News Navigator: What is the cannabinoid chemical ‘HHCH,’ now banned in Japan?

The Mainichi Shimbun answers some common questions readers may have about the chemical compound HHCH, which is now banned in Japan.

Question: I heard that people who ate a product called “cannabis gummies” became ill. Why is that?

Answer: It is because the gummies contained a substance similar to one in marijuana. Cannabis belongs to a botanical family called Cannabaceae, and is an illegal drug that affects the brain.

Q: What kind of substances are they?

A: Marijuana contains ingredients collectively known as cannabinoids, and one typical harmful substance is THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol. A synthetic compound with a structure similar to THC, hexahydrocannabihexol, or HHCH, was found in the gummy products. The compound is believed to have been created synthetically, and the manufacture and sale of products containing it had not been prohibited by law.

Q: How do they affect the body?

A: Taking THC produces a feeling of euphoria, and large doses can cause nausea and hallucinations. Masahiko Funada, professor of psychopharmacology at Shonan University of Medical Sciences, believes that HHCH has similar effects.

Q: How dangerous is it?

A: There have been a number of cases across Japan where people have been taken to emergency rooms after eating products believed to contain HHCH. As a result, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare added the substance to the list of designated drugs under the pharmaceuticals and medical devices law, and has banned its sale and possession since Dec. 2.

Q: So, are we safe now?

A: Not quite. Funada points out the danger that if products contain ingredients similar to HHCH, they could be distributed without safety checks. In order to prevent health hazards, the health ministry intends to regulate similar substances together as early as January 2024 under the comprehensive designation system of the pharmaceuticals and medical devices law.

(Japanese original by Ayami Abe, Lifestyle, Science & Environment News Department)