Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) is made in a lab from a chemical in cannabis plants called cannabidiol (CBD). It can make you feel relaxed, happy, paranoid or confused.
HHC comes as:
- vape pens or liquids
- oils or drops
- edibles such as sweets or gummies
- dried leaves or flowers - the HHC is sprayed on
The labels on these products may call HHC a natural extract. But this does not mean that HHC is safe.
Drug category: cannabinoid
Cannabinoids are drugs or chemicals:
- from the cannabis plant
- made to mimic the effects of cannabis (synthetic cannabinoids)
They can make you feel relaxed, happy, paranoid or confused.
Other names for HHC
Other names include: (9R)-HHC, (9S)-HHC, HXC
Effects of HHC
The effects of HHC can vary depending on:
- your size, weight and sex
- if you have any health conditions or mental health difficulties
- how you take the drug
- the strength of the drug
- how much you take
- if you take alcohol, medicines or other drugs at the same time
- where you take the drug and how you feel before you take it
- if you have taken the drug before and how often
HHC is made to mimic the effects of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is a chemical in cannabis that affects the way you think, feel or behave.
We are still learning about the effects of HHC. It may have similar effects to cannabis or synthetic cannabinoids. We do not know the long-term effects of HHC.
How you may feel or behave
You may feel:
- relaxed or calm
- thoughtful
- happy or giddy
- confused, anxious or paranoid
- low or depressed
Effects on your brain and body
HHC may cause:
- unconsciousness
- nausea (feeling sick)
- breathing problems - if you often vape HHC
- hallucinations - when you see, feel or hear things that are not there
- psychosis - you have confused thoughts, feelings and behaviour and you do not know what is real or not real
Some people say they feel unwell after using HHC.
HHC and mental health
HHC may cause mental health difficulties or make existing difficulties worse. The effects on your mental health can last after other effects of the drug have stopped.
The effects may include:
- hallucinations
- paranoia
- self-harm
- psychosis
We have no evidence that HHC can help with anxiety or other mental health difficulties.
If you are worried about your mental health, there are treatments that are safe and effective.
HHC and dependency
HHC may cause:
- tolerance - when you need to take more of the drug to get the same effects
- dependency
Signs of dependency can include:
- cravings for a drug
- withdrawal symptoms
- continuing to use a drug even when it causes you harm
If you stop taking HHC after regular use, you may get withdrawal symptoms.
How long does HHC stay in your system?
It can be hard to know how long HHC stays in your system.
There are tests to detect HHC. But different types of tests have different detection times.
Things that affect how long a drug stays in your system
The time it takes for a drug to leave your system depends on many things.
For example:
- how much you took
- how often you take the drug
- how strong the drug was
- your age, sex and metabolism
- your general health
Reducing risks from HHC
It’s always safest not to take drugs. The labels of HHC products sold online often have incorrect or misleading information. This could be about the strength of the product or its effects.
There are ways to reduce the risk of harm if you use HHC. Select a piece of advice to find out more.
Consider if there is extra risk for you - such as health conditions or how you feel.
There are always risks if you use drugs. But some people may be more at risk than others.
If you or someone in your family has any health conditions or mental health difficulties, you may be more at risk of a drug emergency.
There is also higher risk of negative effects from HHC if you are under age 18.
It can be hard to know your level of risk. Some people have health conditions and do not know it.
If you feel low, anxious or stressed, you are more at risk of a negative or challenging experience.
Delay using cannabinoids for as long as possible.
The brain continues to develop until age 25. The younger you start using drugs, the greater the risk of serious problems.
Start with a small amount and wait 2 hours before you take more.
This is to reduce the risk of an overdose or drug emergency. The contents or strength of drugs can vary, even in the same batch.
If you start with a small amount, you can:
- see how you react
- stop if you get an effect you did not expect or do not want
It can take up to 2 hours for some effects to happen. If you take too much too soon, it increases your risk.
The effects of edibles can take longer to start and can last up to 12 hours.
Plan a safe way to get home.
It is dangerous to drive if drugs are in your system. You could harm yourself or other people. A drug can still be in your system even if you do not feel the effects.
Keep track of what you use.
Take breaks between use to reduce your risk of tolerance and dependency.
Using every day can also increase the risk of mental health difficulties.
Consider other ways of using if you smoke HHC with tobacco.
There are many health risks of using tobacco products. Mixing tobacco and HHC also increases the risk of dependency.
Know what to do in case of a challenging experience.
If you know what to do during a challenging experience, it could stop a situation getting worse and help you support someone.
But it is always safest to get medical advice if someone has overwhelming or unexpected effects.
Find more ways to reduce risks from drugs.
Mixing HHC with alcohol or other drugs
It is always more risky and unpredictable to mix HHC with other drugs, alcohol or medicines.
There is a higher risk of negative effects if you use HHC with other drugs that cause hallucinations. For example, ketamine, LSD or psilocybin (magic mushrooms).
Urgent advice: Contact your GP or GP out of hours if
you or someone else has taken HHC and:
- has severe distress, confusion or panic - they cannot calm down and may be a danger to themselves or others
- has severe nausea and vomiting
- is worried about their wellbeing
Stay with the person.
Tell the medics everything you know about the drug and give them any leftover drug if possible. It will help them decide the right treatment.
If you are worried about HHC use
If you are worried about your own or someone else’s use, you can find support. This can be when HHC use affects your health, relationships, work or other areas of your life.
Non-urgent advice: Drugs and alcohol helpline
You can contact the helpline for support, information or advice on treatment and support options.
Freephone: 1800 459 459
Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm
Email: helpline@hse.ie