In another step toward prohibition-based policy, the Irish government has officially outlawed Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) — a synthetic cannabinoid that until recently was being sold legally in various head shops and online outlets. HHC is now controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 as of August 1st, 2025, following its growing popularity and psychoactive similarities to THC, the primary active compound in cannabis.
While this may seem like a victory for public health on the surface, the deeper truth is more complicated.
As a CBD dispensary in Ireland, we feel a duty to speak up not just as retailers, but as advocates and users of the real green plant. We believe this new ban reflects a recurring failure in how we address cannabis and its alternatives in Ireland.
The problem isn't HHC. The problem,
a system that made HHC appealing in the first place.
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We have already been here. Before HHC, there were Spice, K2, Black Mamba, JWH-018, AB-FUBINACA, and countless other lab-born chemicals created to mimic the effects of cannabis. These synthetic cannabinoids, sold in colourful packets and marketed as “herbal incense” or “legal highs,” were available in head shops across Ireland and Europe in the early 2000s and 2010s.
What did they all have in common?
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They were man-made. Often created in overseas labs with little to no regulation.
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They were unstable. Many caused serious side effects like psychosis, seizures, extreme anxiety, and in some tragic cases, death.
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They were born of prohibition. These substances only existed because real, natural cannabis was kept out of reach.
And now, we’re seeing history repeat itself. With HHC, yet another synthetic compound filled the void where cannabis could have offered a safer, time-tested alternative.
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Here’s what makes cannabis different: it’s natural, it’s complex, and it’s been used medicinally for thousands of years. It doesn’t need to be altered in a lab or rebranded in flashy packaging.
Cannabis contains over 100 cannabinoids, including CBD (cannabidiol) — a non-intoxicating compound that has changed lives, eased pain, reduced anxiety, and brought balance to countless people, all without a “high.” The explosion of the CBD industry in Ireland and around the world is proof that people are searching for plant-based healing and not dangerous highs.
CBD is the first door to open. But it shouldn’t be the last.
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At Bud Brothers we are passionate about holistic health, we’ve seen what CBD can do. We’ve talked to customers who use it for sleep, for mood, for joint pain, for clarity. It’s a bridge between the taboo of cannabis and the future of medicine.
But even with all its benefits, CBD is just one part of the plant.
True healing comes when we embrace the full spectrum — including low-dose THC and other cannabinoids that work together to enhance each other’s effects. This synergy, known as the entourage effect, is where the future of cannabis medicine lies.
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By banning HHC, Ireland is trying to keep people safe. But banning alone doesn’t protect anyone — it just drives curiosity underground, where misinformation thrives and support disappears.
When natural cannabis is illegal or heavily restricted, people turn to synthetic alternatives — often without knowing the risks.
That’s not freedom. That’s not safety. That’s not health.
Legalising and regulating natural cannabis can:
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Removes the market for dangerous synthetics.
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Educates consumers through transparency.
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Access to real, plant-based healing.
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Shifts the conversation from crime to care.
We’re not saying every person needs cannabis. But those who do — those suffering, exploring, or seeking peace deserve the right to access something real, not a man-made imitation.
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We believe in nature. We believe in science. And we believe in people’s right to choose a better, healthier, safer option — one that grows from the ground, not from a lab.
The ban on HHC is a signal. Not that we’re solving a problem — but that we’re still avoiding the real solution.
It’s time to stop criminalising a plant that heals.
It’s time to stop pushing people toward fake nature.
It’s time to legalise cannabis — for good.
From our family to yours — keep it natural.
With love,
Bud Brothers.