UK Confirms THCA Will Become a Class B Drug, Alongside HHC
After a consultation, the Home Office says THCA and a generic group of semi-synthetic cannabinoids will be controlled as Class B. The order still has to reach Parliament.
This story is about the United Kingdom — not the country you picked in the header.
Key takeaways
- A Home Office letter dated 11 May 2026 confirmed THCA-A and THCA-B will be controlled as named Class B drugs.
- Semi-synthetic cannabinoids such as HHC will be captured by an updated generic Class B definition.
- Consumer CBD products that meet the existing exempt-product conditions stay exempt.
- No date has been set; controls follow 'when parliamentary time allows'.
- The consultation drew three substantive responses; one warned of impacts on the CBD and hemp sector.
THCA "diamonds" and THCA flower, sold in some UK shops and online on the argument that THCA itself isn't a controlled drug, are set to become Class B. In a letter to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) dated 11 May 2026, Home Office minister Sarah Jones confirmed the government will proceed with Class B control of THCA-A and THCA-B, and with a generic control covering semi-synthetic cannabinoids.
Why it matters to buyers and shops
THCA turns into THC when heated, which is why the ACMD recommended control. Once the order is in force, possessing THCA products will carry the same maximum penalties as cannabis: up to 5 years for possession and 14 for supply.
How the decision was reached
The ACMD publishes its review of semi-synthetic cannabinoids, reporting UK detections of THCA crystals and THCA in vape canisters, and recommending Class B control for HHC and other named compounds, a generic control for semi-synthetic cannabinoids, and control of the two THC acids.
Minister Dame Diana Johnson accepts the recommendations, but says she will consult first on the two THC acids because of their long-standing uncontrolled status.
Minister Sarah Jones confirms both the generic semi-synthetic control and named control of THCA after consultation.
| Substance | Current status | Decided change |
|---|---|---|
| HHC and named hexahydro-derivatives | Banned from sale and import under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 | Class B, Schedule 1 |
| Other psychoactive semi-synthetic cannabinoids | Psychoactive Substances Act | Class B via an updated generic definition |
| THCA-A and THCA-B | Not named in the Misuse of Drugs Act | Named Class B substances |
| Consumer CBD products | Exempt if conditions are met | Remain exempt under existing guidance |
Consultation and reactions
The Home Office received three substantive responses, according to the letter. Two dealt with research access, which the government had already addressed in July 2025. One raised concerns about the effect on the CBD and hemp sector; the government proceeded anyway, citing ACMD evidence that THCA converts to THC when heated.
What happens next
The changes need an amendment order to the Misuse of Drugs Act, approved by Parliament. The August 2025 letter said controls would follow "when parliamentary time allows", and the May 2026 letter set no date. Until then, HHC remains illegal to sell or import, and THCA flower is still cannabis plant material. Our guide to "legal THC" gummies in the UK explains how each compound is treated now.
Sources
- Home Office (GOV.UK) — Further response letter from Sarah Jones MP to the ACMD · checked May 2026
- Home Office — Government response to ACMD advice on semi-synthetic cannabinoids (letter, 20 August 2025) · checked Aug 2025
- Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs — 'Semi-synthetic' cannabinoids: cannabinoids related to tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol · checked May 2025
- GOV.UK — Penalties for drug possession and dealing · checked Sep 2026
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