Dive into the features you want to see

2024 2025 Absolut absolutx abuse alltogethernow AMANDA ADE aoifemcardle art artist spotlight atn AVA AVA2025 beamish Belfast Best New Music BHM big sleep Black History Month BMW Booze Bulmers caribou centrepoint city mixer Climate Coffee counter culture Cover Story Culture dan snaith data centre Derry Design Direct Provision district district gig guide DJ documentary donjulio Drugs Dublin efé election electronicmusic elizarose emigration Fashion feature Festival Fianna Fáil Film Fine Gael forbes forbes30under30 forbiddenfruit Future of Irish Music gambling gig guide Gigs Guinness Hennessy Heverlee Housing ILFD Interview ireland irish acts irish albums irish directors Irish Language irish music irishmusic Israel izzy copestake Jack Daniel's Jagermeister Jameson japan JULIE MORISSY july khakikid Know Your Rights LGBTQ+ Lists Literature Living Hell Love lucozade Made by District Made in Ireland manifestos march gig guide Mental Health milesreilly Music New Music News nightlife No Booze other voices othervoices Palestine peggygou Photography PIPPA MALONY Pitching pod Politics Premiere rachelbaptiste Rental Rights Romance rtelyricfm saibhdownes SaintStreet sallyc SAOIRSE MILLER SARAGH CREIGHTON KEOGH september gig guide severance Sex Shite Talk Signature Dish sjaney Smirnoff smithwicks smithwicks sessions Sports Streetwear Student Sustainability Technology The Greens Theatre top 20 albums top singles 2024 Top Ten Tracks trad tradfest trans rights TV Ultimate Food Guide USA video premiere Visual Art vote women writing
General News / July 30, 2025

HHC Is Now Banned In Ireland

General News / July 30, 2025

HHC Is Now Banned In Ireland

Text: Izzy Copestake

This drug has been widely available in high street shops across Ireland up until now.

Yesterday, the semi-synthetic cannabinoid HHC (Hexahydrocannabinol) was officially classified as an illegal drug in Ireland, following growing concern over its health risks and increasing cases of addiction among young people. HHC is a chemically altered compound that mimics the psychoactive effects of THC, the primary intoxicating component in cannabis. This drug has been widely available in high street shops across Ireland in products such as vapes and edibles, often marketed in colourful packaging and sweet flavours aimed at younger users.

Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill confirmed today that HHC is now listed as a Schedule 1 controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. This decision now makes it illegal to produce, possess, import, export, sell, or supply any product containing HHC.

Since first being detected in Ireland in 2022, HHC has been linked to multiple cases of hospitalisation and acute psychiatric episodes. Consultant psychiatrist Professor Colin O’Gara warned last year of the drug’s potential to trigger severe psychosis, especially in adolescents and young adults. A recent study from University Hospital Galway found HHC to be the second most common substance among patients presenting with psychosis over a 21-month period.

The College of Psychiatrists and other health experts have consistently called for a ban on the drug, citing serious public health risks. The move to criminalise HHC follows recommendations by both the European Union and the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, which identified it, along with 13 other synthetic and semi-synthetic substances, as posing a significant threat to public health.

The HSE operates a confidential freephone Drug and Alcohol Helpline at 1800 459 459 from Monday to Friday between 9:30 am and 5:30 pm or through email at helpline@hse.ie.

The HSE’s website drugs.ie provides comprehensive information and support for people who use drugs and for those around them.

Elsewhere on District: Ireland Is Now One of the Most Expensive Places in Europe for Food and Drink