Cannabis and Cannabinoids: A Complete Guide to Cannabinoids and Their Effects

06. 11. 2023

Cannabis contains a variety of compounds known as cannabinoids. More than 100 different chemicals have been identified in cannabis so far, most of which are present in very low quantities and therefore difficult for scientists to detect accurately. The health effects of these substances are only at the beginning of research. If you want to understand the effect that any of the strains of medical cannabis can have on you, it is essential to have a basic understanding of how these active substances interact and how they affect your body. In this article, we'll take a closer look at some of the main cannabinoids found in cannabis.

How many cannabinoids are there?

In addition to THC and CBD, more than 100 other cannabinoids have been identified so far. However, it is difficult to determine the exact number. Even scientists do not agree on the exact number, as research on cannabinoids is ongoing and new findings are constantly emerging. Below we look at some of these substances in more detail.

Cannabinoid acids, or the main precursors of cannabinoids

Another name for cannabinoid acids is also crude cannabinoids. Cannabis does not directly produce the most well-known cannabinoids associated with the plant (namely THC and CBD).

In producing cannabinoids, the cannabis plant actually produces an acidic form of cannabinoids. These acids must first be decarboxylated, usually by heat, to produce the compounds that most consumers seek. THC, for example, first appears in cannabis as tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA). It is only when the bud is heated that THCA is converted to THC. There are a number of similar cannabinoid acids found in cannabis. These include:

CBGA (cannabigeroleic acid)

CBGA is the acidic form of CBG (cannabigerol). All the major cannabinoids are formed from CBGA. For this reason, CBGA has earned the nickname "the mother of all cannabinoids."

The three main cannabinoid acids that are formed from CBGA are:

THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid),
CBDA (cannabidiol acid),
CBCA (cannabichromenic acid).

THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid)

THCA is a crude cannabinoid without any psychoactivity. Once THCA is exposed to heat, it is converted into the intoxicating cannabinoid THC.

CBDA (Cannabidiol Acid)

CBDA is the crude form of CBD. When decarboxylation occurs and the cannabis plant is exposed to heat or sunlight, CBDA is converted into CBD. CBDA is found in a variety of products such as capsules, tinctures and topicals.

CBCA (cannabichromenic acid)

CBCA is the crude form of cannabichromene (CBC). CBCA must also undergo a process called decarboxylation, in which it is converted to CBC under the action of heat. For now, there is not much research available on CBCA, but the limited amount suggests that CBCA may have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal effects.

CBGVA (cannabigerovarinic acid)

Cannabigerovarinic acid (CBGVA) is the precursor of cannabigerovarinic carboxylic acid (CBGV). Together with CBGA, it is one of the first crude cannabinoids to be formed in cannabis.

THCVA (tetrahydrocannabivaric acid)

THCVA (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabivaric acid) is an acidic compound found in cannabis plants. It is the acidic form of THCV. Some research suggests that THCVA may have anti-inflammatory effects.

CBDVA (cannabidivaric acid)

CBDVA is the acidic precursor to the highly sought-after CBDV. The letter 'A' indicates that it is its acidic form. Both CBDVA and CBDV are non-psychoactive.

CBCVA (cannabichromevarinic acid)

CBCVA is the crude form of CBCV (cannabichromovarine). Not much is known about CBCVA and CBCV, but it can be assumed that they have some similar properties to CBC and therefore deserve much more research.

Synthetic cannabinoids or decarboxylated cannabinoid acids

Raw or uncooked cannabis buds have many potent medicinal properties, but a certain amount of heat is required to convert precursors such as THCA and CBDA into THC and CBD. When exposed to heat, cannabinoid acids lose their 'A' part and are converted into neutral, not acidic, cannabinoids. The effects of heated cannabinoids are often very different from those of their crude predecessors.

THC

THC usually receives the most attention as it is one of the most widely used cannabinoids. It results in a feeling of intoxication and euphoric effects. In addition to the aforementioned intoxication, THC has several notable effects. It is reported to be anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving.

THCV

THCV is very similar in molecular structure to THC, but has a number of different and quite different effects. Unlike THC, it does not cause a feeling of intoxication and may even suppress appetite.

CBD

Along with THC, CBD is one of the cannabinoids that many people are familiar with. Many people seek out CBD primarily for its pain-relieving, anxiety or depression-relieving effects. However, unlike THC, CBD does not have a narcotic effect.

CBDV

CBDV is a decarboxylated form of CBDVA. CBDV is similar in structure to CBD (cannabidiol). Like CBD, CBDV does not have a narcotic effect, so it does not cause a euphoric high. Like CBD, CBDV greatly reduces the frequency and severity of seizures. It also alleviates or even completely eliminates the feeling of nausea that accompanies some illnesses.

CBC

CBC (cannabichromene) is one of the five main cannabinoids (which also include THC, CBD, CBG, CBN). It is, however, the least widespread and best known. CBC is known to have significant potential in the treatment of inflammation and could be very effective in controlling pain and promoting the growth of new brain cells.

CBCV

CBCV is the active form of CBCVA produced after decarboxylation. CBCVA and CBCV are found in very small amounts in nature and therefore very few are available for research. CBCV is not intoxicating and does not cause euphoria, but is partially psychoactive because it acts on the brain and causes slight mood changes.

CBG

CBG is the starting cannabinoid from which many others are derived. CBG (cannabigerol) is a decarboxylated form of the original cannabinoid CBGA. CBG is found in smaller quantities in cannabis than other cannabinoids and therefore products made from this cannabinoid are rare and often expensive. CBG is effective against inflammation, pain, nausea and slows the growth of cancer cells.

CBGV

CBGV (cannabigerovarin) is a less common type of the original carboxylated cannabinoid CBG. There is very little research on CBGV. However, it can be inferred that it has similar properties to its popular counterpart (CBG), but more research is needed.

Mature or oxidised cannabinoids

Oxidised cannabinoids are those that have already degraded from their original state. This is a process in which chemical changes occur due to the action of oxygen. These cannabinoids may have completely different properties and effects than their raw or decarboxylated predecessors.

CBNA

CBNA (cannabinoic acid) is a precursor of CBN. When cannabis is exposed to air or UV light, THCA is converted into CBNA (cannabinoic acid).

CBN

CBN is a compound formed during the ageing of THC. After degradation and oxidation, CBN remains only as a slightly psychoactive version of the original THC. CBN is the most potent cannabinoid for improving sleep, which is why cannabis containing high levels of CBN is ideal for insomnia.

Delta-8 THC

Delta-8 is a natural but rare isonomer (same formula, different bonds) of the original THC. This means that it is chemically almost identical but has a slightly different arrangement of spatial atoms. Like THC, delta-8 produces feelings of euphoria, relaxation and eventual pain relief, but these feelings are much milder.

CBL

CBL (cannabicyclic acid) is a rare cannabinoid that is naturally produced by the oxidation of CBC. It is not psychoactive, so it does not have a euphoric or intoxicating effect. CBL is one of the least studied cannabinoids. Much more research is needed to better understand it.

CBV

CBV is produced by the oxidation of THCV. CBV is homologous to the shorter chain of the increasingly popular cannabinoid CBN, which contributes to better sleep. Little is still known about the direct effects of CBV because research is limited, but CBV is thought to have similar properties to its better-known compound CBN.

Choose the right cannabinoid!

This list of cannabinoids is just a start. There are many more cannabinoids to learn more about, and research on them is just beginning. Because there are so many different cannabinoids, you need to find the ones that work for you and avoid the ones that don't.

There is a plethora of CBD products to choose from in our online shop, try the oil, capsules or flowers. We also offer CBG oil, so don't hesitate to try it!