HHCFriends tested: legal cannabinoids or grey area?

Anyone looking for a "legal high" in Germany will quickly come across HHCFriends – an online shop from the Czech Republic that offers more than 14 different cannabinoids: from THCA and HHZ to H4CBD. The shop advertises more than 65,000 satisfied customers, EU-certified hemp and lab testing. But what's really behind it – and is buying from it in Germany even legal?

The range: 14+ cannabinoids in every form

HHCFriends offers a wide range of products: flowers, vapes, hash, gummies, liquids and joints – all in different cannabinoid variants. The active ingredients currently on offer include THCA, T9HC, HHZ, CBD, CBG9, H4CBD, 10-OH-HHCP, THP420 and 10-OH-THC.

That sounds like a comprehensive offering for cannabinoid enthusiasts. In reality, though, the product range reflects one thing above all: the constant search for active ingredients that sit in a legal grey area. Since the HHC ban in Germany on 27 June 2024, shops like HHCFriends have switched their range to alternatives such as THCA, HHZ and other derivatives.

Legal situation: what's allowed since the HHC ban?

Since 27 June 2024, HHC (hexahydrocannabinol) has been banned in Germany – under the NpSG (New Psychoactive Substances Act), not the classic Narcotics Act (BtMG). Manufacturing, selling, acquiring and importing it are criminal offences. Possession and consumption, on the other hand, remain unpunished.

Many of the alternatives on offer today are on thin ice legally. THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) is not identical to THC, but when heated it converts directly into delta-9-THC – the classic psychoactive ingredient. Whether THCA and similar cannabinoids will be regulated as precursor substances in Germany has not yet been conclusively settled legally.

HHCFriends itself words its disclaimer carefully: all products are "sold exclusively as collectibles and aroma articles". This wording is widespread in the industry – it shifts legal responsibility onto the buyer without calling into question the advertised effect of the products.

Quality and shipping

What stands out positively: HHCFriends focuses on transparency regarding product quality. According to the shop, all products are lab-certified and come from EU-certified hemp. Certificates can be viewed on the website – that's more than many competitors in this category offer.

Shipping is fast and discreet, which is an important criterion for many customers in this product category. The shop is operated by the Czech company "Vital Haven GmbH", and customer service is available in German.

What do customers say?

Customer reviews of HHCFriends are predominantly positive. Many praise the fast delivery, the product quality and the wide range. Criticism mainly concerns individual product batches where the desired effect reportedly failed to materialise – a well-known problem with cannabinoid products, whose effects vary greatly from person to person.

What's striking: many reviews explicitly highlight the psychoactive effects – even though the products are officially sold as aroma articles. This illustrates the gap between the official product communication and how customers actually use the products.

Conclusion: a legal shop – but with risks

HHCFriends is one of the most professional cannabinoid shops in the German-speaking region. The range is broad, product quality is transparently documented and customer service works. Anyone wanting to buy cannabinoid products will find one of the industry's clearer points of contact here.

Nevertheless, you should be clear about the legal situation: many of the active ingredients on offer are in a regulatory grey area. If you want to stay on the safe side, get legal information before buying – or opt for classic CBD products, which are clearly legal.