Quick answer
Cannabis plants make more than 100 cannabinoids. Two dominate the research: delta-9 THC and CBD. THC causes intoxication and binds CB1 receptors in the brain. CBD does not cause intoxication and has low affinity for CB1. Other cannabinoids, such as CBG, CBC, CBN, THCV, and CBDV, appear at low levels in most flower. Human trials for those compounds are few. Acid forms such as THCA and CBDA sit in raw plant material and turn into THC and CBD when heated.
Cannabinoid list and reported benefits
Delta-9 THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)
THC binds CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 sits in the brain and spinal cord. Effects include euphoria, altered time sense, hunger, and reduced pain signaling. Retail flower in US states often tests 15% to 25% THC. Dronabinol (Marinol, Syndros) is an FDA approved THC drug for chemotherapy nausea and AIDS related appetite loss. Risks include anxiety, impaired memory, and dependency in a minority of users.
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CBD (cannabidiol)
CBD does not produce a high. It binds CB1 with low affinity and may blunt some THC effects. Epidiolex, a purified CBD drug, is FDA approved for seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Dravet syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis complex. Trials on CBD for anxiety, sleep, and chronic pain show small effects and inconsistent results. Side effects include diarrhea, drowsiness, and liver enzyme changes.
CBG (cannabigerol)
CBGA is the parent molecule for THC, CBD, and CBC. Most strains carry less than 1% CBG. Lab and animal work shows antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity. Human trials are scarce. No FDA approved CBG drug exists.
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CBC (cannabichromene)
CBC binds CB1 and CB2 with weak affinity. Rodent studies link CBC to pain and inflammation pathways. Human data are not available.
CBN (cannabinol)
CBN forms when THC oxidizes. Aged flower and extracts hold more CBN. Marketing calls CBN a sleep aid. Evidence is thin. One small human study in the 1970s tested CBN with THC. No trial isolates CBN as a sleep treatment.
THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin)
THCV has a shorter side chain than THC. At low doses it may block CB1. At high doses it may activate CB1. Small trials studied THCV for type 2 diabetes markers and appetite. Results need replication.
CBDV (cannabidivarin)
CBDV shares the CBD structure with a shorter chain. Trials test CBDV for epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder. Results are not final.
THCA and CBDA (acid forms)
Raw cannabis holds THCA and CBDA. These acids do not fit CB1 or CB2 well, so they do not cause intoxication. Heat removes a carboxyl group. Decarboxylation starts near 220 F (105 C) and converts THCA to THC and CBDA to CBD. Juicing raw leaf delivers acids, not THC.
What the evidence supports
- THC: FDA approved drugs for nausea and appetite loss. Strong evidence for some pain and spasticity symptoms.
- CBD: FDA approved drug for three seizure disorders. Modest evidence for anxiety.
- CBG, CBC, CBN, THCV, CBDV: lab and animal data. Human evidence is limited or absent.
Reading a lab report
Certificates of analysis list each cannabinoid by percentage. Total THC equals THCA times 0.877 plus delta-9 THC. Total CBD equals CBDA times 0.877 plus CBD. A label that lists cannabinoids without a breakdown gives no dose data. Potency in retail products varies, and independent tests have found label errors in a share of samples.