Best HHC Gummies & Edibles for 2022

Why HHC Testing is Important

Most companies selling HHC don’t test their products. This is a major issue because some of the methods used for making HHC use dangerous chemicals. It’s also easy to produce unwanted and unknown byproducts if the process isn’t performed with precision by expert lab technicians. 

So far, there are only three major companies that provide sufficient testing for their HHC gummies — Area 52, Finest Labs, and Pure Kana. 

Some companies don’t provide tests whatsoever; others do, but the results either prove the HHC isn’t pure or don’t check for HHC in the first place.

The Current State of HHC Testing:

What is HHC? 

HHC stands for hexahydrocannabinol. There are several different types, but the most common include 9-OH-HHC, 7-OH-HHC, and cannabiripsol ([6aR,9S,10S,10aR]-9,10-dihydroxyhexahydrocannabinol). 

Most premium vendors carry the cannabiripsol version, which is the type first discovered in cannabis plants way back in 1979 [1].

HHC shares a similar structural composition to THC but is fully saturated with hydrogen atoms. 

Normally, THC has a double-bond in the central ring structure. For delta 9 THC, this bond is located after the ninth carbon, while delta 8 THC features this bond at the eighth carbon. HHC has no double-bonds, so there are no delta versions of this cannabinoid. 

Related: List of All Known Cannabinoids.

What’s the Dose of HHC?

The normal dose for HHC is around 25 mg — but it depends on the type of HHC being used.

When HHC is created, both an R isomer and S isomer are created in equal concentrations. The R isomer is psychoactive, while the S isomer is not. For most companies, a 50/50 mix of both is perfectly sufficient, and the psychoactive effects can be felt at doses as low as 10 mg for most people.

However, there are products out there that have much higher concentrations of the S isomer. These products are much weaker. This is why some HHC gummies kick in strong at 25 mg, while others need two or three times that amount to produce the desired effects. 

It’s wise to start with about 10–15 mg first, which usually works out to half a gummy, before increasing the dose to the full 25 mg.

HHC Dose Breakdown: 

• Half-dose — 10–15 mg
• Full dose — 20–30 mg
• Heroic dose — 30–60 mg

What Are The Benefits of HHC Gummies? 

HHC carries several inherent advantages over other cannabinoids. Let’s go through the most important ones. 

1. HHC is Psychoactive

HHC carries a similar psychoactive profile to delta 8 and delta 9 THC. It changes the way we perceive information coming from the senses. You may feel lighter or heavier, distances become skewed, and your salience attribution changes.

Salience attribution is the process in which your brain decides what it should pay attention to. HHC and other cannabinoids alter our salience attribution, making us focus on things we normally might not notice. This is how cannabinoids can alter the way we experience music, movies, or video games so dramatically.

In terms of potency, HHC is stronger than delta 8, but slightly weaker than delta 9. It maintains more of the relaxing action associated with delta 8 until you get into the higher dose range. The more HHC you use, the more stimulating and energizing it gets. 

2. HHC is Legal (Mostly)

Cannabis laws in the United States revolve around which form of the cannabis plant was used to make the extract. Plants made from marijuana are prohibited on a federal level and highly regulated on a state level. Even in legal states, marijuana products are strictly controlled. 

Plants made from hemp are not regulated on a federal level, and only a select few states have decided to step in with their own regulations. 

The law also states that synthetic cannabinoids or hemp products that contain more than 0.3% delta 9 THC are illegal. 

HHC is caught in a strange grey area, but most legal experts say it’s legal as long as it fits the following criteria: 

• Must be made from hemp
• Only the naturally-occurring forms are legal
• The total D9 THC content must remain below 0.3%

All of the companies mentioned on this list fit within these criteria. However, some don’t mention what type of HHC they’re using — so we can’t be sure it isn’t synthesized. 

3. HHC Lasts Forever

Nothing truly lasts forever, but HHC certainly lasts a very long time — nobody knows for sure how long this stuff remains stable because it hasn’t been around long enough to test it. 

Cannabinoids are relatively unstable molecules. When they’re exposed to air and radiation (such as UV from the sun), they begin to break down into smaller, more stable compounds. 

HHC is different. This cannabinoid is already as stable as possible and, therefore, will take substantially more time to break down into smaller, non-psychoactive components. 

If you’re in the habit of bulk ordering products to save money or set preparations aside for apocalyptic events — you’ll definitely want to keep some HHC gummies in there. As long as they aren’t exposed to too much heat and are kept in the sealed container they arrive in, they’ll likely remain viable for many, many years to come.

4. Health Benefits of HHC

HHC interacts with the same receptors as other cannabinoids, including CBD and THC. Therefore, it isn’t a stretch to suggest that HHC has health benefits to offer as well. 

However, none of this has ever been proven, and there are currently no good clinical studies investigating the medical value of HHC. 

With that aside, here are some of the potential health benefits of HHC based on confirmed health benefits of THC and CBD: 

• HHC may help alleviate chronic pain
• HHC may reduce inflammation
• HHC may help initiate and maintain sleep
• HHC may help reduce anxiety
• HHC may curb nausea and vomiting

What Are the Side Effects of HHC Gummies? 

Any compound that delivers physiological effects on the body carries some risk of side effects — HHC is no exception here. 

The most common side effect of HHC is anxiousness — but this relies more on the mindset of the individual going into the experience than the HHC itself. 

Like most psychoactive compounds, HHC expands the state of mind and emotions the user is experiencing as they begin the experience. If you’re stressed out, anxious, or depressed, taking HHC is likely going to make these emotions even stronger. 

The best way to prevent this from happening is to take a moment to get yourself into the right headspace before you take your HHC. If you’re prone to anxiety already and are already feeling off, it’s wise to avoid taking any HHC until you’re feeling calmer and more centered.

Other side effects of HHC include rapid heart rate, dizziness, increased hunger levels, dry mouth, and red eyes. 

HHC Myths & Facts

There’s a lot of misinformation going around about HHC. Let’s cover just a few of the most common ones we’re seeing online at the moment. 

1. Myth: HHC Doesn’t Register on Drug Tests

Some sources claim HHC is immune from drug tests because it doesn’t contain THC. 

This is false. There are plenty of reports on Reddit and other forms of users who took HHC and later failed a drug test. 

Several studies have also shown that some of the HHC we consume are converted to THC-COOH — which many marijuana drug tests are designed to detect. 

It’s also likely the body produces similar antibodies to HHC as they do for THC (due to the similar chemical structure of both molecules). Some tests check for the presence of these antibodies rather than the compound itself. 

Many HHC products also contain small amounts of delta 8 or delta 9 THC, which can register on their own as well. 

2. Myth: HHC is Synthetic

HHC has been found in nature several times already. Cannabiripsol, 9-OH-HHC, and 7-OH-HHC have all been detected in Cannabis sativa in low amounts. 

With that said, there are a few types of HHC that are indeed synthetic — including HU243, which is structurally identical to 7-OH-HHC but many times more potent. The safety of this compound is unclear.

Also see: All You Need to Know About Synthetic Cannabinoids.

3. Myth: HHC is Stronger Than Delta 9 THC

The potency of HHC is hotly debated, and a lot of it stems from deliberate disinformation. 

We’ve found that companies that don’t sell HHC underplay its effects — suggesting it to be weaker than delta 8. 

Some of the companies that sell HHC suggest it’s stronger than delta 9 THC. 

We believe neither of these statements is true. HHC feels inherently stronger than delta 8 but not quite as strong as delta 9. Unlike delta 9, HHC is more calming, and unlike delta 8, HHC isn’t nearly as stimulating on the appetite. 

It’s important to note that the type of HHC makes a big difference. Most of the HHC we tried was the cannabiripsol form with equal (R and S stereoisomers). We tried one product containing 9-OH-HHC and found it to be a little weaker, and the maximum potency was reached with just one 25 mg gummy. Follow-up gummies didn’t make the effects more intense but may have prolonged the experience. 

Other HHC Products To Consider

HHC can be made into all the same products as other cannabinoids. You can find HHC vape carts, HHC tinctures, HHC pre-rolls, various types of HHC edibles, as well as niche products like topicals and nasal sprays. 

The sky’s the limit when it comes to HHC products, and we believe the industry is just getting started. 

Unless the government decides to ban HHC in the near future, we expect there to be a wide variety of unique and interesting HHC products to enter the market very soon. 

Final Thoughts: Which HHC Gummies Should I Buy?

If you’re just looking for a quick recommendation — check out the Hyperdrive HHC Gummies from Area 52. They offer the best value for the money, come with all the necessary testing, and offer a perfect baseline for how HHC should feel. 

HHC is one of our favorite cannabinoids because its effects are like a toned-down and more euphoric version of THC. It’s similar to delta 8 but stronger and less likely to force you to devour every snack food in your entire house. This is the most common complaint from people who use delta 8 — the munchies are insane. 

HHC is well-rounded. It feels great (not too sedating, not too stimulating), it’s potent (most people won’t need more than one gummy at a time), it’s cost-effective (surprisingly, HHC is even cheaper than delta 8 THC), and best of all, it’s legal.

References

1. Boeren, E. G., ElSohly, M. A., & Turner, C. E. (1979). Cannabiripsol: A Novel Cannabis constituent. Experientia, 35(10), 1278-1279.
2. Ahmed, S. A., Ross, S. A., Slade, D., Radwan, M. M., Khan, I. A., & ElSohly, M. A. (2015). Minor oxygenated cannabinoids from high potency Cannabis sativa L. Phytochemistry, 117, 194-199.
3. Lee, Y. R., & Xia, L. (2008). Efficient one-pot synthetic approaches for cannabinoid analogs and their application to biologically interesting (−)-hexahydrocannabinol and (+)-hexahydrocannabinol. Tetrahedron Letters, 49(20), 3283-3287.