The DEA clarified that hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), a synthetic cannabinoid often derived from hemp-based CBD, is federally illegal and classified as a Schedule I controlled substance. The agency said chemically converted cannabinoids do not qualify as legal hemp under the 2018 Farm Bill, even when sourced from hemp. DEA assigned HHC its own federal drug code to strengthen regulation and enforcement. The move reinforces the agency’s broader stance against synthetic cannabinoids, though some federal courts have challenged DEA interpretations of hemp legality.
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DEA Clarifies That the Synthetic Cannabis Compound HHC Is Federally Banned, and Doesn’t Count as Legal Hemp
Jun 18, 2026 | Pre-employment Drug Testing
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