Cannabinoids are the compounds in the cannabis plant that interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system. Here we explain what cannabinoids are, how the system in the body works, the most important cannabinoids from CBD and THC to CBG, CBN and THCV, what research says about areas such as sleep and appetite, and how the law treats them.
At a glance
- Researchers have identified more than 120 different cannabinoids in the cannabis plant.
- The body has its own endocannabinoid system, which helps regulate sleep, appetite, pain and mood, among other things.
- CBD is not intoxicating, while THC is the cannabinoid that causes a high.
- Cannabinoids, terpenes and other plant compounds work together, which is known as the entourage effect.
- The rules for cannabinoids vary widely between European countries.
What are cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are a group of compounds that bind to or affect the receptors of the body’s endocannabinoid system. They are usually divided into three groups:
- Phytocannabinoids are made by plants, above all cannabis. They include CBD, THC, CBG and CBN.
- Endocannabinoids are made by the body itself. The best known are anandamide and 2-AG.
- Synthetic cannabinoids are made in a lab and can differ greatly from the plant’s own compounds.
The cannabis plant contains more than 560 known compounds, and over 120 of them have been identified as cannabinoids. Most occur only in small amounts. Cannabinoids are formed mainly in the trichomes, the tiny crystal-like hairs on the flowers, which is also where the terpenes are found.
The endocannabinoid system
Cannabinoids affect the body because we have a system of our own for them. In 1990 researchers described the CB1 receptor, found mainly in the brain and nervous system, and in 1992 anandamide was discovered, the first of the body’s own cannabinoids. The CB2 receptor, found mainly in the immune system, was mapped later.
The system helps regulate a range of functions, including sleep, appetite, pain perception, mood, memory and immune response. It works as a kind of balancing system that helps the body maintain equilibrium. We cover the system in more depth in our article on the endocannabinoid system.
The most important cannabinoids
CBD (cannabidiol)
CBD is the most common cannabinoid in industrial hemp and the most studied after THC. CBD is not intoxicating. In 2018 the World Health Organization concluded that CBD shows no signs of abuse or dependence potential. CBD binds only weakly to CB1 and CB2 and appears instead to act through several other pathways, including the serotonin receptor 5-HT1A. In the EU, a CBD medicine, Epidyolex, is approved for certain rare forms of epilepsy.
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)
THC is the cannabinoid that causes a high. THC binds directly to CB1 receptors in the brain and can affect time perception, mood, memory and coordination. THC is also known for increasing appetite, and a synthetic form of THC, dronabinol, has been used as a medicine for loss of appetite since the 1990s. We explain how CBD and THC differ in CBD vs THC: the differences.
CBG (cannabigerol)
CBG is sometimes called the mother cannabinoid, because its acid form CBGA is the compound the plant converts into THCA, CBDA and CBCA, among others. Mature plants therefore usually contain only a little CBG. CBG is not intoxicating, and research on it is still at an early stage. Read more in What is CBG?
CBN (cannabinol)
CBN forms when THC breaks down over time, for example through heat, light and oxygen. Older cannabis therefore often contains more CBN. CBN is often associated with sleep and relaxation, but the scientific studies so far are few and small. We have summarised the research in CBN and sleep and compared the two in CBN vs CBD.
CBC (cannabichromene)
Like THC and CBD, CBC is formed from CBGA and is not intoxicating. CBC is one of the less studied cannabinoids, but it is present in measurable levels in many hemp varieties and contributes to the plant as a whole.
THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin)
THCV is similar to THC in structure but has a shorter carbon chain and acts differently in the body. In a British study from 2015, THCV reduced the brain’s response to food reward in healthy volunteers, which has made it interesting for research into appetite. THCV usually occurs only in small amounts.
From acid to active form
In the living plant, most cannabinoids exist in an acid form, such as THCA and CBDA. When the plant material is heated, a carboxyl group is released and the acids are converted into THC and CBD. The process is called decarboxylation. This is why a raw extract and a heated oil can have completely different cannabinoid profiles, and why lab reports often list both the acids and the neutral forms.
Sleep, appetite and other areas research is looking at
Because the endocannabinoid system is involved in so many functions, cannabinoids are being studied in several areas. Some examples:
- Sleep. In a US study from 2019 of 72 adults, two in three reported better sleep in the first month of using CBD, although results varied over time. CBN is also being studied, but the evidence is still limited.
- Appetite. THC increases appetite through the CB1 receptors, while THCV has shown the opposite tendency in studies.
- Stress and wellbeing. Many people use CBD as part of their evening routine, and researchers are looking at how CBD interacts with the body’s stress system.
Most of the research is still at an early stage, and results from individual studies need to be confirmed in larger trials. We follow the research and update our articles as new knowledge emerges.
The entourage effect: when the whole makes a difference
The entourage effect is the idea that cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids enhance and shape one another, so that the whole plant profile gives a different experience from a single isolated compound. The term was coined in 1998, and in 2011 the neurologist Ethan Russo summarised how several terpenes may interact with cannabinoids. It is one of the reasons many people prefer full spectrum products to isolates.
If you want to read more about the other compounds in the plant, we have written about terpenes and flavonoids.
Semi-synthetic cannabinoids
In recent years semi-synthetic cannabinoids such as HHC have also appeared. They are made chemically from CBD and do not occur naturally in the plant in any significant amounts. We explain how we view them in our article on HHC, HHC-O and H4CBD.
Cannabinoids and the law in Europe
In 2020 the EU Court of Justice ruled that CBD is not a narcotic under EU law, and the EU allows up to 0.3 per cent THC in cultivated industrial hemp. THC itself remains a controlled substance in most countries, but national rules vary widely. Germany has legalised cannabis for adults, while Sweden, for example, treats any preparation containing THC as a narcotic, however low the level.
We think zero tolerance of trace amounts of THC is out of step with the science and with developments in the rest of Europe, as it makes it hard to sell natural full spectrum products. At the same time, we of course follow the law in every market we sell to, and we do not encourage anyone to break it. We would rather contribute to a factual debate based on research. You can find a country-by-country overview in Is CBD oil legal in Europe? and the background in CBD in Europe.
Frequently asked questions about cannabinoids
What are cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are compounds that affect the body’s endocannabinoid system. They are found in the cannabis plant, made by the body itself or produced synthetically.
How many cannabinoids are there?
Researchers have identified more than 120 cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. Most occur only in small amounts.
Which cannabinoids get you high?
THC is the cannabinoid that causes a high. CBD, CBG, CBN and CBC are not intoxicating in the amounts found in hemp products.
What is the difference between THCA and THC?
THCA is the acid form found in the living plant. When the material is heated, THCA is converted into THC through decarboxylation.
Do cannabinoids affect sleep and appetite?
The endocannabinoid system helps regulate both sleep and appetite. THC increases appetite, and studies have looked at CBD and CBN in relation to sleep, but the research is still at an early stage.
Are cannabinoids legal in Europe?
CBD is not a narcotic under EU law, but THC is a controlled substance in most countries and the rules differ between countries. Always check what applies where you live.
Sources
- Court of Justice of the European Union (2020). Judgment in Case C-663/18, B S and C A (Kanavape). Press release No 141/20, 19 November 2020.
- Devane, W. A. et al. (1992). Isolation and structure of a brain constituent that binds to the cannabinoid receptor. Science, 258(5090), 1946-1949.
- ElSohly, M. A. et al. (2017). Phytochemistry of Cannabis sativa L. Progress in the Chemistry of Organic Natural Products, 103, 1-36.
- European Medicines Agency (2019). Epidyolex (cannabidiol). EPAR.
- Lu, H.-C. & Mackie, K. (2016). An introduction to the endogenous cannabinoid system. Biological Psychiatry, 79(7), 516-525.
- Matsuda, L. A. et al. (1990). Structure of a cannabinoid receptor and functional expression of the cloned cDNA. Nature, 346, 561-564.
- Nachnani, R., Raup-Konsavage, W. M. & Vrana, K. E. (2021). The pharmacological case for cannabigerol. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 376(2), 204-212.
- Russo, E. B. (2011). Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects. British Journal of Pharmacology, 163(7), 1344-1364.
- Shannon, S. et al. (2019). Cannabidiol in anxiety and sleep: a large case series. The Permanente Journal, 23, 18-041.
- Swedish Supreme Court (2019). Judgment in Case B 177-19, 24 June 2019.
- Tudge, L. et al. (2015). Neural effects of cannabinoid CB1 neutral antagonist tetrahydrocannabivarin on food reward and aversion in healthy volunteers. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 18(6).
- World Health Organization (2018). Cannabidiol (CBD): Critical Review Report. Expert Committee on Drug Dependence, 40th meeting. Geneva: WHO.
