HHC is one of the most recently established chemical compounds of the hemp plant. It can either be derived from cannabis sativa, hemp, or marijuana. However, like any other product, HHC from the hemp plant is safer than one from marijuana. Herein is everything you need to know about HHC, including what it is, how long it stays in your system, and what an HHC’ high’ feels like.
HHC is among the latest developments in the cannabis industry. This compound is infused in various products, including gummies, tinctures, capsules, and topicals. You might wish to try either of the products and wonder whether it will get you high. Your suspicions might be right since it is a chemical compound derived from THC. Therefore, it is important to understand its potential health benefits or risks before using HHC. This article highlights more about this compound and its effects.
What is HHC?
Before determining whether HHC can make you high or not, it is important to understand what it is. HHC is the abbreviation of Hexahydrocannabinol. It is a hemp-based cannabinoid similar to Delta 9 THC. Jacob et al. (2019) noted that HHC is derived from THC through hydrogenation, which turns vegetable oil into margarine. HHC from the hemp plant only occurs naturally in significant amounts. Although some vendors suggest that it is an organic compound, obtaining a usable amount requires a lot of chemicals to process. The processing of HHC requires saturation of THC using hydrogen under high pressure using various catalysts such as palladium or nickel. Notably, HHC and THC share various similarities regarding their effects and effectiveness.
Will HHC Make You Fail a Drug Test?
HHC metabolizes into various compounds such as THC-COOH, just like THC. THC-COOH is a primary marker for detecting THC in urine, blood, or saliva samples. Although detecting this compound using a hair drug test is possible, it might not be as reliable as other options. Although some suggest that detecting HHC in a drug test is difficult, the claim is yet to be verified. However, there is limited research on the effect or effectiveness of HHC, unlike THC and CBD.
However, it is good to know that HHC can get you high, just like THC. However, the high impact will differ from one person to another. Also, according to Bridgeman Barna & Abazia (2017), the high effect might last about two to three hours depending on various factors, including the kind of product you have taken. Other factors include how often you have been using HHC products, how the body process it, and potency levels.
How Does HHC High Feel Like?
HHC is not far different from THC, especially Delta-8, in terms of the effects. HHC has three cannabinoids with a five-carbon side chain that is efficient for the body’s cannabinoid receptors. Many HHC users have noted a change in cognition and headspace, gradual mood increase, and improved productivity. However, neither of the claims has been verified-meaning either of them can fail to occur.
How Long Will HHC Stay in Your System?
It is difficult to determine how long HHC stays in the body system since no human clinical trial is trying to show the same. However, there are speculations since these compounds share chemical structures with delta 9 and delta 8 THC. HHC can stay in the bloodstream for about 2 to 30 days. However, there are a few determiners, including age, individual metabolism, the dosage used, and how long you have been using HHC. Here is an insight into some of the important factors on how long will HHC stay in the body system;
Experience
According to Cary (2006), prolonged use of HHC makes it stay in your body longer, like any other drug. The more you use HHC, the more it gets absorbed in the fatty acids and is stored. Releasing HHC from the bloodstream is much easier than from the fatty acids. Prolonged use of HHC gives the body a chance to accumulate the fat cells, becoming difficult to remove them.
Using HHC sparingly, either once or twice a week, will make it much easier for the body to remove it from the systems. Since it clears from the body very fast, you can pass a drug test. People using HHC daily will have to stop using it for at least three weeks to lower the chances of it being detected in a blood or urine test.
The Doses
Like other drugs, how much HHC you take directly impacts the duration it stays in the body systems. Although the liver can only process too much HHC, it cant do it rapidly. Notably, doubling the normal dosage of HHC increases the duration it takes to clear in the system by two to three hours.
The Type of HHC Product
HHC is infused in various products, including tinctures, gummies, capsules, vapes, and topicals. Using HHC edibles slows down the time it takes to clear the body since they must be digested first. However, smoking or vaping HHC takes the least time to clear in the body.
Using HHC products such as cartridges is the most recommended way since the onset time is shorter and the duration for clearing in the system, especially for those worried about drug tests. The smoke is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream through the lungs within a few minutes. This also speeds the duration at which the liver works o HHC. This also shortens the duration it takes in the body system.
Age
It might surprise you that your age also contributes to how long it takes in the body. According to Bratic, Ivana & Trifunovic (2010), your metabolism slows down as you age, lowering the processing time for medications and substances.
Conclusion
There are a lot of pending issues regarding the effectiveness, safety, and legality of HHC. Also, there are limited clinical trials to establish its health implications as a new element of the hemp plant. Although most users suggest that it can pass a drug test, unlike THC, the claim is yet to be approved by the FDA. HHC is derived from THC. Therefore, it can show in a drug test, especially if taken irresponsibly. Various factors contribute to the duration HHC stays in your body system and clearing. Some factors include age, body chemistry, potency levels, and purity levels to avoid overdosing unknowingly and exposing your body to contaminants such as heavy metals.
References
Bratic, I., & Trifunovic, A. (2010). Mitochondrial Energy Metabolism And Ageing. Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Bioenergetics, 1797(6-7), 961-967.
Bridgeman, M. B., & Abazia, D. T. (2017). Medicinal Cannabis: History, Pharmacology, And Implications For The Acute Care Setting. Pharmacy And Therapeutics, 42(3), 180.
Cary, P. (2006). The Marijuana Detection Window: Determining The Length Of Time Cannabinoids Will Remain Detectable In Urine Following Smoking.
Jacob, J., Amalraj, A., Raj, K. J., Divya, C., Kunnumakkara, A. B., & Gopi, S. (2019). A Novel Bioavailable Hydrogenated Curcuminoids Formulation (Curowhite™) Improves Symptoms And Diagnostic Indicators In Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients-A Randomized, Double Blind And Placebo Controlled Study. Journal Of Traditional And Complementary Medicine, 9(4), 346-352.
Ieva Kubiliute is a psychologist and a sex and relationships advisor and a freelance writer. She’s also a consultant to several health and wellness brands. While Ieva specialises in covering wellness topics ranging from fitness and nutrition, to mental wellbeing, sex and relationships and health conditions, she has written across a diverse range of lifestyle topics, including beauty and travel. Career highlights so far include: luxury spa-hopping in Spain and joining an £18k-a-year London gym. Someone’s got to do it!
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