If you are just getting into the world of cannabis, then there are many different cannabinoids that you should become familiar with. Sure, you have your basic THC, CBD, CBN, and CBG, which you're probably familiar with.
However, there are many more cannabinoids out there, both naturally occurring and synthetic ones, and today we are here to talk about one of the synthetic ones, H4CBD. We discuss exactly what H4CBD is, what its effects are, if it has any side effects, whether it is naturally occurring or synthetic, and much more. Let's dive into exactly what H4CBD is and what you're in for if you consume it.
Key Takeaways
- H4CBD is hydrogenated CBD, a synthetically made cannabinoid
- H4CBD is thought to have many of the same benefits as regular CBD
- H4CBD is thought to be mildly psychoactive
- More research into the effects and side effects of H4CBD is required
What is H4CBD?
H4CBD stands for hexahydrocannabidiol, which is otherwise known as hydrogenated CBD. This is a synthetic version of the CBD extract that was first created in the middle of the 20th century. Up until very recently, the only reason why this was important was for research purposes, as H4CBD was not on the market at all.
However, in the last few years, H4CBD products have hit the market due to their purported benefits. Simply put, H4CBD is a synthetic or man-made cannabinoid that is manufactured by processing CBD in a certain manner, which we will discuss below. So, although H4CBD is naturally derived from CBD, it is synthesized in a laboratory setting.
What are the Effects of H4CBD
What gets really confusing here is what exactly H4CBD does to the human mind and body. There is very little research on this front.
What is known is that H4CBD has a much higher affinity for the CB1 neuroreceptors in your brain compared to normal CBD. Normal CBD generally does not have an affinity for CB1 receptors, but H4CBD does. In other words, H4CBD sees a lot of interaction with the CB1 receptors in your brain.
It is thought that in a other ways, H4CBD is up to 100 times more potent than regular CBD. In terms of the basic effects,H4CBD is somewhat similar to CBD in the sense that it may be able to help relieve anxious thoughts, decrease depressive thoughts, help you sleep better at night, regulate your mood, act as a pain reliever, and decrease symptoms related to inflammation.
Once again, more research is required although due to the similarities of H4CBD and CBD, as well as anecdotal evidence, it would appear that H4CBD has many of the same benefits as regular CBD.
However, it needs to be said that H4CBD may actually be an intoxicant; in other words, it may be psychoactive. H4CBD is thought to provide you with all of the physical and mental benefits of regular CBD, but also along with some of the psychoactive properties of THC.
H4CBD, when consumed in large doses, can make you feel a little high. Some users report feeling some degree of a body and/or head high after having consumed H4CBD, with many saying that it is like consuming a 2:1 dose of CBD to THC. Feelings may include happiness, euphoria, decreased reaction time, sedation, hunger, and other effects typical of THC.
Side Effects of H4CBD
At this time, the possible side effects of H4CBD are relatively unknown, as there just isn't enough research on this front. That being said, it is safe to assume that because H4CBD acts like a combination of CBD and THC, the side effects could relate to both of those other cannabinoids.
One could assume that you might feel tired, suffer from red and itchy eyes, have a dry mouth, get a headache, feel nauseous, and suffer from gastrointestinal upset. However, this is not confirmed.
Is H4CBD Synthetic?
Yes, H4CBD is synthetic, which means that it is not a naturally occurring cannabinoid that is found in cannabis or hemp plants. Instead, H4CBD has to be derived or synthesized from other cannabinoids that are present in cannabis or hemp plants.
How is H4CBD Made?
Without getting too scientific, H4CBD is created by adding hydrogen atoms to CBD molecules, which is why CBD is sometimes referred to as hydrogenated CBD.
This is of course a relatively complicated scientific process, and it does need to be performed in a laboratory. Without getting too complicated, scientists add hydrogen atoms to CBD in order to change its chemical composition.
When Was H4CBD Discovered?
H4CBD was first discovered in the late 1940s by a research team called the Todd Group. This was a group of pioneers that studied the chemistry of cannabis. In fact, the Todd group is responsible for the identification of many different cannabinoids, dozens of them, and they are also responsible for the synthesis of dozens of others.
The Todd group discovered and isolated many of the cannabinoids that we know today, and they also figured out how to synthesize many more of them out of the naturally occurring ones.
H4CBD vs CBD?
Let's just take a quick look at the major differences between CBD and H4CBD.- H4 CBD features a different structure than CBD. H4CBD is made by adding four hydrogen atoms to the head of the CBD molecule.
- CBD is a naturally occurring cannabinoid that can be found in hemp. H4CBD is a synthetically made cannabinoid that is made from CBD, although it is not naturally occurring.
- H4CBD is thought to be about 100 times more potent than regular CBD, at least in a few specific ways. Overall, hydrogenated CBDs such as H4CBD display a very high affinity for CB1 neuroreceptors in the brain. However, being 100 times more potent only refers to the affinity with CB1 receptors, so although 100 times sounds like a lot, it’s actually a fairly negligible number. Either way, this is something that CBD does not do.
- Both CBD and H4CBD are thought to have benefits in terms of pain, inflammation, sleep, and mood regulation.
- Unlike regular CBD, H4CBD is thought to be psychoactive or an intoxicant, which means that it will make you feel a little high, although supposedly not quite as high as regular THC.
- You can find CBD virtually anywhere, whereas 4HCBD is actually very hard to come by.
Is H4CBD the Same as CBD
No, CBD and H4CBD are not the same things. CBD is a naturally occurring cannabinoid found in both hemp and cannabis plants, whereas H4CBD does not occur naturally and needs to be synthesized from CBD.
Although they may have somewhat similar properties and effects, due to their different chemical compositions, they are certainly not the same things.
Is H4CBD Safe?
Common sense would dictate that because THC and CBD are relatively safe that H4CBD would be relatively safe as well. Up until now, there have been no reports of any fatal or serious side effects or safety issues in regard to H4CBD. However, to determine whether or not H4CBD is indeed 100% safe a lot more research needs to be performed.
Is H4CBD Legal?
To be clear, whether or not this particular cannabinoid is legal is questionable at best. The 2018 Farm Bill does state that cannabinoids derived from hemp plants that contain less than 0.3% THC are legal.
However, the wording in this legislation is vague, as it only talks about Delta-9 THC. The FDA has stated that their definition of cannabis only applies to Delta-9 THC. However, the legal status of cannabinoids that have been synthesized or chemically altered, such as H4CBD, is undefined.
So, if the H4CBD is synthesized from CBD that comes from hemp plants with less than 0.3% THC, one can assume that it should be legal, although this is not set in stone, so caution is required.
Where to Buy H4CBD
At this time, you may be able to purchase H4CBD online or in various dispensaries in your local area. However, since H4CBD is not at all common, it is not readily available, and you will likely have a hard time finding it.
If you can find it, it's likely going to be in very large quantities that you won't have a practical use for. Therefore, we recommend going for some good old CBD.
Where to Buy CBD Online
If you are looking to buy some good old CBD, then Botany Farms is the best place to find it. We have some delicious CBD gummies for you to check out that come in all sorts of flavors and potencies.
If you’d rather smoke, here we have some excellent Sugar Queen CBD Pre-Roll Joints that taste super nice. Our CBD flower is super popular too, with CBD Blueberry Kush and CBD Godfather OG both being super popular. If you want to mix both CBD and THC, check out this combination Live Resin Tincture.
