HHC vs. Delta 8: Which One Is Right For Me?

The days of CBD being the most exciting cannabinoid on the market are far behind us. Popular articles about small CBD companies or stay-at-home moms making CBD cookies are now a thing of the past. Thanks to the Farm Bill, a seemingly small piece of federal legislation with significant consequences, we’re in the age of new hemp. It’s a period where new and novel cannabinoids are hitting the market almost every day, it seems.

Heck, all of us can even look past cannabis these days. Now, vape shops and online retailers are abuzz with products like Delta-8 THC, Delta-10 THC, and more. These all-natural, hemp-derived cannabinoids are changing the way people think about hemp — and about euphoria. We’ve spent the last 50 years fighting for the legality of cannabis, but, almost overnight the farm bill legalized hemp and a slew of new cannabinoids that can do almost the same thing. The question we might all soon have to ask ourselves is sitting out there — is cannabis too old-fashioned?

And now comes along HHC, otherwise known as hexahydrocannabinol. It’s another hemp-derived cannabinoid built off of a foundation of CBD that offers users a mild psychotropic high. While the euphoric buzz from HHC is nowhere near as potent as that from Delta-9 or even Delta-8, the compound is quickly finding its place within the pantheon of hemp-derived compounds. 

It’s coming to a party near you, in other words.

So, what exactly is HHC, and why would you want to use it in the first place? “HHC stands for hydroxyhexahydrocannabinol. There are several isomers of this hydrogenated form of THC,” writes DailyCBD.com. “HHC is to THC, what margarine is to butter. By saturating the molecule with hydrogen atoms, the shelf-life of this cannabinoid is extended substantially without affecting the effect profile too much. HHC is naturally occurring, but only in trace concentrations. For companies to sell this cannabinoid, they’re going to need to make it in a lab.”

Structurally, HHC is THC without any double bonds. In plain English, what that means for you is that HHC still offers users a pretty valuable psychotropic high, but one that’s much milder than anything found in cannabis or Delta-8 THC products. Like Delta-8 THC, HHC is found naturally in the hemp plant, but there’s not a lot of it, making it difficult to sell to the mass market. However, researchers have found a way to synthesize from CBD, meaning it still remains all-natural and can now be produced in much larger quantities.

“[One person] described HHC manufacturing as a proprietary process that takes place inside a chemical reactor. ‘Think about the reactor as a black box… In goes CBD, out comes HHC,’” wrote Leafly recently. 

“[That person] describes the HHC as a ‘gold dark oil that we refine from that stage’ before distilling it,” Leafly continued. 

But how does HHC compare to Delta-8 THC? Well, let’s find out. Here's everything you need to know about HHC vs Delta 8.

Feeling the Buzz: The Psychotropic Properties of HHC and Delta-8

We all love the buzz of these new hemp-derived cannabinoids, and there’s nothing wrong with that. What’s the psychotropic high like from HHC, and how does it compare to that of Delta-8 THC? That’s because both of these compounds are quite similar and yet very, very different. As DailyCBD.com notes, “Basically, HHC is THC without any double bonds in its chemical structure. It’s the exact opposite molecule as CBN (cannabinol), which forms as THC breaks down and gains additional double-bonds. With HHC, all the double bonds have been broken and replaced with hydrogen (AKA hydrogenation).”

So what does this mean for you?

The double bond, and whether it’s there or not, is essential here. Because of the varying existence of the double bond between Delta-8 and HHC, each cannabinoid interacts differently with our receptors.

With Delta-8 THC, you’ll feel a smooth and subtle high that’s relaxing and uplifting. The high will have you feeling a bit hungry and maybe even a little sleepy. But with HHC, while the buzz will be similar, it will feel much less potent. But that doesn’t make it lesser, just different. 

Of course, combining the two makes for a real buzz-worthy experience.

HHC vs. Delta-8: Benefits, Legality, Side Effects, and More

So, it may surprise you to learn that there’s more than just the buzz when it comes to HHC (and even Delta-8 THC), but you probably already knew that. However, it should be noted that both Delta-8 and HHC are relatively new cannabinoids, which means that research on both is in its early stages. Each compound is safe — no one has ever been harmed by hemp — but we’re still learning about them.

“There have never been any safety studies for HHC to date — so any information currently available regarding the safety of this compound is speculative,” writes DailyCBD.com.

“With that said, the popularity of HHC is on the rise, and there have already been a lot of people using it on a daily basis. There has not yet been any reports of severe side effects. Preliminary research suggests it shares a comparable safety profile to THC,” the site continued.

Side effects only happen when taken in excess. Soonly take HHC and Delta-8 THC in moderation. In other words, use it slowly. Still, if you take too much, you should be fine, but it’s always best to see a doctor if you’re concerned about something. In some cases, users have noted dry mouth, drowsiness, and slight anxiety. But the most considerable side effect we’ve heard about, to date, is the buzz.

And then there’s the legality. Everyone wants to know if it is legal to buy, sell, and use. After all, nobody wants to get in trouble for some hemp, right. That’s something we can all agree on. But what the deal? Are Delta-8 and HHC legal? 

The answer is, it’s a grey area in terms of the law. As DailyCBD.com notes: “If deemed natural, as long as the final product remains below the legal threshold of 0.3% delta 9 THC and the starting material is derived from hemp, it’s legal on a federal level.”

However, the site continued, “If deemed synthetic, HHC is illegal on a federal level with the same repercussions as delta 9 THC.”

Comparing HHC and Delta 8 THC

Delta 8 and HHC are very similar, save for their difference in strengths. And when it comes to drug tests, Delta-8 THC will show up on any standard test. However, HHC may not pop positive, according to anecdotal evidence. That’s because today’s drug tests look for metabolites of THC. Since Delta-8 is so similar to cannabis, it will most likely make you pop positive. Your best bet is to abstain for a couple of weeks before the test and keep a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, and lots of water. However, don’t take any chances. Do you want to lose your job over some stories you heard on the internet?

Want to see how Delta 8 compares to HHC? Take a look here:

HHC vs. Delta 8: Which Is Right For Me?

And that’s HHC compared to Delta-8 THC. Which one you prefer, only you can decide. But we can tell you that here at Diamond CBD, you will only find the best. So whether you prefer the mild buzz of HHC or a more potent buzz that comes with Delta-8 THC, we have you covered. In the meantime, be safe and enjoy your buzz.