Italy has prohibited officially theHHC, HHCO and HHCP, inserting them into Table I of narcotic substances of Presidential Decree 309/90.
The decree published in the Official Journal, which will come into force from tomorrow 28 July, aims to guarantee "the protection of public health and - limit - the diffusion of the aforementioned substances on the international market". Objectives that, given previous experience, are unlikely to be achieved with prohibition.
Does Italy (why) follow Europe and ban HHC?
Despite hexahydrocannabinol was first synthesized in 1944, almost no one has ever heard of it. At least until 2021, when in United States HHC has come under the spotlight of producers, who, taking advantage of its legality and similar effects to THC, have given rise to a real phenomenon.
In fact passed off as legal alternative to THC, HHC products have ridden the crest of the cannabis market. From the USA to the European Union, all consumers have tried or at least heard of this molecule.
Interest that attracted i governments from all over the world, who have taken action to ban it and (attempt) to limit its spread.
Starting from Austria, the first EU country to ban the production and trade of HHC. Followed closely by Finland what does it have officially prohibited from sale and France, which like Italy has made both hexahydrocannabinol and its derivatives illegal. The reasons? The main ones are three:
- Although naturally present in the cannabis plant in small quantities, HHC is produced synthetically in the laboratory
- The few studies available highlight the psychotropic effects of hexahydrocannabinol: similar to THC but milder. And how the latter is made illegal
- The long-term effects of this cannabinoid are unknown. For this reason it is considered "potentially" harmful to health. But everything still needs to be verified
HHC and derivatives banned in Italy: what will change from tomorrow?
What will change from July 28th? Possessing, producing and trading HHC will be illegal criminally prosecutable. As a result, products containing this molecule will no longer be available on the market, at least from legal sources.
Finally, unlike cannabis which is found in Table II of narcotic substances, hexahydrocannabinol and its derivatives have been included in Table I, where the hard drugs. A choice that will have to be confirmed by the Ministry of Health but which significantly darkens the already bleak scenario.
* Photo by Ahmed Zayan on Unsplash
