Cannabis Chemistry - What is HHC?Another synthetic cannabinoid is creating waves in non-legal states, but what is it and what are the risks?
Another trendy way to capitalize on the hazy regulations regarding hemp cannabinoids, Hexahydrocannabinol, or HHC, has taken over the conversation. While HHC may be a fun way to access cannabinoids in dry markets, consumers need to know if it is safe and how to source it safely.
Where Did HHC First Appear? Who Made it?
Surprisingly, HHC was first reported in 1940s Chicago. Professor Roger Adam's laboratory found that HHC is a potential byproduct of the conversion of THC to CBN. CBN results from THCa, the acidic form of THC, aging into CBNa. Thirty years later, Raphael Mechoulam got involved. His contribution to the conversation was finding that there were two forms of HHC, an alpha and a beta version. The beta was found to be more potent, which he hypothesized was due to its 3D shape.
The acidic cannabinoids are the precursor of their complete form. As HHC appears during THCa denigration, it does occur as part of the natural life cycle of cannabis. However, like many phytocannabinoids, it exists in trace amounts in unmanipulated cannabis plants.
In the commercial market, producers employ chemists to synthesize the compound through hydrogenation, a process used to break crude oil into diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel in the petrol industry. To create HHC, hydrogenation machines add hydrogen atoms to THC isomers, the most famous being delta-9-THC. Here is the greatest danger of HHC, as large-scale production poses a risk of explosion. Safe practices ensure that such an event does not occur, such as grounding machinery, so that sparks do not escape into the material.
Why the Explosive Popularity of the Compound?
The most prominent reason is marketing. These lab-produced cannabinoids made from CBD promise a "legal high" in states where regulated cannabis isn't available. In a non-scientific, social media poll, the most common answer to why people consume these products is simply b