Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) Category: Cannabinoids

About HHC

Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) is a new product ‘cannabinoid’ product which has quickly emerged on the European and Irish markets since 2022.

It's currently available legally in high street shops but this does not guarantee safety and there are concerns regarding the health effects.

The word ‘cannabinoid’ refers to every chemical substance that joins the cannabinoid receptors of the body and brain and that have similar effects to those produced by the Cannabis Sativa plant. The cannabis plant has hundreds of chemicals with the most well-known being THC (controlled) and CBD. CBD is now commonly recognised as being sold in shops as this is a non-psychoactive chemical in cannabis. HHC has emerged as a man-made chemical (not natural/semi-synthetic form) developed from CBD.

New to the EU market

HHC was first identified in North America in 2021 and in Europe in May 2022 and is currently under intensive monitoring as a new psychoactive substance by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) Early Warning System in order to better understand the potential risks to health.

The pharmacological and behavioural effects of HHC in humans have not been studied, though recent anecdotal reports show that its effects are similar to cannabis.

The information below is based on available evidence as well as emerging anecdotal evidence reported to the HSE in Ireland. This page may be subject to change over time as new evidence appears.

Appearance

HHC can be sold as e-cigarettes, vape pens, herbal mixtures, edibles (Jellies and cake) and as tinctures. Some cases have seen HHC sprayed on plant materials which could be confused as cannabis.Other products are available in shops alongside HHC such as CBG – a product also new to the market with limited information available on the health effects.

How it’s used

It is smoked in a similar way to cannabis or eaten in edible products.

Short term effects

There is limited information available on HHC effects in humans, this is an evolving market that we continue to monitor in relation to evidence and anecdotal reports of the health effects.

Drugs can effect each person differently and there may be greater risks with HHC for young people and people with underlying health conditions.

The effects of any drug will depend on personal factors such as your physical and mental health as well as the dose and potency of a substance.

People who commonly consume cannabis should be mindful that you could react differently to different types of cannabinoids.

The overall effects of HHC can be similar to cannabis:

Some people will feel elevated mood, happy or euphoric similar to cannabis
You could feel relaxed and an altered perception
Anecdotal reports to the HSE also confirm some people have experienced the below effects following the use of HHC:
Strong of ‘different’ intoxication compared with cannabis
General feelings of being unwell
Confusion
Unconsciousness
Depression
Withdrawal symptoms following frequent use

Long term effects

Because synthetic cannabinoids are relatively new, the long term effects are not fully understood
Regular use could impact on both physical and mental health

Psychosis risk

Emerging information from Irish hospitals has highlighted two case studies of regular cannabis smokers who experienced psychotic episodes as a posible result of vaping HHC. Psychosis can be short or longer term where people experience a series of symptoms where they lose touch with reality. Irish cases from HHC use have experienced extreme distress, delusions (beliefs), auditory hallucinations (hearing what is not there) paranoia, detachment from reality, self-harm, and

Other risks

Limited information is available on the short and long term effects of HHC as well as what products contain. Their sale in high street and online shops does not guarantee safety or how you will react.

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