Potent THC Alternative 9(R)-HHC Revealed in Study

A new study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology shows that a specific type of hexahydro cannabinol, known as 9(R)-HHC, produces behavioral and psychoactive effects in mice that closely resemble those of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol—the main psychoactive component in cannabis. The researchers also found that another form, 9(S)-HHC, produces far weaker effects, suggesting that different types of HHC may have very different effects on users.

Hexahydrocannabinol, or HHC, is a synthetic cannabinoid that has appeared in recent years in hemp-derived products sold online and in stores. It is often marketed as a legal alternative to marijuana, especially in regions where cannabis remains illegal. While tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, has been extensively studied and is regulated in many places, far less is known about HHC—including its effects on the brain, its potential for abuse, or its safety in humans.

HHC is not a single compound but a group of related molecules. Two common forms, or epimers, of HHC are 9(R)-HHC and 9(S)-HHC. These epimers are mirror-image versions of each other, meaning they have the same atoms but are arranged differently in space. This subtle difference in structure can lead to very different effects in the body. The goal of the study was to determine whether each of these two forms of HHC produces the same kinds of behavioral effects seen with THC.

To find out, researchers from RTI International and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a series of behavioral experiments in male mice. One set of experiments used what is known as the cannabinoid tetrad test, a method that measures four classic effects of cannabinoids in rodents: reduced movement, decreased sensitivity to pain, lowered body temperature, and catalepsy, which is a type of rigid immobility. These effects are considered indicators that a compound is activating cannabinoid receptors in the brain.

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