HHC products banned from sale in Finland

Europe's health authorities are reacting on a country-by-country basis. After Austria or Switzerland (although some companies continue to sell it outside its borders), Finland bans the sale of products containing HHC, a hemp derivative that is in a legal grey area and is increasingly present on the market, causing concern among regulators.

HHC products are now widely available in Europe, driven by the growing market for «legal» synthetic minor cannabinoids in the USA.

HHC is marketed as having near-similar effects to THC, found naturally in cannabis. The HHC manufacturing process has been known since the 1940s. It was originally made from THC but is now derived from CBD via various synthesis techniques.

A European issue

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) looked into the matter at the end of last year, considering that hexahydrocannabinol was the first semi-synthetic cannabinoid reported in the European Union.

According to a small number of laboratory studies reported by the EMCDDA, HHC appears to have effects broadly similar to those of THC. The pharmacological and behavioral effects of HHC in humans have not been studied, although anecdotal reports from users indicate that its effects may be similar to those of cannabis.

«HHC is sold openly as a «legal» substitute for THC and cannabis in a range of highly attractive branded and unbranded products, some of which are sold as «legal drugs». These include hemp vaporized or mixed with HHC - which looks and smells like «real» cannabis - as well as vapes and edibles. Marketing and advertising often make direct comparisons with the effects of THC and cannabis», explains the EMCDDA.

Banned in Finland, but not in Sweden

In January, Finland classified HHC as a psychoactive substance prohibited for sale. This classification prohibits the manufacture, import, sale, transfer and storage of HHC. However, the use and possession of these substances are not yet prohibited under current Finnish legislation.

In practice, this is a step towards designating HHC as an illegal drug, suggested Katja Pihlainen, Senior Inspector at the Finnish Medicines Agency (Fimea).

«These products border on the legal. Even if they're made from industrial hemp, they often contain THC. Therefore, they are narcotics,» warned Pihlainen.

L’Estonia has already classified HHC as an illegal drug. Belgium and Hungary are expected to follow suit shortly.

In Sweden, for the time being, online stores continue to sell HHC-based products. According to Katja Pihlainen, Sweden has also begun the process of banning HHC.