HHC vs. CBD: What’s the Difference? [A Full Comparison]

People have been turning to HHC because it allows them to get high without having to deal with some of the issues that come with THC, such as drug testing and legality.

In this respect, HHC is very similar to CBD; it’s less regulated than THC, and it won’t show up on a drug test.

But while HHC and CBD have some similarities, they also have many differences. In this article, we’ll be exploring those differences.

TAKEAWAYS:

• HHC is more potent than CBD. Unlike CBD, it has psychoactive effects and will make you high.
• Both cannabinoids have therapeutic potential. CBD has been researched for use with insomnia, stress, anxiety, inflammation, nerve pain, and more. HHC has been researched for use as a painkiller.
• CBD won’t show up on a drug test unless you buy a full-spectrum CBD product. Anecdotal evidence suggests HHC doesn’t show up on drug tests, however, no research has been done on this.

What is HHC?

Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) is one of the 100-plus naturally occurring cannabinoids found in the hemp plant.

However, HHC only occurs naturally in very small amounts, so it’s synthetically produced for use in products — this is typically done by combining delta-9 THC with hydrogen molecules.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is also a naturally-occurring cannabinoid in the hemp plant. It’s one of the best-known cannabinoids due to its wide array of benefits.

It’s also one of the most-researched cannabinoids. Science shows it has benefits for anxiety, stress, sleep, pain, and more.

HHC vs. CBD Effects: Which is Stronger?

So, which is stronger, HHC or CBD?

HHC is quite a bit stronger than CBD. Whereas CBD is not psychoactive and does not cause a high, HHC is psychoactive and will get you high.

In terms of other psychoactive cannabinoids, most anecdotal evidence suggests HHC is roughly 75% as strong as delta-9 THC (popularly known as the psychoactive ingredient in weed).

HHC Effects

HHC induces a euphoric, relaxing high, similar to delta-9 THC. However, it’s milder, and some users note that HHC doesn’t produce feelings of anxiety that regular THC does.

CBD Effects

Most CBD users find that it gives them feelings of mental relaxation and ease. CBD won’t make you high, but it can help minimize extreme emotions.

CBD also promotes physical relaxation. Many of our customers with pain or discomfort find that CBD helps take the edge off.

Side Effects of HHC and CBD

Side effects you may feel after taking HHC include:

• Anxiety
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Increased appetite
• Insomnia
• Paranoia
• Rapid heart rate
• Red eyes

Side effects that you may feel after taking CBD are:

• Dry mouth
• Diarrhea
• Reduced appetite
• Drowsiness
• Fatigue

HHC vs. CBD: What are the Benefits?

So, why use HHC or CBD? What are the benefits?

Before we cover the benefits, it’s worth taking a moment to understand how cannabinoids work in the body.

HHC and CBD work by interacting with your endocannabinoid system (ECS), a transmitter system in your body that helps to regulate pretty much every vital function. The ECS’s main job is to keep the body in a state of balance.

Though both cannabinoids interact with the ECS, they do so differently — we’ll spare you the technicalities, but this is the basis for how different cannabinoids create different effects.

Benefits of HHC

As it provides euphoria and relaxation, HHC is a great cannabinoid for recreational purposes.

However, it’s excellent for therapeutic purposes as well:

• Sleep – There have been numerous studies in which THC has been shown to promote restful sleep, and given that HHC provides similar effects, it’s likely effective for this purpose, too. And when paired with the anecdotal evidence that HHC causes drowsiness, it’s safe to say that HHC can support restful sleep.
• Pain – Studies suggest that HHC may be an effective painkiller, though more research on this is needed.

Benefits of CBD

Although CBD isn’t psychoactive as HHC is, it offers a diverse range of therapeutic benefits that have made it one of the most popular cannabinoids out there.

That being said, here are CBD’s main benefits:

• Pain – Although it isn’t approved by the FDA as a pain treatment (at least not yet), scientific and anecdotal evidence suggests that CBD has powerful supportive effects on the body.
• Sleep – CBD can induce relaxation and slight drowsiness without intoxicating you, and for this reason, many people find it beneficial for promoting restful sleep. Users report that CBD helps them get to sleep and stay asleep for longer.
• Stress & Anxiety – Since CBD promotes a calm mind and a positive mood, it’s become an effective go-to for those who struggle with anxiety.
• Inflammation – CBD has been shown to promote a healthy inflammatory response in a number of scientific studies, and anecdotal evidence supports these findings as well.
• Epilepsy – CBD has shown potential as an epilepsy treatment. In fact, a CBD-based prescription has ever been approved by the FDA for certain forms of epilepsy.

How to Use HHC and CBD: Best Products

Here are the best ways to take HHC or CBD:

Edibles

The most common type of edible is a gummy. Gummies are one of the best ways to take HHC or CBD because they taste great and allow for predictable dosing.

Both HHC gummies and CBD gummies take roughly 45 minutes to 1 hour to kick in.

Tinctures/Oils

Tinctures, also called oils, offer a fast-acting way to take HHC or CBD, and they’re easy to dose precisely.

Tinctures are taken under the tongue, and the cannabinoids contained in them are absorbed into the blood vessels in your mouth. Because of this, tinctures work in just 5-10 minutes.

Vapes

While CBD vapes aren’t a huge thing, HHC vapes definitely are. Vaping is a quick and easy way to get your daily dose — effects can be felt in just 5-10 minutes.

Methods We Don’t Recommend Using

We don’t recommend buying HHC flower.

Because HHC only occurs in very small amounts in the hemp plant, most of the HHC flower you’ll find is just regular THC flower that’s been sprayed with HHC distillate. Sprayed flower isn’t anywhere near as effective as edibles or vapes.

HHC vs. CBD Dosage: How Much Should You Take?

Earlier, we covered the side effects you may experience after using HHC and CBD. These are worst-case side effects. Assuming you dose HHC or CBD properly, you shouldn’t feel too many negative effects.

The question is, how much should you take?

For CBD, we recommend starting with a low-strength dosage, which can be calculated using this formula:

(0.1) x (your body weight in lbs.) = your dosage in mg

For HHC, the low-strength dosage formula is:

(0.05) x (your body weight in lbs.) = your dosage in mg

So if you were 150 lbs, you’d start by taking 10mg of CBD or 7.5mg of HHC.

This may not seem like much, but if you’re new to using cannabinoids, a small dosage will give you a feel for how HHC or CBD works.

Then, once you’re used to how these cannabinoids make you feel, you can slowly add to or subtract from your dose until you land on the right amount.

The Legality of HHC vs. CBD

As of the 2018 Farm Bill, HHC and CBD are both federally legal as long as they are derived from hemp. Hemp is defined as cannabis that contains less than 0.3% THC by dry weight.

However, some states ban chemically modified cannabinoids or THC isomers, so HHC has been made illegal in more states. Restrictions have also been imposed on CBD, including stipulations that certain types of CBD products aren’t allowed or that they can’t contain above a certain level of THC.

That being said, here are the states where HHC and CBD are and aren’t legal.

Note: This information will be revised as needed, but err on the side of caution and conduct your own research before making a purchase.

States Where HHC is Legal

• Alabama
• California
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Georgia
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Lousiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

States Where HHC is Illegal or Restricted

• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Delaware
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Nevada
• New York
• North Dakota
• Rhode Island
• Utah
• Vermont
• Washington

States Where CBD Is Legal

• Alaska
• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• District of Columbia
• Illinois
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New York
• Oregon
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington

States Where CBD Is Legal, but Restricted

CBD is not illegal in any of the 50 U.S. states, however, in some states, it’s restricted to specific forms and uses:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Lousiana
• Maryland
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• New Hampshire
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Will HHC Show Up on a Drug Test?

Even though HHC will get you high, it won’t show up on drug tests — at least, based on what we know right now.

HHC isn’t delta-9 THC (which does show up on tests), and it doesn’t cause false positives by converting into 11-hydroxy-THC (a THC byproduct) once in the liver.

There isn’t scientific research to prove that HHC won’t show up on a drug test, though.

Because of this, we recommend you exercise caution with using HHC if you have to undergo regular drug tests.

Will CBD Show Up on a Drug Test?

No, CBD won’t show up on a drug test unless you use a full-spectrum CBD product, which contains up to 0.3% THC. If you have to undergo regular drug testing, opt for a broad-spectrum or isolate CBD product.

Conclusion: Which Cannabinoid Should You Use?

So, which cannabinoid is right for you, HHC or CBD?

If you want to get high, go with HHC — it is psychoactive and will induce a high roughly 75% as strong as THC.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for comprehensive therapeutic support and aren’t interested in the high, CBD is the better option. It has science-backed benefits for a variety of conditions, and it won’t render psychoactive effects.

Overall, both HHC and CBD are great cannabinoids with lots of benefits. While CBD has been the subject of more research than HHC has, we haven’t investigated either cannabinoid enough to know what they’re truly capable of.

Learn more: HHC vs. THC

HHC vs. CBD: FAQs

Here are some questions customers frequently ask us when deciding between HHC and CBD.

What is better, CBD or HHC?

Neither cannabinoid is necessarily better — it depends on your needs.

HHC will get you high, so if you want something psychoactive, it’s the better option.

However, CBD has a wider variety of therapeutic benefits (for sleep, stress, anxiety, pain, inflammation, and more), so it may be able to help with things that HHC can’t.

What does HHC do to you?

HHC’s benefits are similar to those of delta-9 THC, but only three-fourths as strong. Most people who try HHC find that it creates a euphoric, relaxing high effect.

Is HHC a form of CBD?

HHC is not a form of CBD. HHC and CBD are distinct compounds with different chemical structures and properties. However, HHC can be made from CBD.

What is the HHC high like?

The HHC high effect varies from person to person, but most people report that it’s a milder version of the high you’d get from marijuana. HHC produces a mild high that elevates the mind and body without being sedative. HHC is slightly stronger than delta-8 THC, and is roughly three-fourths as strong as delta-9 THC.

Is HHC healthier than delta-8?

Apart from minor differences in potential side effects (delta-8 THC may cause nausea and vomiting, while HHC typically won’t), neither HHC nor delta-8 is necessarily healthier. It all comes down to which cannabinoid works the best for you from a therapeutic or recreational standpoint.

Does HHC get you more high than delta-8?

Yes, HHC’s high is slightly stronger than delta-8’s, while still not being as strong as delta-9 THC.