Short answer
Cannabinoids from hemp are compounds that occur in Cannabis sativa plants with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of 0.3 percent or less on a dry weight basis. Federal law in the United States sets that 0.3 percent line. Hemp plants produce more than 100 cannabinoids. CBD holds the highest concentration in most hemp cultivars. Other cannabinoids appear in smaller amounts: CBG, CBN, CBC, CBDV, and THCV.
Main cannabinoids in hemp
- CBD (cannabidiol): the most abundant cannabinoid in hemp. Content ranges from 1 percent to 20 percent of flower weight in high-CBD cultivars.
- CBG (cannabigerol): the parent compound. Other cannabinoids start as CBGA and convert from it.
- CBN (cannabinol): forms when THC oxidizes. Levels rise in stored flower.
- CBC (cannabichromene): present at low levels in most plants.
- CBDV (cannabidivarin): found at higher levels in some fiber hemp varieties.
- THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin): a minor compound with a propyl side chain.
- Delta-9 THC: present at trace levels, at or under 0.3 percent.
Hemp also contains terpenes, flavonoids, and fatty acids. These are not cannabinoids. Terpenes such as myrcene and pinene give the plant its smell.
Cannabinoids Obtained From Hemp: A Practical Guide
Acid forms and decarboxylation
Plants store most cannabinoids in acid form: CBDA, CBGA, CBCA, and THCA. Heat removes a carboxyl group from the molecule. This step is decarboxylation. CBDA converts to CBD. THCA converts to delta-9 THC. The reaction happens during smoking, vaping, baking, and lab preparation. Raw hemp flower holds little neutral CBD.
Extraction methods
Two methods dominate commercial production. Supercritical CO2 extraction uses pressure and temperature to pull cannabinoids from plant material. Ethanol extraction uses food-grade alcohol as a solvent. Both produce crude oil. Further steps include winterization, distillation, and chromatography. Chromatography isolates a single cannabinoid, usually CBD, at 99 percent purity or higher.
Full spectrum, broad spectrum, and isolate
Full spectrum extract keeps cannabinoids, terpenes, and other plant compounds. Broad spectrum extract starts as full spectrum with THC removed. Isolate contains one cannabinoid alone. It comes as a white powder. Labels should state which form the product contains.
Lab testing
Third-party labs measure cannabinoid content with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A certificate of analysis (COA) lists cannabinoid content per gram, THC percentage, residual solvents, pesticides, heavy metals, and microbial results. Check that the batch number on the COA matches the package. Potency math: a 30 mL bottle with 1500 mg CBD holds 50 mg per 1 mL dropper.
Federal status in the US
The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the Controlled Substances Act definition of marijuana. Hemp and its derivatives are legal at the federal level. State law varies. The FDA has approved one CBD drug, Epidiolex, for two seizure disorders. FDA has not approved CBD as a dietary supplement or food ingredient.