I have tried HHC and HHC-O. Do they really get you high?
As the market for hemp-derived cannabinoids continues to thrive, hexahydrocannabinol — commonly known as HHC — has become one of the hottest compounds out there.
HHC is less potent than other hemp-derived cannabinoids, yet still offers a variety of beneficial effects. And for consumers looking for a stronger experience, HHC’s lesser-known cousin, HHC-O — aka HHC acetate — has also started making waves.
Do HHC and HHC-O live up to the hype? We tried a few products from Delta Extrax, one of the top-rated HHC manufacturers in the country, to find out.
What are HHC and HHC-O?
Manufacturers typically derive HHC from hemp, which Congress legalized with the 2018 US Farm Bill.
However, the legality of HHC remains unclear. Until HHC falls under a federally regulated regime, consumers will need to weigh the risks and benefits of owning and consuming these compounds for themselves.
To make HHC, you must first extract CBD from raw hemp. From there things get a little more complicated.
Colorado Chromatography Chief Operating Officer Kyle Ray described the production of HHC as a proprietary process that takes place in a chemical reactor. “Think of the reactor as a black box,” Ray told Leafly. “In goes CBD, out comes HHC.”
On the other hand, to make HHC-O, manufacturers add the chemical compound acetic anhydride to the HHC. The acetic anhydride helps the molecule bind more thoroughly to the body’s cannabinoid receptors for a more potent effect.
Manufacturers claim that HHC-O is between 1.5 and up to three times more potent than HHC.
HHC delivers a smooth and calming high
My own HHC journey started with the Delta Extrax gummies – each containing 10mg of HHC.
One afternoon, on a fairly empty stomach, I put half a piece of blue raspberry gum in my mouth and started chewing. I could feel my eyebrows rise in surprise: these were delicious.
A warning to fans of Haribo gummy bears, Swedish fish, Sour Patch Kids, and all other tougher, dense gummies: the sours deliver plenty of satisfying, rich chews. I could chew on uninfused sachets of this all day.
The high set in about forty-five minutes later—not much different than a traditional edible.
It came on gently; there was no jerky, “oh shit, I’m high now” moment.
The HHC gummies behaved similarly to, say, a 1000mg full-spectrum CBD edible: I became extremely calm and maybe a bit sluggish and absent-minded. My muscles relaxed and it felt really good to flop into a chair.
I’m also happy to report that I didn’t experience any anxiety, mental frenzy, or slipping into existential wormholes—a recurring theme of my edibles history, which has been writ large.
Bonus points: No dry mouth!
Some consumers and companies estimate that HHC provides about three quarters the potency of traditional THC (Delta-9). Others say it is comparable to delta-8 THC. I personally found these HHC gums to be even less psychoactive.
Cooking dinner while rolling it out on the HHC rubber was easy and smooth. It also didn’t cause any significant binge eating.
The gummies took a much shorter time to act on me than a regular THC gummie of the same strength—around two to three hours.
A few days later I ate a full jelly bean. Honestly, I didn’t notice any increased psychoactive effects, but it definitely blew me away for a night of blessed deep sleep.
Is HHC-O actually stronger than HHC?
Next, I tried the company’s HHC-O “Mango Madness” gummies. Each gummy contains 15 mg of HHC and HHC-O, but the packaging does not state how much of each compound is in the gummy.
Unfortunately, these didn’t taste nearly as good as the sours. I found them way too sweet and weirdly chalky in texture.
But if you’re looking for a psychoactive experience, HHC-O definitely packs more punch than regular HHC. The gummy induces a mild and lively cerebral high that lasts for around an hour. I would put the HHC-O at half the strength of a traditional edible or comparable to Delta-8-THC.
But unlike Delta-8, the HHC-O definitely provided more muscle relaxation and calming effects.
If you’re in the market for a cool and mild hemp-derived cannabinoid, HHC might be a good choice for you. Its cousin, HHC-O, certainly offers more psychoactive effects. But at the end of the day, the acetate cannabinoid doesn’t offer much that you can’t get from other hemp-derived cannabinoids like Delta-8.
Max Savage Levenson
Max Savage Levenson probably has the lowest cannabis tolerance of any author on the cannabis beat. He also writes about music for Pitchfork, Bandcamp and other bespectacled people. He is the co-host of the Hash podcast. His dream interview is Tyler the Creator.
Check out Max Savage Levenson’s articles
The latest in varieties and products
show everything
By submitting this form, you are subscribing to Leafly news and promotional emails and agreeing to Leafly’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe from Leafly email communications at any time.
Post a comment: