HHCPO: everything you need to know about the new HHC

On June 12, 2023, the agency responsible for regulating chemical molecules, the ASM, called for aban on HHC and some of its derivatives. The reason? The possibility of addiction and dependence among consumers.

Following this ban, new synthetic and semi-synthetic molecules (THCV, THCP, THCPO...) invaded the market, including HHCPO.

What is this molecule? What does it have to do with HHC? Is it legal? In this article, we explain everything you need to know before buying HHCPO!

What is HHCPO

To put it as simply as possible: HHCPO is a synthetic cannabinoid. It is an acetylated form of HHC. HHC itself is a hydrogenated form of THC.

Put like that, you'd think that to produce HHCPO, you'd hydrogenate THC, then add an acetyl group to the result. But that's not how chemistry works: there are many different ways of achieving the same result. In fact, both HHCPO and HHC are created from CBD.

We'll skip the subtleties, but in a nutshell, what you need to know is that HHCPO, HHC and THC are very similar on a molecular level (hence the almost similar name). Yet HHCPO and HHC are two cannabinoids derived from CBD.

HHC and HHCPO: what are the differences?

With their molecular proximity, HHC and HHCPO have very similar effects to THC. All three are responsible for psychotropic and psychoactive effects.

Nevertheless, it should be borne in mind that HHC and HHCPO are very recent. There is little scientific data on them.
However, according to consumer feedback, HHC seems to have milder effects than THC. On the other hand, HHCPO seems to be more potent than HHC.

So it could be that HHCPO is similar in potency to THC. But it's important to remember that each cannabinoid acts differently in different people, depending on their own biological chemistry. As scientific studies on the subject are limited, we cannot state with certainty that HHCPO does indeed have such potency.

In any case, the only differences between HHC and HHCPO that are certain are :

• HHC is a hydrogenated form, HHCPO is a hydrogenated AND acetylated form
• HHCPO is legal, while HHC is no longer
• HHCPO is more powerful than HHC

Is HHCPO legal?

The HHCPO has been classified as illegal as of June 3, 2024 .

As you probably know, when it comes to CBD, legislation does not cover all cannabinoids and their derivatives. The field evolves very quickly, and legislation has needed studies and concrete proof before definitively banning the sale of a product. Like HHC and some of its derivatives, HHCPO, THCB, THCP and a host of other cannabinoids derived from CBD have been banned. 

Recognizing the real HHCPO

As you can see, this lack of supervision leaves producers and retailers free to do as they please. What's more, some don't hesitate to rename a molecule to make it less frightening!

Indeed, since HHC is banned, some sellers don't want to say that the molecule in their CBD is HHCPO. Instead, they come up with other names. And it's even truer for HHCPO, given that HHC has been banned, many change the name to mislead the consumer.
So you may find BZV or E9D. But very often, these molecules, which only their suppliers know the secret about, are just HHCPO.

And then you ask yourself: "But if there are so many of them, and with all the molecules that exist, how do I know if it's a false name or a real molecule? The answer is simple: if you're in any doubt about the name of a molecule. Look it up on the Internet!

If it's only available from a single seller, it's often a CBD derivative: H3CBN, THCV, HHCPO... which has only been renamed.

Yes, HHCPO is not the only cannabinoid to be affected by dubious practices. This is also the case for THCP, which is often renamed Delta-P, for example.

Sometimes, suppliers go further than a simple name change. They don't hesitate to lower the price of their products by adding HHCPO to THCP, for example. The effects are totally different, but HHCPO is much cheaper than THCP.

So take a good look at the prices, and remember, if it's too good to be true, it's often because it's not!

Recognizing a trusted vendor

If we were to tell you that, to avoid problems, you should only buy from a dealer you can trust, that would be a bit easy. Similarly, it's not enough to buy TCHP with the French THCP logo, or THCP FR, to be sure you're ordering quality.

So we're going to tell you how to recognize a trusted reseller.

The first thing to do is check out the reviews and ratings on Google or Trustpilot, for example. (Our score is 4.9/5 on both !)

If the number of notes seems insufficient, or if there are none at all, this doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad site either - it could be due to the fact that it's brand new.

The solution in this case is to type the name of the site into a search engine and associate the word "scam" with it. If the site is indeed unsavory, you'll be informed directly.

Finally, if you're still not convinced, the solution is to consult the "legal notices" or "general terms and conditions of sale" which are always at the very bottom of the page. Read them carefully and make sure there's nothing wrong!

If, after completing these three steps, you haven't found anything out of the ordinary, then you can go ahead with your eyes shut!

Now that you know all there is to know about HHCPO, and we can't tell you any more, all you have to do is find out!