With all these new hemp-derived cannabinoids becoming more popular in the market, it can get confusing which ones are the most suitable for your needs. If you’re looking for the milder sort in terms of psychoactive effects, you may have narrowed your choices between HHC and Delta 8 THC. But of course, you would want to know, is HHC or Delta 8 stronger?
HHC can deliver more potent effects than Delta 8, although this will vary per individual. As it happens, HHC and Delta 8 are both hemp-derived cannabinoids, but they are completely different compounds. Each offers similar effects, but their differences can affect your experience. Therefore, you have to understand HHC on a deeper level, as much as you would with Delta 8 THC. Then you can tailor your experience and buy the best hemp products according to individual preferences.
So let’s get to know HHC and Delta 8 THC separately first.
What Is HHC?
Chemist Roger Adams first discovered Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) in 1944. The compound is the hydrogenated form of tetrahydrocannabinol. This naturally occurring cannabinoid can be found only in trace amounts in the Sativa variety of the cannabis plant. However, hydrogenation of cannabis extracts can also create HHC.
Hydrogenation involves taking regular THC and then changing its chemical structure using hydrogen molecules. The structure is modified by replacing a double bond with two hydrogen atoms, changing its molecular weight and making it more stable.
This manufacturing process is necessary since the amounts of HHC in cannabis plants are too small to make extraction cost-effective. Thus, commercial HHC is created from hemp-derived CBD. And since HHC is not THC, it makes HHC federally legal in the U.S.
Hydrogenation improves the stability and resistance of HHC to thermo-oxidative breakdown, which extends the shelf life of HHC and makes it less prone to damage caused by heat and UV light.
Does HHC Get You High?
Technically, HHC isn’t THC, but they both share similar effects. Lab-produced HHC is a blend of active and inactive HHC molecules, with the active ones binding well with the body’s cannabinoid receptors while the inactive ones don’t.
Since there’s no cost-effective way, at the moment, to separate high-potency HHC from its low-potency twin, consumers are left with commercial HHC, which is a mix of the two forms.
HHC has noticeable effects, which are between the effects of Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC. You get anxiety relief, feelings of euphoria, and anti-inflammatory effects. The side effects are similar as well – users can experience unpleasant but temporary ones such as anxiety and paranoia, dry eyes and mouth, hunger, and insomnia.
Potential Benefits of HHC
HHC Can Help Manage Chronic Pain
On a test done on rats, HHC showed significant painkilling properties. Although more human studies are needed, research indicates that HHC has promise in this area and may become a viable medicine for chronic pain management.
HHC May Help Reduce Inflammation
Just like most cannabinoids, HHC can combat pain and reduce inflammation efficiently. Although HHC wasn’t directly studied for pain, one research concluded that hydrogenated cannabinoids bind well with the brain’s CB1 receptor and can reduce inflammation in joints.
HHC Is a Possible Sleep Aid
HHC’s interaction with the CB1 receptors in the brain brings about its psychotropic effects. This compound’s exact mechanism of action is still unclear, but studies have shown that activating the CB1 receptor (in this case, by Delta 9 THC) helps improve sleep.
Shop from our wide array of Harbor City Hemp HHC Products, all of which have been third-party tested for safety and potency.
What is Delta 8 THC?
Delta 8 is similar to Delta 9 THC, although both have slightly different chemical structures. The double bonds of Delta 8 are on the 8th chain, while those of Delta 9 can be found on the 9th chain. This results in slightly different effects between the two. But generally, Delta 8 is considered the milder version of Delta 9 – it has roughly half the potency of Delta 9.
But just because Delta 8 is less psychoactive than Delta 9 doesn’t mean it’s not capable of giving you the “melt into the couch” feeling that usually comes with THC. It also has benefits associated with THC, such as relaxation, pain relief, and relief from vomiting and nausea.
Potential Benefits of Delta 8 THC
Delta 8 Can Provide Anxiety Relief
Delta 8’s mellower high makes it a suitable hemp-derived cannabinoid for anxiety. Anecdotal evidence reveals that Delta 8 causes less anxiety than Delta 9, plus it gives a clear-headed high that doesn’t affect one’s focus and clarity.
Delta 8 May Help With Pain and Inflammation
A preclinical study published in 2018 shows that topical administration of Delta 8 significantly improved pain and inflammation in eye injuries. The research further showed that this was because of the activation of the CB1 receptors, which are critical for functions like pain, sleep, and metabolism.
Delta 8 May Reduce Nausea
Delta 8 and Delta 9 have been researched for nausea in cancer patients. The results showed that Delta 8 is better than Delta 9 in this regard because it doesn’t have any significant side effects.
Shop from our wide array of Harbor City Hemp Delta 8 Products for the safest Delta 8 THC products, third-party testing guaranteed.