While HHC has long attracted the interest of consumers, the law has just changed. Since June 13, the government has officially made the sale of HHC illegal. The reason? The supposedly psychotropic effects of this cannabinoid are similar to those of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the active molecule of the cannabis plant), which is prohibited from production, sale and consumption. We take a look at this ban and what it means.
HHC, for hexahydrocannabinol, is a molecule found in small quantities in the hemp or cannabis plant. It was discovered in the 1940s by American chemist Roger Adams.
As HHC is not present in large quantities in the cannabis plant, human intervention is required to ensure that the molecule is present in quantity and fully active, whether in a oil or a flower. This is why we speak of semi-synthetic cannabinoids.
The effects of HHC
The main reason why HHC is so much in the news is because of its effects. Although little is known about its effects, mainly due to a cruel lack of studies and information on its method of action (short-, medium- or long-term), it now seems clear that hexahydrocannabinol has an action similar to that of THC.
Consumption of HHC leads to relaxation. It also helps to combat pain and inflammation fairly effectively. But be careful! Taking HHC-based products can have undesirable effects, such as drunkenness, red eyes and food cravings.
The legal status of HHC in France and Europe
What about the legality of HHC in France? For a long time, it was very difficult to make a statement on the subject. Indeed, the law wasn't clear! There was no law officially stipulating, either in France or at European level, that HHC (hexahydrocannabinol) was prohibited for production, sale or consumption.
Nevertheless, the alleged effects of HHC have alerted the authorities, who increasingly seem to want to respond to the proliferation of HHC-based products on the legal cannabis market. In some countries, such as Finland and Austria, HHC was banned fairly quickly.
What about France? What has been, is and will be the situation in the weeks and months ahead? We take a look at the latest changes in the HHC (hexahydrocannabinol) law and what they mean for professionals, retailers and consumers.
HHC now banned in France
Wondering if HHC is still legal in France? The answer is no. Since June 13, the French government has banned the production, sale and consumption of HHC-based products!
This follows a report issued by ANSM (the French national medicines agency), which warned of the possible risks and dangers of HHC to public health. In this report, Christelle Ratignier-Carbonneil, Director General of the ANSM, explained that "very coercive" measures would be taken fairly quickly by the executive to "ensure the safety of people who may be potentially exposed to this synthetic drug". According to her, HHC represents a major health risk.
A swift decision, which comes as something of a surprise. After all, banning HHC wasn't supposed to be as simple as all that. Every year, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) lists almost 400 new synthetic drugs and narcotics. Analyzing and reviewing HHC takes time, which leaves time for dealers to market the product in question without worry.
The Minister of Health wanted to act quickly
For Health Minister François Braun, the idea has always been to act as quickly as possible. "It's an addictive product," he has repeatedly explained on television.
In addition, the Minister of Health castigated the hemp and legal cannabis professionals, who in his view had simply "taken advantage of a classification loophole. There's a hole in the racket that needs to be plugged quickly, so that we no longer have this over-the-counter sale, which is totally abnormal".
Some European countries, against HHC
In Europe, the issue of HHC has only just been raised, but some countries have already announced their intention to legislate on the matter (very) quickly. Finland and Austria, for example, have announced their intention to ban the production, sale and consumption of HHC as soon as possible.
At European level, nothing seems to be in the pipeline at the moment. However, it's a safe bet that in the coming weeks and months, Brussels will take up the issue and announce legislation to classify this cannabinoid as a high-risk narcotic, making its use illegal on European soil.
CBD Wholesale and HHC
We offer HHC-based products for sale as long as they remain legal. Naturally, in the event of a change in regulations and the introduction of a much more restrictive policy concerning this substance, we will be forced to withdraw our oils HHC, our Flowers HHC and all our products associated with hexahydrocannabinol from our store. Would you like to find out more? Please do not hesitate to contact our teams. We look forward to hearing from you.
