Hexahydrocannabinol on the Light Cannabis Market: The Latest "New" Entry.

Hexahydrocannabinols (HHCs), referred to as (9)-HHC and (9)-HHC diastereoisomers, are poorly studied cannabinoids naturally found in small concentrations in the pollen and the seeds of the hemp plants. In this study, for the first time, we describe the finding of (9)-HHC and (9)-HHC in two commercialized hemp derived products. The achievement of reference standards by semisynthetic or isolation approach allows us to develop and validate a gas chromatography mass spectrometry method for the identification and quantification of HHCs in hemp-derived resin. The two analyzed samples showed percentage of 42.5 and 41.5 for (9)-HHC and of 23.6 and 23.6 for (9)-HHC. Despite the lack of in-depth studies about HHCs activity, potency, toxicity, and safety, these cannabinoids are emerging on the light-cannabis (hemp) market probably because legislations still do not clearly regulate them. Since analytical assay for hemp-derived products usually include only Δ-THC, THC-A, CBD, and CBD-A, a thorough investigation could be carried out to reveal the possible addition of "new" compounds that might be a matter of safety.