Semi-synthetic cannabinoid
Narcotic: generic clauseHHC-OHexahydrocannabinol acetate
Aliases.HHC-acétate · HHC-O-A
The acetate of HHC - acts as a prodrug hydrolysed into active HHC. Banned in France and in most EU countries.
Updated on
Level of detail
Identifiers
- Formula
- C₂₃H₃₄O₃
- CAS
- -
- PubChem CID
- 165412103
- First described
- Émergence commerciale 2022
- Origin
- Semi-synthetic
In plain terms
HHC-O is a “slow-release” version of HHC: an acetate ester that is converted into active HHC in the liver. Later onset (60–90 minutes), longer duration. Banned in France since June 2023.
Receptors and activity
- CB1 (via HHC libéré)Partial agonist
- CB1 (parent direct)Modulator
- CB2Partial agonist
- Agonist
- Partial agonist
- Antagonist
- Modulator
- Inverse agonist
Hover over a row for the precise value (Ki, EC50…)
Subjective signature
Hover over an axis to read its definition.
- Calm60
- Clarity35
- Sleep70
- Appetite65
- High75
Editorial estimate, not clinical.
Pharmacology
HHC-O is the O-acetate of HHC, modelled on the already known concept of THC-O-acetate: acetylation creates a more lipophilic prodrug, which does not act directly on the CB1 receptors but releases active HHC after hepatic hydrolysis by esterases. The consequences: slower onset (60–90 minutes by inhalation, 90–180 minutes by the oral route), extended duration, and a subjective potency reported as slightly higher than that of the parent HHC - without any human clinical study confirming it. HHC-O saw rapid commercial spread in Europe from 2022 onwards, followed by a wave of national bans: France (ANSM, 13 June 2023), Italy (DM Salute, 13 July 2023), Czech Republic (NV 52/2024 Sb., 6 March 2024), Germany (5th amendment to the NpSG, 27 June 2024), Spain (Orden SND/380/2025, 23 April 2025). Phytogrammes no longer sells it since the entry into force of the UN 1971-II classification of HHC.
Route of preparation (chemical process)
The O-acetate ester of HHC - acts as a prodrug, hydrolysed in vivo into active HHC (by analogy with THC-O → THC)
Legal framework
France
Prohibited, ANSM decision of 13 June 2023, covered indirectly by CND-68/5 (HHC) since 6 December 2025
European Union
Banned in IT (Tab. I, July 2023), CZ (NV 52/2024 Sb., March 2024), DE (NpSG, June 2024), ES (Orden SND/380/2025, April 2025)
Sources: EUR-Lex, UNODC, CND, ANSM, IUPHAR/BPS, ChEBI, EUDA. Our method.
Structural classification
- Class
- Semi-synthetic cannabinoid
- Origin
- Semi-synthetic
- Status
- Narcotic: generic clause
Structured data
- SMILES
- CCCCCC1=CC2=C([C@@H]3CC(CC[C@H]3C(O2)(C)C)C)C(=C1)OC(=O)C
- Formula
- C23H34O3
- PubChem CID
- 165412103
LLM ingestion format: a structured superset of the entry (identifiers, binding, versioned legal status). Full corpus.