Intro to the Major Cannabinoids in Cannabis.

Cannabis is, perhaps, the most wondrously complex plant known to man. Its uses and applications, when adopted by an open-minded community, are as countless as the tiny trichomes found on every bountiful plant leaf. However, for the majority of those who have heard about or consumed cannabis on the black market, the science and specifics of the plant were largely ignored; grouped together to form a non-specific sensation known as simply “getting high”. 

What makes cannabis so complex, and such a good fit for the human body, are its cannabinoids. A cannabinoid is one of a class of diverse chemical compounds that interacts with the human cannabinoid receptors, which are part of the endocannabinoid system found in cells that alter neurotransmitter release in the brain.

In this bog, we will dissect eight of the major compounds (known as cannabinoids) found in cannabis, explain the difference between cannabinoid acids and the more commonly recognized cannabinoids, how they are related to each other and what you should know about each one. 

While it’s difficult to know the precise number of cannabinoids present in cannabis, due to their huge number and the fact that many of them are only present in extremely low levels, it can be difficult for scientists to accurately detect and identify them. For the purpose of this blog, we will be focusing on the eight most common cannabinoid acids and their corresponding cannabinoids. 

The Eight Major Cannabinoid Acids

Did you know that cannabis, in its natural state, does not directly produce the most recognized cannabinoids THC and CBD? 

Instead, it synthesizes several cannabinoid acids that must be decarboxylated by heat or time to “activate” the compounds that consumers seek. If that sounds complicated, or you’d like to learn more about the process, check out this blog on decarboxylation. 

Through decarboxylation, THCA (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) becomes THC and CBDA (Cannabidiolic acid) becomes CBD. The remaining six common cannabinoid acids in our list are as follows: 

• CBGA (Cannabigerolic acid)
• CBCA (Cannabichromenenic acid)
• CBGVA (Cannabigerovarinic acid)
• THCVA (Tetrahydrocanabivarinic acid)
• CBDVA (Cannabidivarinic acid)
• CBCVA (Cannabichromevarinic acid)

Typically, the most abundant cannabinoids found in cannabis strains are THCA and CBDA, with the remaining six most commonly present in only trace amounts. 

And while the major cannabinoid acids in our list  include CBGA, THCA, CBDA and CBCA, CBGA is the starting compound that the plant enzymes used to create the other three. 

Cannabinoid Compounds

Following decarboxylation, each of the cannabinoid acids yields a corresponding cannabinoid compound:

• CBG (Cannabigerol)
• THC (Δ9–tetrahydrocannabinol)
• CBD (Cannabidiol)
• CBC (Cannabichromene)
• CBGV (Cannabigerivarin)
• THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin)
• CBDV (Cannabidivarin)
• CBCV (Cannabichromevarin)

Unlike THC, most of these cannabinoids don’t produce intoxicating effects, instead providing antibiotic or insecticidal properties. The exception is THCV, which may or may not also have intoxicating effects, mostly depending on dosage and provider, with most legal cannabis products not being recognized for having it. 

Remember, just because most cannabinoids are not intoxicating in and of themselves, their presence can influence how THC affects you thanks to something referred to as the Entourage Effect – you can learn more about that in this blog.