.Most people have heard of THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, otherwise known colloquially as pot, weed, grass, and marijuana. In addition, CBD, or cannabidiol, has shot to the limelight in recent years as a non-psychoactive cannabinoid with numerous reported health benefits.
However, did you know that there are more than a hundred cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant? Cannabinoids are a group of chemical compounds that interact with our endocannabinoid system, or ECS, a complex network that greatly influences various bodily functions such as pain, mood, inflammation, memory, focus, and appetite.
In addition, the many cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant work together in a phenomenon called “the entourage effect.” This happens when all the compounds synergistically work together. This results in effects far greater than a singular compound working alone. The cannabinoids interact with the CB1 and CB2 receptors in our ECS, helping the body achieve a state of balance called homeostasis.
Let’s take a look into the common cannabinoids in the cannabis plant and what each one does.
Common cannabinoids in the cannabis plant
While there are over a hundred cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, there are only a handful that are currently being extracted and used.
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THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol, C21H30O2)
THC has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for various ailments. It is the most famous of all the cannabinoids and is responsible for the euphoric “high” associated with marijuana use. Not only does it typically cause the high, but users have often experienced an altered perception of time, increased appetite in a phenomenon called the “munchies”, improved moods, and an overall state of calm and relaxation.
Medical uses of THC include pain relief, appetite stimulation for patients with conditions such as cancer and HIV/AIDS, a sleep aid, and alleviating nausea in chemotherapy patients. THC is often consumed by smoking flowers, popping an edible, or adding THC oil to your food.
However, pharmaceutical drugs containing THC such as Dronabinol have already been approved for use by the FDA to treat nausea and vomiting. THC remains federally illegal, but 38 states have approved its use for medical use and 24 for recreational use.
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CBD (Cannabidiol, C21H30O2)
CBD is THC’s less potent little cousin. However, it is fast growing in popularity for its known health benefits without the “high” that’s associated with THC. According to the 2018 Farm Bill, CBD products must contain less than 0.03% THC as the likelihood of experiencing psychoactive effects is very slim at those levels.
Despite the law, it was recently found that five major CBD manufacturers were selling products that contain more than the legal amount of THC, which is why quality control and third-party lab testing are crucial to the safety of CBD products.
CBD is a relatively new compound with limited research, but early clinical trials found that CBD could help with anxiety and depression, reduce inflammation and control pain, reduce seizures, and has neuroprotective properties that could help with disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
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CBN (Cannabinol, C21H26O2)
Cannabinol has very mild psychoactive properties and often works as a sleep aid, pain reliever, and anti-bacterial compound. It is produced when THC is exposed to the environment, causing it to oxidize and degrade.
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CBG (Cannabigerol, C21H32O2)
CBG is not psychoactive and can have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties and neuroprotective effects. It is affectionately known as the “mother of all cannabinoids.” This because other cannabinoids are derived from cannabigerolic acid, CBGA, the acidic form of CBG.
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THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin, C19H26O2)
THCV can improve mental clarity and focus, earning its nickname “Weederall”. It can also reduce cravings and appetite, hence, the root of the other nickname, “diet weed”. THCV users have reported significantly fewer psychoactive effects compared to THC.
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Delta-8 THC (C21H30O2)
Delta-8 is three to four times less potent than Delta-9 THC. While both compounds are chemically similar, the one key difference is the placement of the double bond. Delta-8 has it placed on the eighth carbon while delta-9 has it placed on the ninth.
Read more: Delta-8 vs Delta-9 THC: What’s The Difference?
Read more: Schedule I to III: The cannabis industry’s path to legalization
The entourage effect
These common cannabinoids, in addition to many other lesser-known ones, each have individual properties that interact with our endocannabinoid system, hence affecting our pain perception, immune system, inflammatory responses, mood, anxiety and stress levels, cognitive function, and appetite.
However, when used together, the compounds create the entourage effect. With this, not just the cannabinoids, but also the terpenes and flavonoids work together to enhance the therapeutic effects. This means that the combined effect is greater than the sum of each effect if each compound was used individually.
