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While cannabidiol (CBD) seems to be having its moment, we know that there are over 100 different cannabinoids out there. So, your CBD oil may have a lot of other cannabinoids working hard behind the scenes, boosting the benefits of your products.
Our star players CBD and THC have gotten the most attention from researchers. But we’re starting to learn more about their many companion cannabinoids — like where they’re found and how they can be used.
If you want to be able to tell your CBGs from your CBCs, we’ve got you covered.
But first — what are cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that are found in the flowers and leaves of the cannabis plant. Our bodies also produce cannabinoids, called endocannabinoids. And there are synthetic cannabinoids that can be manufactured. Here, we’ll focus on the cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant.
You may be wondering, what’s so important about knowing what cannabinoids are in your CBD products?
Getting familiar with cannabinoids is important because they all have different effects and potential health benefits. And they may even enhance each other when taken together.
Plus, you probably want to know exactly what you’re getting with your CBD products. The last thing you want is to buy a product expecting one thing, only to get something totally different.
(That’s a surefire way to get super cannab-annoyed.…)
With that in mind, let’s explore some of the major cannabinoids that may be found in your CBD products.
Before we dive into the different cannabinoids present in CBD, it’s important to understand what we mean by CBD.
When people talk about CBD, they could be referring to either (1) the cannabinoid itself (aka cannabidiol), or (2) a product that contains CBD.
The important thing to know is that CBD products may contain just CBD by itself, or they may contain CBD plus some other cannabinoids — like THC, CBC, CBN, CBC, and so on. We’ll get to those in a bit.
When it comes to CBD the cannabinoid, we know that it’s found in both the hemp and marijuana plants. It’s known as the non-psychoactive part of the plant, so it won’t make you feel “high.”
Research suggests that CBD can potentially help ease chronic pain conditions, reduce anxiety, and alleviate insomnia. It’s no wonder why it’s gotten so popular these days!
As we mentioned, beyond CBD, there are over 100 cannabinoids in the cannabis plant.
When you buy CBD products, the exact breakdown of cannabinoids in your product will depend on a couple of things:
That said, here are some of the most common cannabinoids you’ll find in your CBD products and what makes them sparkle.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a cannabinoid found in the marijuana plant. The most noted difference between CBD and THC is that THC is a psychoactive substance. Meaning — it can get you high. THC is responsible for any euphoric feelings or altered senses (brighter colors, altered sense of time, etc.) one may experience when consuming cannabis products.
Research suggests that THC may help with pain, reduce insomnia symptoms, and alleviate nausea.
If you want THC in your CBD products, look out for full-spectrum CBD. Broad-spectrum CBD may also contain trace amounts of THC — possibly enough to get the entourage effect but not enough to create that iconic intoxicated sensation.
Cannabigerol (CBG) is a little known cannabinoid that plays a big role in the cannabis plant.
All cannabinoids start out as CBGA (the acidic form of CBG), and transform into their final form when the cannabis plant is fully grown. So CBGA is often called the “mother of all cannabinoids.”
Let’s use THC as an example. It starts its journey as CBGA → turns into THCA → finally becomes THC.
Since CBG is basically a precursor to all other cannabinoids, CBG is typically derived from younger cannabis plants — where it’s found in higher concentrations.
As cannabis plants develop, they contain a lot less CBG. This is because the CBG’s been converted to other cannabinoids, like THC and CBD.
So, fully grown cannabis strains tend to contain very little amounts of CBG — usually less than 1%. But producers are starting to isolate it to enhance their products.
Possible Benefits of CBG
Researchers are just starting to get a picture of the therapeutic potential of CBG, though we can expect more information to come.
Cannabinol (CBN) is created when THC ages like a fine wine… no, really!
CBN is created when THC is exposed to heat and light over time. The THC breaks down and we end up with CBN.
Possible Benefits of CBN
Some studies state that CBN is non-psychoactive, while others suggest that it’s mildly psychoactive. What’s currently known is that it doesn't typically produce a high like THC does. But when taken together with THC, some research suggests that it can enhance the effects of THC via that entourage effect.
Researchers are still learning more about this cannabinoid, but it looks like the combination of CBN and THC may produce a more sedative effect as well.
Cannabichromene (CBC) is another non-psychoactive cannabinoid.
CBC, like many of the other cannabinoids, seems particularly promising for pain relief. While research suggests CBC alone may have its own benefits, it also seems to enhance the effects of other cannabinoids. Again, we see the entourage effect happening.
Potential Benefits of CBC
There’s still more research to be done with CBC. But hopefully as scientists gain more insights, we’ll see more medicinal uses for CBC, and awesome new products!
The type of CBD determines which cannabinoids may or may not be present in your product. In essence, your CBD product may be one of the following:
And what we know is that — through keeping the cannabinoids and other ingredients like terpenes and flavonoids intact — your CBD may be more effective and have greater therapeutic benefits.
Basically, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. And this is the entourage effect we keep mentioning.
What’s awesome about broad-spectrum CBD is that you could get the benefits of the other cannabinoids and plant compounds while eliminating the possibility of THC’s psychoactive effects.
Because they’re broad-spectrum CBD, all of Pure Craft’s CBD products are crafted to maintain the potential therapeutic gains of the whole plant (minus THC).
With over 100 cannabinoids in cannabis, there’s a lot we have yet to learn. We do know that each cannabinoid plays a unique role and may have its own therapeutic benefits. So far, the cannabinoids we’ve studied seem to have promising effects on wellbeing — especially when they work together. And research is ongoing.
Of all the cannabinoids, the best known are probably THC and CBD. CBG, CBN, and CBC — other cannabinoids commonly tag-teaming along in cannabis products — are starting to have their day in the sun, though.
When shopping for CBD products, it’s important to consider the source of the CBD (hemp or marijuana) and the type of CBD (isolate, full-spectrum, or broad-spectrum) used. These factors impact the cannabinoid profile of your products. Pure Craft CBD products use broad-spectrum CBD, so you’ll get a full complement of cannabinoids less the THC.
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