Cannabis contains more than 100 known cannabinoids, and the ones named most often are THC, CBD, CBG, CBC, CBN, THCV, CBDV, THCA, and CBDA. Each is a distinct compound with its own receptor activity, potency, and effect profile, and each appears at different levels depending on genetics and how the plant was grown and processed.
What Are Cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are compounds that interact with the endocannabinoid system, a signaling network using CB1 receptors in the brain and nerves and CB2 receptors in immune and other tissues. The plant builds them in acidic form, and heat, light, or time converts those acids into neutral forms such as THC and CBD. People also produce similar molecules called endocannabinoids, which is why plant cannabinoids can influence mood, appetite, pain signaling, and sleep.
cannabis cannabinoids list chart
Complete Cannabis Cannabinoids List
Major Cannabinoids
- THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol): the primary intoxicating cannabinoid, also studied for appetite stimulation, nausea relief, and pain modulation.
- THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid): the raw, non-intoxicating form found in fresh flower, converted into THC when heated.
- CBD (cannabidiol): non-intoxicating and widely studied for anxiety, seizures, and inflammation, with low direct affinity for CB1.
- CBDA (cannabidiolic acid): the acidic precursor to CBD, researched for nausea and inflammatory signaling.
- CBG (cannabigerol): a non-intoxicating cannabinoid that begins as CBGA, studied for gut, eye pressure, and antibacterial activity.
- CBGA (cannabigerolic acid): the precursor that enzymes convert into THCA, CBDA, and CBCA.
Minor Cannabinoids
- CBC (cannabichromene): non-intoxicating, studied for pain and inflammation, and thought to work alongside THC.
- CBN (cannabinol): a breakdown product of THC with mild psychoactive activity, linked to sedation in early sleep research.
- CBDV (cannabidivarin): structurally similar to CBD and researched for seizures and nausea.
- THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin): may blunt THC effects at low doses and show mild psychoactivity and appetite suppression at higher doses.
- CBCA (cannabichromenic acid): the acidic parent compound of CBC.
- CBL (cannabicyclol): a degradation product of CBC found in aged plant material.
- THCP and CBDP: recently identified cannabinoids with longer side chains, and early receptor data suggest THCP may bind CB1 more strongly than THC.
- Delta-8 THC and delta-10 THC: THC isomers present in trace amounts in the plant and typically made by converting CBD.
Acidic Cannabinoids vs Neutral Cannabinoids
Raw cannabis holds mostly acidic cannabinoids such as THCA, CBDA, CBGA, and CBCA. The acid group keeps them from fitting CB1 receptors well, so they are not intoxicating in raw form. Decarboxylation through smoking, vaping, baking, or lab heating removes that group and turns THCA into THC, CBDA into CBD, and CBGA into CBG.
Which Cannabinoids Are Psychoactive?
Delta-9 THC is the main intoxicating cannabinoid, with delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC, and THCP producing related effects at different potencies. CBD, CBG, CBC, CBCA, CBDV, THCA, CBDA, and CBGA are considered non-intoxicating, though CBN can feel sedating and very large CBD doses may cause drowsiness.
cannabis cannabinoids list chart
How Many Cannabinoids Are in Cannabis?
Researchers have identified more than 100 phytocannabinoids in Cannabis sativa, and that count keeps rising as analytical chemistry improves. Most appear at very low levels, often under 0.1 percent of dry flower weight, while THC and CBD can reach 20 to 30 percent in modern cultivars. Because breeding and testing focus on THC and CBD, minor cannabinoids remain less studied and their effects are less certain.
Cannabinoids vs Terpenes
Terpenes are aromatic compounds that create smell and flavor and do not bind cannabinoid receptors directly. They can still shape how a product feels by interacting with THC and other cannabinoids, an idea often called the entourage effect. Lab reports list cannabinoids and terpenes in separate panels, so read both when comparing products.
Cannabinoid List FAQ
What is the strongest cannabinoid?
THCP shows the highest CB1 binding affinity in early lab work, but delta-9 THC is the most reliably intoxicating cannabinoid found in tested flower. Real-world potency depends on dose, route of use, and tolerance as much as receptor affinity.
Does CBG get you high?
No. CBG is non-intoxicating and does not produce a high on its own, though it may add subtle relaxation or appetite effects when paired with THC.
Which cannabinoids are legal in the US?
Legality depends on state law and on whether the product is hemp-derived or cannabis-derived. Hemp cannabinoids with less than 0.3 percent delta-9 THC are federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill, while cannabis products follow state medical and adult-use rules.
How do I read a cannabinoid list on a label?
Start with total THC and total CBD, which combine the neutral and acidic forms after decarboxylation. Then check minor cannabinoids such as CBG, CBC, and CBN by percentage, and compare the terpene panel for flavor and aroma cues.