“We have decided to include hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and two of its derivatives, HHC-acetate (HHCO) and hexahydroxycannabiphorol (HHCP) on the list of narcotic products”, declared, this Monday, the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) in a press release. From Tuesday, the production, sale and use of these three products are prohibited on French territory.
There was still a sort of vagueness around these substances, which the ANSM classed as “synthetic cannabinoids”. This is no longer the case, in particular since the agency received the conclusions of work carried out by the centers for evaluation and information on drug dependence-addictovigilance (CEIP-A). “This work has reported that HHC presents a risk of abuse and dependence equivalent to that of cannabis,” says the ANSM. If another reason was needed, the agency adds that “the chemical structure of these products is close to that of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol”, otherwise known as THC, a substance which is already classified as a narcotic.
“It’s a product that causes a strong addiction”
France is far from being the first to take restrictive measures concerning HHC. In Europe, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, the United Kingdom and Finland have already banned this product for sale. Moreover, French sellers, online or in CBD shops, expected to be caught up in the regulations. Some even organized history promotions to liquidate their stocks before the ban.
“Obviously, it is a product which causes a strong addiction and significant psychotropic effects”, declared François Braun, the Minister of Health with our colleagues from France Info May 15th. “HHC is obtained by chemical synthesis from natural cannabinoids producing psychotropic effects similar to those felt when consuming THC”, confirms the ANSM. The product is multifaceted: oil, resin, smoking herb, spray, confectionery, e-liquid, jelly. The concentration of these products in HHC can reach “up to 99%” and can expose the consumer “to risks such as tremors, vomiting, anxiety, bad trip, mental confusion, malaise, tachycardia, chest pain”, list l ‘ANSM.