HHC vs Delta-8: Differences, Potency, and More

When it comes to the world of minor cannabinoids, there can be a lot to digest. That’s why we put together this guide on HHC vs Delta-8 THC — two prominent cannabinoids featured across Mood’s line of Farm Bill-compliant cannabis products.

Discover a range of cannabis products featuring these cannabinoids and more at Mood’s online dispensary. Subscribe for recurring shipments and save 15%.

Table of Contents

• Intro To Cannabinoids

• Cannabinoids Comparison: HHC vs Delta-8 THC

  • CBG: The Mother of All Cannabinoids

    • HHC

      • HHC Potency

      • HHC Legal Status

      • HHC Uses

    • Delta-8 THC

      • Delta-8 THC Potency

      • Delta-8 THC Legal Status

      • Delta-8 THC Uses

• Delta-8 THC and HHC FAQs

• Delta-8 THC and HHC Products at Our Online Dispensary

Cannabinoids in Hemp Plants: A Quick Intro

Cannabinoids extend well beyond your classic Delta-9 THC. While people tend to lump them all together, the reality is that each cannabinoid features its own genetic design and benefits.

Two increasingly popular minor cannabinoids are hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-8 THC) — but what do they have in common, and what makes them different?

Here’s a little bit about the key differences in between the two compounds — from origin to potency to potential health benefits and beyond.

Pick up an eighth of Delta-8 THC Moonrocks for $40 from our online dispensary. Subscribe and save 15%.

CBG: The Mother of All Hemp Derived Cannabinoids

Both HHC and Delta-8 THC derive from THC and CBD, which are products of cannabigerol (CBG), also known as The Mother of All Cannabinoids.

While young, raw cannabis sativa plants are rich with CBG, as they age, this major cannabinoid evolves and slowly converts into THCa and CBD.

You’ll find that a lot of products available at Mood’s online dispensary feature THCa, which converts to Delta-9 THC when smoked or vaped.

In addition to having the capacity to convert into Delta-9 THC, THCa can also be converted to Delta-8 THC, HHC, and other minor cannabinoids.

Cannabinoid Comparison: HHC vs Delta-8

Both HHC and Delta-8 THC stem from cannabinoids derived from the cannabis sativa plant.

The hemp plant contains more than 100 known cannabinoids — and that number continues to grow as research on hemp plants evolves.

From intoxicating Delta-9 THC to non-psychoactive CBD, cannabinoids vary in terms of their concentration from strain to strain.

In any case, both HHC and Delta-8 THC occur in small, trace amounts in the raw cannabis plant. When you come across products with higher concentrations of these cannabinoids, they’ve been designed in labs with extracts.

HHC

Because HHC is found in very low concentrations in the cannabis plant, lab professionals extract it in higher concentrations mainly through a chemical process called “hydrogenation.”

The extraction process consists of modifying the molecular structure of THC or CBD by replacing a double bond between hydrogen molecules with two double bonds between two hydrogen atoms.

Essentially, this converts these cannabinoids into HHC, which is how it started becoming described as one of the “hemp derived cannabinoids.”

Derivative of THC or CBD, HHC inspires a similar time with some notable differences.

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HHC Potency and Binding to Cannabinoid Receptors

There’s still a lot to learn about HHC, but we do know that it promotes psychoactive effects similar to Delta-9 THC.

The effects of HHC are generally less potent than THC because it’s believed that while some HHC molecules are active—binding strongly to the body’s cannabinoid receptors to create psychoactive effects—some are inactive, resulting in less intense bonds.

This can subdue the effects of the cannabinoid, making it somewhat less potent. Of course, you can still find strong HHC products that have potent effects and contain a high dosage of the cannabinoid.

This 1g Hero Dose Delta-8 THC The Original Z Disposable Vape is only $45. Subscribe and save 15%.

Legal Status of HHC and the Cannabis Plant

The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the federal government’s list of controlled substances.

A hemp product is defined as a cannabis product containing less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight.

Any purely HHC products are federally legal, as are any HHC products that contain other cannabinoids — as long as they meet the legal limit of Delta-9 THC.

Every product available at Mood’s online dispensary is Farm Bill-compliant.

HHC Product Trends

Some of the most common HHC products you’ll come across are vapes and edibles.

From HHC gummies to HHC gel caps — edible forms of the cannabinoid are popular because they’re compact, convenient, and easy to take on the go.

HHC vapes and vape cartridges are also popular, particularly when they’re blended with other cannabinoids for targeted effects.

Because of the freedoms allotted by the passing of the Farm Bill, it’s not crazy to expect a continued boom in the variety and quality of HHC products made available across the hemp industry in the coming years.

Users report positive experiences generally, and it holds value as an affordable and compliant substitute for other popular cannabinoids with similar but distinct chemical structures.

Get a 30-count bottle of 25mg HHC Gel Caps for $69 at our online dispensary. Subscribe and save 15%.

Delta-8 THC

Delta-8 is a form of THC, considered a chemical cousin of both Delta-9 THC and Delta-10 THC.

In chemical terms, it’s an isomer of the other two compounds — featuring a nearly identical molecular structure, save for the location of its double bond.

Delta-8 THC molecules have a double bond on the eighth carbon atom, Delta-9 THC has one on the ninth, and Delta-10 has one on the 10th — connecting each one’s chemical structure to its name.

Just like HHC, Delta-8 is found in very small quantities in the cannabis plant. It can be chemically converted from Delta-9 and CBD through a process called isomerization.

Get a 30-count of 50mg Delta-8 THC Gummies for only $79 from Mood’s online dispensary. Subscribe and save 15%.

Delta-8 THC Potency

Delta-8 is another known psychoactive compound. It attaches to the same cannabinoid receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system as classic Delta-9 THC — particularly the CB1 receptor.

The key difference here is that Delta-8 THC is known to attach less strongly to this receptor than Delta-9 THC, which is why it’s known to create a milder, less intense high that can be more pleasant for certain cannabis users.

In general, products that have low doses of Delta-8 THC will be less potent, while products with higher doses will be more potent. And generally, Delta-8 THC can be viewed as a less-intense version of Delta-9 THC.

While the strength is one side of the coin, in terms of moods, Delta-8 THC can help you achieve. The variety is the same as with any other cannabis product.

Finding the right strain and product will help you hone in on what you find to be uplifting versus calming or anything else.

Check out Mood’s selection of Energized Cannabis at our online dispensary. Subscribe and save 15%.

Delta-8 THC Legal Status

Just like HHC, Delta-8 THC is legal under the Farm Bill.

Any products containing purely Delta-8 are legally considered hemp, and so are any Delta-8 hemp products that contain other cannabinoids, as long as they contain less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight.

While you don’t want to use Delta-8 THC before a drug test, you can find high-quality Delta-8 THC products and have them delivered straight to your front door, thanks to the cannabinoid’s Farm Bill compliance.

While the Farm Bill is federal legislation, it’s always important to remember that state laws vary, and you should always check your local laws when looking for legal weed.

Learn more about Mood’s Third-Party Lab Testing to learn how all of our Delta-8 THC products go through the same strict quality assurance protocols.

Delta-8 THC Product Trends

Delta-8 THC gummies are some of the most popular Delta-8 THC products.

Like any cannabinoid-centric edibles, these can be designed to be potent, flavorful, and long-lasting.

You can also sometimes find Delta-8 THC products in the form of concentrate-filled tinctures, expertly cultivated flower, and all varieties of edibles.

The side effects of Delta-8 THC products depend on the concentration of D8, other cannabinoids present, your own unique experiences, tolerance levels, and more.

Shop our eclectic cannabis market for a variety of Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC products. Subscribe and save 15%.

HHC vs. Delta-8 FAQs

Q: Is HHC a synthetic cannabinoid?

A: In the same way that Delta-9 THC and Delta-8 THC do, HHC shows up in only small, trace amounts in young cannabis plants.

HHC products like those you’ll find at our online dispensary have been synthesized via a conversion process called hydrogenation.

Because it’s synthesized for consumption but also exists in small amounts in natural plants, HHC is actually defined as a semisynthetic cannabinoid.

Q: Does HHC get you higher than Delta-8 THC?

A: Generally, cannabis users and experts report that HHC has slightly stronger psychoactive properties than Delta-8 THC. Still, HHC is considered weaker than Delta-9 THC.

Always remember that your personal disposition, usage, tolerance, and wellness needs play a role in how you feel in response to certain cannabinoids. While we can relate to one another for guidance, we each ultimately have our own unique experiences.

Q: Why is Delta-8 THC legal?

A: As we’ve covered in this post, the Agriculture Improvement Act was passed in 2018.

Also known as the Farm Bill, removed compounds derived from hemp plants from the government’s list of controlled substances.

It distinguishes “hemp plants” from “marijuana,” which remains federally illegal and on the list of controlled substances. While both are technically cannabis plants, there's technically a difference in Delta-9 content.

According to the bill, “hemp” is any cannabis product with less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight. That means it can contain as much Delta-8 THC or HHC as possible while remaining a “hemp” product.

Every cannabis product available at our online dispensary is Farm Bill compliant, which is why you can order them to be shipped straight to your front door.

Q: Is Delta-8 THC safe?

A: When it comes to wellness and other safety concerns, it’s important to consult licensed professionals who are qualified to give advice on those particular areas.

While we can’t speak to how Delta-8 THC might affect someone’s health or wellness (because we’re not qualified to), we can say that if the products go through a quality assurance process and are lab tested to ensure they don’t contain any harmful metals or molds, then people who regularly use cannabis have nothing to be concerned with.

Generally, buying Delta-8 THC products from stores and retailers who don’t do their practices will leave you vulnerable to consuming cannabis that hasn't been tested and potentially contains harmful additives.

To ensure that our Delta-8 THC products are safe, Mood has every single one of them tested by a third-party lab.

We also include a detailed Certificate of Analysis (COA) on every product page so you can go through an in-depth report on its cannabinoid content before purchasing.

Learn more: Know Your Weed: Mood’s Third-Party Lab Testing Process

Shopping for HHC and Delta-8 Products

In addition to the HHC and Delta-8 THC products listed above, these are some of our favorites available online at Mood’s online dispensary now.

Delta-8 Gummies for Chilling

Kick back with a more mellow gummy than the Delta-9-forward ones. These Chillout Delta-8 THC Gummies have a slower onset of 45 minutes to two hours. They also come available in three fruity flavors for a little variety. Learn how these gummies earned an average rating of 4.6/5 stars from over 2.5K reviews on our website.

Get a 30-count of Chillout 25mg Delta-8 THC Gummies for only $65. Subscribe and save 15%.

Delta-8 THC Moonrocks

Described as the “caviar of cannabis,” these moonrocks feature a core of Delta-8 THC flower, which is covered in gooey, potent THC distillate and doused in soothing CBD kief. They contain just under 43% Delta-8 THC and would make a great addition to the next bowl you pack.

Get an eighth of Delta-8 THC Moonrocks for only $40 from Mood’s online dispensary. Subscribe and save 15%.

A 'Happy’ Hero-Dose Vape

This 1g draw-activated disposable vape features a stimulating blend of popular cannabinoids, with HHC leading the pack. Complementing the HHC, this pen’s concentrate features full-spectrum CBD, THCp, and rich, flavorful terpenes. Billed as a great pen for date nights and afterparties, it’s rated 4.5/5 stars from nearly 200 reviews on our store.

Get a 1g Hero Dose Kush Mintz Disposable Vape for only $46 from our online dispensary. Subscribe and save 15%.

To explore more HHC, Delta-8, and THC products, head to the Mood Shop. Not sure where to start? Shop our Best Sellers. Subscribe and save 15%.

Prices subject to change.