The cannabis cannabinoids list covers more than 100 plant compounds. The best known are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), followed by CBG, CBC, CBN, THCV, and CBDV. Each also exists in an acid form, such as THCA, CBDA, and CBGA, before heat converts it into the neutral version.
Below is a working list of the cannabinoids you are most likely to see on a product label or certificate of analysis, with notes on how they differ.
Cannabis Cannabinoids List: THC, CBD, CBG and the Rest
What Are Cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are compounds the cannabis plant produces in its trichomes, the resin glands on the flower. Because they come from a plant, they are called phytocannabinoids. Your body also makes its own versions, called endocannabinoids, which interact with the same receptor network.
Most cannabinoids start as CBGA, a precursor molecule. Enzymes in the plant then convert CBGA into the acid forms of THC, CBD, and CBC. Light, heat, and time finish the process.
Major Cannabinoids
- THC (tetrahydrocannabinol): the main intoxicating compound in cannabis. It binds CB1 receptors in the brain and nervous system.
- CBD (cannabidiol): non-intoxicating and the most common cannabinoid in hemp products. It has low affinity for CB1 and CB2 and works through several other targets.
- CBG (cannabigerol): often called the mother cannabinoid because CBGA sits at the start of the pathway. It usually appears in small amounts.
- CBC (cannabichromene): a non-intoxicating compound studied for how it interacts with endocannabinoid signaling.
- CBN (cannabinol): formed as THC oxidizes over time. It is mildly psychoactive at high doses and often shows up in aged flower.
- THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin): a propyl variant of THC. Early research examines its effects on appetite and metabolism.
- CBDV (cannabidivarin): the propyl version of CBD, studied mainly in seizure research.
Acid Cannabinoids (Raw Forms)
Raw cannabis contains cannabinoid acids rather than neutral cannabinoids. These acids are not intoxicating, which is why unheated flower does not produce the same effect as heated flower.
- THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid)
- CBDA (cannabidiolic acid)
- CBGA (cannabigerolic acid)
- CBCA (cannabichromenic acid)
- THCVA and CBDVA (propyl acid forms)
Decarboxylation is the process that removes a carboxyl group when plant material is heated or aged, turning THCA into THC and CBDA into CBD. Vaping, smoking, baking, and extraction all trigger it.
Minor and Rare Cannabinoids
Testing labs keep adding names to the cannabis cannabinoids list as methods improve. These typically appear at very low concentrations and have far less published research behind them:
- CBL (cannabicyclol)
- CBT (cannabicitran)
- CBND (cannabinodiol)
- THCP (tetrahydrocannabiphorol)
- CBGVA and CBDVA
A small amount does not automatically mean a small effect, but the science here is early. Treat bold claims about rare cannabinoids with caution.
How Cannabinoids Work in the Body
Cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system, a signaling network that includes the receptors CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are dense in the brain and central nervous system, while CB2 receptors appear mostly on immune cells. THC attaches to CB1 and produces the high associated with cannabis. CBD does not fit CB1 well, and research suggests it acts through other routes, including serotonin receptors and channels involved in pain signaling.
How to Read a Cannabinoid List on a Lab Report
- Look for a certificate of analysis from an accredited lab, with a batch number that matches the package.
- Check total THC and total CBD. Labs report acid and neutral forms separately, then combine them with a conversion factor.
- Note the limit of quantification. A value listed as ND means not detected at the lab's threshold, not that the compound is absent.
- Compare the cannabinoid profile with the label claim. A wide gap is a red flag.
- Check the date. Cannabinoid profiles shift as flower ages and THC degrades into CBN.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cannabinoids are in cannabis?
More than 100 have been identified so far, though most appear at trace levels and have not been studied in humans.
Which cannabinoid is strongest?
THC produces the most pronounced intoxicating effect. Potency varies by dose, route, and the person using it.
Do all cannabinoids come from hemp?
No. Hemp and marijuana are both cannabis. The legal distinction is based on THC content, not on chemistry.