An Overview of This Lesser-Known Cannabinoid in the Cannabis Industry
For those that aren’t familiar, there are well over 100 cannabinoids in your garden variety cannabis plant. Of course, the most famous cannabinoids are Delta-9 THC and cannabidiol (CBD). THC causes a psychoactive reaction in the user that is described as a “high” or euphoric feeling. CBD, on the other hand, yields no psychoactive effects; however, it has proven to be useful for pain relief, anxiety issues, cancer symptoms, and insomnia, just to name a few.
The legality of these two cannabinoids is what currently dictates the direction of the cannabis industry. Although legislation is becoming more lenient at a state level for THC, it remains a federally controlled substance that still has many hurdles to overcome. Additionally, CBD remains challenged in certain states as well, even though it’s non-addictive and has no psychoactive properties.
However, the cannabis industry has managed to find a way around the legislation challenges – by investing in other lesser-known cannabinoids. Although THC is illegal at a federal level, other cannabinoids – such as hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) – remain in a legal gray area.
Let’s get to know a little bit more about HHC, its role in the cannabis industry, and how it can be identified using cannabinoid testing equipment.
What is HHC?
HHC is one of the newest cannabinoids to reach the market. It can be imbibed through vaping or consumed in an edible format, although it’s not widely available at dispensaries yet.
What makes HHC distinct is how it is made. Using a process called hydrogenation – which adds hydrogen molecules – Delta-9 THC is converted to HHC. This is the same process that is used to convert vegetable oil to margarine.
How Does HHC Compare to THC?
This is the big question that the cannabis industry is asking. In short, HHC is not as strong as THC. The “high” and psychoactive effects are far less potent, which makes it an ideal option for consumers who have very low tolerance levels or simply don’t want something as strong as THC. Some users even reported their energy levels went up after imbibing this particular cannabinoid.
One other thing that people want to know about HHC when compared to THC is whether or not it’ll show up on a drug test. The answer? Probably not; however, that answer is not definitive. The truth is that most standard drug tests aren’t looking for the HHC cannabinoid, which is the reason it’ll likely not show up. Nothing is guaranteed, though.
Is HHC Safe for Consumers?
Similar to how THC has almost no risk of fatal overdose, the same can be said for HHC. Keeping that in mind, there still remains the potential to consume an amount of HHC that can result in negative effects similar to THC. Consumers may experience anxiety, paranoia, cognitive issues, and impairment.
However, it is believed that because HHC is far less potent compared to THC, consumers are far less likely to accidentally overdose on HHC products. This is one of the main reasons that HHC is gaining in popularity in the cannabis industry.
Is HHC Legal?
As of right now, HHC is legal in a sense that there’s nothing on paper currently that outlaws it. Since HHC is neither THC or CBD, it’s not in any legal crosshairs. The focus for law enforcement and government officials remains firmly fixed on THC. For now, that is. The situation can always change for HHC if government officials turn their attention to it, either by drawing up to regulate it or outright banning it. Because HHC is a lesser-known cannabinoid, it is the thinking of many experts in the cannabis industry that it won’t be under as much scrutiny as THC and CBD.
How to Test for Cannabinoids in Hemp and Cannabis
Those in the cannabis industry need a reliable way to check the status of their product. This means checking potency levels and the presence of specific cannabinoids. However, most growing and cultivating operations must rely upon third-party cannabis testing labs to do that. These labs often use harmful chemicals in their testing process and can take several weeks to return results, depending on their backlog.
Elite Robotics aims to change all that. By providing growers and cultivators with their own cannabis testing instruments and equipment, they will finally have the power of a fully functioning lab onsite. The first product we offer is a containment device that hermetically seals samples until they’re ready to be analyzed. The second product is the analyzer itself, which tests cannabis samples from the containment device and provides accurate cannabinoid readings.
Learn more about our cannabis testing equipment by contacting Elite Robotics at (805) 987-6217. Or send us a message directly using our contact form.