Cannabinoids

Cannabinoids are a group of chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant. The best known of them are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). Both are formed in the resin glands (trichomes) of the plant, mainly on the flowers, and their ratio differs from one variety to another.

Cannabinoids are not just THC and CBD. Around 100 or more other cannabinoids are thought to be present in cannabis. Many of them occur only in trace amounts, and scientific interest in their chemistry has never been higher.

How many cannabinoids are there?

To date, at least 113 different cannabinoids have been isolated from the Cannabis plant. However, there is some scientific disagreement about the exact number as more research is done into the science of cannabinoids and new discoveries are made. The two most well-known cannabinoids are THC and CBD, but attention is beginning to be paid to other, less-represented cannabinoids as cannabinoid research intensifies and knowledge expands.

Science is struggling to keep up with the data that is beginning to emerge from cannabinoid research! Interest in learning more about the chemical properties of each cannabinoid is growing. In fact, a huge amount of work, effort and research remains to be done.

For a long time, research into cannabis was very limited, which left a knowledge vacuum that is only slowly being filled. Questions about how individual cannabinoids are formed in the plant and how they interact chemically are still the subject of ongoing research.

With so many cannabinoids, it makes sense to try to categorize them. Some cannabinoids can only be seen in the fresh plant (raw cannabinoids). Some cannabinoids are only formed when raw cannabinoids are heated (eg in a vaporizer). Other cannabinoids are only formed when raw or heated cannabinoids are allowed to mature.

THCA is a raw cannabinoid found in the fresh plant. When heated, THCA is converted into THC. This shows the dramatic chemical changes that can occur in individual cannabinoids with a small amount of heat. THC can also later convert to CBN when left for long periods of time.

Raw cannabinoids
Raw cannabinoids are defined as cannabinoids present only in fresh plant material. These are often “acidic” versions of cannabinoids. These raw cannabinoids are often unstable and easily break down with a little heat to create a non-acidic version.

How are cannabinoids formed in the plant?

Most cannabinoids originate from a single precursor, cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). Enzymes in the plant convert CBGA into THCA, CBDA or CBCA. Which of these acids predominates depends on the genetics of the given variety. That is why some varieties are rich in THC, while others contain mainly CBD.

Chemically, cannabinoids belong to a group of compounds called terpenophenols. They are produced together with terpenes in the trichomes, which is why the resin of cannabis flowers is so rich in both groups of substances.

The biochemistry of cannabinoids is still only partly explored. Much more remains to be done.

Meanwhile, perhaps the most exciting chapter in cannabis history is unfolding. Breeders of new cannabis varieties have already released new strains rich in THCV, CBDV and CBG. And they remain fully committed to further work on new strains rich in rare, novel cannabinoids.