Short answer
Cannabis sativa makes more than 100 cannabinoids. Two appear in large amounts: delta-9 THC and CBD. The other 100-plus are minor cannabinoids. Each minor cannabinoid accounts for less than 1% of dried flower weight in most cultivars. The group includes CBG, CBC, CBN, THCV, CBDV, CBCV, CBL, CBT, and the newer entries THCP and CBDP.
minor cannabinoids list and properties
The list and what each one does
CBG (cannabigerol)
CBG comes from CBGA, the parent molecule for THCA, CBDA, and CBCA. Most plants hold 0.1% to 1% CBG. CBG binds CB1 and CB2 receptors with low affinity and acts at alpha-2 adrenergic and 5-HT1A receptors in lab work. It does not cause intoxication in humans.
Minor Cannabinoids for Anxiety: A Comprehensive Guide
CBC (cannabichromene)
CBC forms from CBCA. Flower content runs 0.1% to 0.5%. Cell studies show activity at TRPA1, TRPV1, and CB2. Non-intoxicating.
CBN (cannabinol)
CBN is an oxidation product of THC. Fresh flower holds under 0.1%. Levels rise with heat, light, and storage time. CBN binds CB1 with weak affinity. Marketing calls CBN a sleep cannabinoid. Human trial data for that claim is thin.
cbg vs cbn vs cbc minor cannabinoids
THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin)
THCV carries a 3-carbon propyl side chain instead of the 5-carbon pentyl chain in THC. It acts as a CB1 antagonist at low doses and a CB1 agonist at high doses. Some human trials report changes in appetite and blood sugar markers. High doses can produce intoxication.
CBDV (cannabidivarin)
CBDV is the propyl-chain form of CBD. It appears in some landrace varieties at up to 1%. Research centers on seizures and nausea. Non-intoxicating.
CBCV, CBGV, CBL, CBT
CBCV and CBGV are propyl-chain forms of CBC and CBG. CBL forms when CBC degrades. CBT is a tricyclic cannabinoid found at trace levels. Published data on all four is limited.
Delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC, THCP
Delta-8 THC has a double bond on carbon 8 rather than carbon 9. It occurs in trace amounts in the plant and is made in bulk by isomerizing CBD. It is intoxicating, with lower CB1 potency than delta-9 THC in receptor assays. Delta-10 THC is similar and less studied. THCP has a 7-carbon heptyl chain. A 2019 paper reported CB1 binding above delta-9 THC. Flower content sits near zero.
Minor versus major: the numbers
Flower sold at retail often tests at 15% to 30% total THC. Minor cannabinoid peaks sit far lower. In most lab reports CBG, CBC, and CBN each land under 0.5%, and CBN in fresh flower sits near the detection limit. Potency depends on genetics, harvest time, and storage.
Side chain length
- Pentyl chain, 5 carbons: THC, CBD, CBG, CBC, CBN.
- Propyl chain, 3 carbons: THCV, CBDV, CBCV, CBGV.
- Heptyl chain, 7 carbons: THCP, CBDP.
Chain length changes how the molecule fits CB1 and CB2. Longer chains tend to raise receptor affinity in binding assays.
Legal status in the US
The 2018 Farm Bill defines hemp as Cannabis sativa with 0.3% or less delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis. Hemp-derived minor cannabinoids fall outside the Controlled Substances Act under that definition. State law controls retail sale. Some states ban delta-8 THC and other intoxicating hemp products. Check state rules before purchase.
Reading a lab report
A certificate of analysis lists each cannabinoid by percentage. Labs use HPLC or GC. Look at total THC, total CBD, and the minor peaks. Total THC equals delta-9 THC plus THCA multiplied by 0.877. A report with no minor cannabinoid row does not mean zero. It can mean the lab set its limit of quantitation above the actual value.
Evidence limits
Most minor cannabinoid research comes from cell cultures and rodent models. Human trials exist for CBD and THCV, plus a small number for CBG and CBN. The FDA has approved one cannabis-derived drug, CBD, and synthetic THC drugs. No minor cannabinoid on this list holds an FDA approval on its own.