, Bearly Legal’s HHC gummies conform with the Farm Bill and contain less than 0.3% THC. Dive in with Blue Raspberry and Cotton Candy gummies, or get tropical with the Mango Pineapple Guava flavor!
Sizes: 10-count (200mg), 25-count (500mg)
5. CBD Farmhouse – HHC Vape Carts
Last up, we have some HHC vape carts from CBD Farmhouse. A well-known brand specializing in all forms of hemp, CBD Farmhouse has successfully delved into the HHC world.
Each one of their HHC carts contains 95% hemp-derived and 5% botanical terpenes. You can expect thick, flavorful vapor and a potent and paranoia-free high from this. Third-party tested and solvent-free, CBD Farmhouse’s HHC carts are compliant with all Farm Bill regulations.
Flavors: Blackberry Kush, Blue Dream, Orange Dreamsicle, Pineapple Express, Sour Diesel
6. CBD Genesis – HHC Disposables by Genesis
Get higher than ever before with insanely potent HHC Disposables by Genesis, made with 2000mg of federally compliant, hemp-derived HHC distillate and natural terpenes. These disposable vape pens are powerful enough to give you psychedelic-like effects.
Disposable pens make vaping as convenient and hassle-free as it can be. No need to worry about charging your vape battery – disposables come fully juiced and ready to go. And once they are empty? Just throw them away!
Third-party lab-tested with less than 0.3% THC, these HHC Disposables are available in five flavors.
Strains: Ekto Cooler (Hybrid), Maui Wowie (Sativa), Pink Kush (Hybrid), Purple Urkle (Indica), Slurricane (Indica)
What is the HHC Cannabinoid?
Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) is a naturally occurring phyto-cannabinoid and hydrogenated derivative of THC, the main compound in cannabis that gets you high. Researchers first synthesized HHC in the 1940s, but our knowledge of the cannabinoid has barely improved in the following decades.
Despite the relatively recent discovery, it’s probable that HHC has always been present in cannabis, albeit in low concentrations. However, with hemp and hemp-based products legal, companies are taking a closer look at the possibilities of the plant’s more obscure cannabinoids.
Studies show that HHC binds with the CB1 receptor in the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which explains its psychoactive effects. However, research also indicates that HHC does not bind as strongly to the receptor as THC, hence why it’s considered less intoxicating.
Interestingly, there appear to be two main types of HHC: 9R HHC and 9S HHC. The former binds with cannabinoid receptors in a classical fashion, while the latter has a much lower binding affinity. Therefore, only so much HHC extract actually becomes active.
Since there are two forms of HHC, the cannabinoid’s strength – in comparison to THC and delta-8 – is unclear. While all three cannabinoids produce broadly similar effects, HHC is slightly less potent than delta-8, which is, in turn, weaker than THC.
Types of HHC products
So far, only a handful of brands have dipped their toes into the world of HHC – and among those that have, only a few have developed extensive lines. However, the HHC market looks like it will be fairly typical, with vaping products, tinctures, edibles, and more.
Vape carts and disposables: These were the first HHC products to hit the scene and are ideal if you’re seeking a speedy and intense high. Rechargeable and disposable HHC carts come pre-filled with 90%+ HHC extract and natural terpenes in most cases.
Tincture oils: HHC oil products compromise somewhat on the speed of delivery, with the effects hitting a little slower than vape carts. But tincture products are healthier, whether you’re taking them sublingually or in foods and beverages. The versatility of HHC oils is another plus.
Gummies: For a long-lasting HHC experience, gummies and other edible products are your best bet. While these products hit slowly and less intensely at first, the high gradually builds and is sustained over many hours, which is perfect if you want to take HHC discreetly.
Flower and pre-rolls: HHC flower (or HHC buds) is rare but likely to grow in popularity. As hemp doesn’t typically contain much HHC, these flower products are made by coating CBD-rich hemp flower with HHC extract. The same applies to pre-rolls. This is the same technique used to make delta-8 flower products.
Is the HHC cannabinoid legal?
Yes, hemp-derived HHC is legal, thanks to the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act (Farm Bill). However, marijuana-derived HHC continues to be illegal at the federal level and restricted by the Controlled Substances Act as a Schedule 1 drug.
As a naturally occurring hemp cannabinoid, HHC is totally legal. Hemp-derived HHC products must contain less than 0.3% THC but can have unlimited amounts of HHC. Therefore, manufacturers can make legal HHC highs with full confidence!
The arrival of HHC couldn’t have come at a better time, given the uncertain future of delta-8, another popular hemp-based legal high. Delta-8 critics have called for a ban on the substance, with sweeping legislation that would ban all-natural tetrahydrocannabinol.
Crucially, HHC is not a tetrahydrocannabinol. If the worst does happen to Delta-8 in the future, the exciting HHC industry will likely survive and flourish.
In addition, a recent statement from a DEA official confirming that THC is the only controlled substance in hemp has given extra credibility to the likes of HHC.
What to Look For When Buying HHC Cannabinoid Products
With products as new as HHC, you need to be wary of scams and shady companies cutting corners. Finding high-quality HHC products is a challenge, and you should stick with trustworthy and well-known brands – like those featured in my top five list!
But that’s not all you need to look for. As with all hemp products, other factors can affect your experience. Not all HHC products are suitable for everyone. Let’s look at how to stay safe with HHC and how to find the best HHC product for you.
Third-party lab tests
There’s a golden rule in the hemp market: only ever buy products that have passed third-party lab tests. That rule applies more than ever with products made from HHC, which naturally occurs but at very low levels, which increases the risk of things going wrong.
Firstly, independent laboratories can check that HHC products have the stated amounts of HHC and that the total THC content does not exceed 0.3%. But more importantly, a good lab test also determines purity and safety.
Comprehensive lab testing will reveal if an HHC product contains any heavy metals, residual solvents, pesticides, microbials, or mycotoxins.
It’s impossible to have confidence in products from brands that refuse to cooperate with third-party testing. When your health could be at risk, there’s no reason to give these companies the benefit of the doubt, regardless of the excuses they cook up.
Cannabinoid Breakdown
So far, most HHC products contain high quantities of the cannabinoid in question and little else. Indeed, vape carts nearly always have more than 90% HHC – a staggering potency! But that could change as HHC product lines continue their inevitable rise.
We could see other cannabinoids incorporated into HHC products, such as non-intoxicating CBD. An HHC tincture, for instance, with CBD, would be less psychoactive and more therapeutic than a product with HHC alone.
Terpenes
HHC vape carts and flower products always contain terpenes, and tinctures sometimes do as well. If you have ever wondered why some forms of cannabis make you sleepy while others produce stimulation, it’s all down to the terpenes.
Indica terpenes give HHC products a relaxing twist, whereas sativa terpenes work up a more energizing high. Hybrid products have a combo of stimulating and soothing terpenes, generating a balanced mind and body high.
Terpenes are wonderful and vastly improve your HHC experience – but only if you have the right ones. Do your research and make sure the terpenes in your HHC product are aligned with your needs!
How to Store Your HHC Cannabinoid Products
All HHC products should be kept in dark, dry, and cool conditions to maintain potency over time. We don’t know much yet about how HHC degrades, but it’s reasonable to assume the substance is vulnerable to light degradation and oxidation, like other cannabinoids.
Storing HHC flowers in an airtight jar (i.e., a mason jar) protects against oxidation. Always make use of resealable bags when provided with HHC products. Store HHC gummies in the refrigerator, as they may melt in warm temperatures.
As HHC products are psychoactive, they must be stored out of reach of children.
How Long Do HHC Cannabinoids Last?
The high from HHC is no different than with delta-8 or THC products. HHC vape juices last for two to three hours, while tincture oils (taken via sublingual absorption) keep you high for about an hour longer.
HHC edibles may last up to eight hours, especially if eaten on an empty stomach. It’s unclear whether the body builds tolerance to HHC, but since it works via the same CB1 receptor mechanism as delta-8 and THC, it likely does.
Purchasing HHC Cannabinoid Products Online vs. Shops Near Me
At this stage, HHC products are mostly an online phenomenon, with a few hemp companies adding products to their range. I strongly recommend always buying HHC products online, even if convenience shops and other brick-and-mortar stores start taking an interest.
Safety comes first, and having access to third-party certificates of analysis is non-negotiable. Unlike non-specialist physical stores, which have a notoriously blasé attitude to product quality, the top online hemp retailers take this very seriously.
Moreover, you’ll always find more HHC cannabinoid products online than in person. Since HHC isn’t mainstream, even the companies that stock it will likely only have one or two available products.
