What are cannabinoids, what do cannabinoids do, and what do you need to know about the most abundant cannabinoids in the cannabis plant?

If you’re just diving into the world of cannabis, it’s understandable that some of the different terms and words you hear are a little confusing. However, don’t worry because, in the following article, we’re going to take an in-depth look at the most popular cannabinoids, what they are, and what they do.

With over 100 different cannabinoids, it’s not always easy to focus on them all, but in the following article, we’ll look at some of the most common cannabinoids, including CBD, THC, CBDa, CBG, CBGa, CBN, and CBC.

What Are Cannabinoids and What Do They Do?

Cannabinoids are present in almost every plant, tree, fruit, vegetable, and herb. In fact, many of the things we consume or use daily are full of cannabinoids. Inside all of us is something known as the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). It’s believed that the ECS is responsible for maintaining balance and harmony and also several critical bodily functions, including reproduction, sleep, mood, appetite, and memory, just to name a few.

Our bodies naturally produce endocannabinoids, anandamide (AEA), and 2-arachidonoylglyerol (2-AG). However, sometimes our body doesn’t produce enough of these endocannabinoids to maintain regular bodily functions at a healthy level. That’s where phytocannabinoid (cannabinoids from plants) such as CBD or THC may be able to step in and fill the void.

Just because two cannabinoids come from the same plant, it doesn’t mean that they will do the same thing. In the next section, we’ll take a closer look at some of the more abundant or widespread cannabinoids and what they could potentially do.

CBD, THC, CBDa, CBG, CBGa, CBN, and CBC

• CBD – Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the two most abundant cannabinoids found in hemp or marijuana plants. CBD is non-psychotropic and won’t get you high in any way or form. There have been a variety of studies into CBD, and its potential therapeutic properties, including anxiety, insomnia, nausea, and as a natural anti-inflammatory.
• THC – Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the cannabinoid responsible for the ‘euphoric high’ you experience when you use marijuana products. There have been a lot of studies into THC’s potential therapeutic properties, particularly when used in conjunction with other cannabinoids such as CBD.
• CBDa – Cannabidiolic Acid (CBDa) is the precursor compound to CBD. CBDa is present in raw hemp or marijuana in small quantities but once exposed to heat and sunlight,it transitions into CBD. Potential benefits of CBDa include increased serotonin levels and reduced inflammation.
• CBG – Cannabigerol (CBG) is often referred to as the mother of all cannabinoids because many other cannabinoids are derived from CBGa. However, CBG is only found in the cannabis plant in very small quantities, but it still has a lot of potentials. For example, CBG has been linked with pain reduction as well as a potential treatment for conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Glaucoma.
• CBGa – Cannabigerolic Acid (CBGa) is the precursor compound to CBG as well as being the starting point for almost every cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. CBGa has been linked to many of the same potential benefits as CBG.
• CBN – Cannabinol (CBN) is another of the many cannabinoids found in hemp and marijuana plants. CBN forms when THC breaks down due to air, light, and heat. However, unlike THC, CBN isn’t known to have any psychotropic properties and won’t hey you high in any way. Researchers believe that CBN could share many of the same therapeutic properties as CBD, but we’ll need to conduct more research until we know for sure what CBN can really do.
• CBC – Cannabichromene (CBC) is just one of the latest cannabinoids to gain popularity and get some additional research attention. We don’t know a lot about CBC yet, but we do know that it won’t get you high like THC. Instead, many scientists believe that CBC can activate the vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1) and transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), allowing the body to release or produce more endocannabinoids.

While we’re beginning to learn more about cannabinoids such as CBD, THC, CBG, CBDa, CBGa, CBN, and CBC, scientists still have a lot to learn before they can make any specific medical claims. In addition, as the popularity of these cannabinoids increases, so to will the amount of research money and time committed to them.

If you’re currently taking any medication, and considering trying cannabinoids, then please speak with your doctor or healthcare professional first, as CBD and other cannabinoids could interfere with the way your body processes some medications.

Cannabinoids 101: CBD | CBDa | CBG | CBGa | CBN | CBC | THC – Conclusion

It’s understandable that you can be a little overwhelmed when it comes to cannabinoids and cannabis terms in general. So far, scientists and researchers have identified over 100 different cannabinoids. Now, not all of them are as exciting as CBD or THC, but some of the minor cannabinoids are extremely promising when it comes to their potential in the health and wellness areas.

While we know a lot about some of the more abundant cannabinoids, such as CBD or THC, we’re still unlocking the full potential of many other cannabinoids, and only time and research will tell just how important they could be!

If you have any questions about CBD or any of the other cannabinoids, such as CBDa, CBG, CBGa, CBN, CBC, or THC, or would like to learn more about CBD in general, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly. Also, if you would like to read more articles like this, then comment and share, or reach out and contact us directly.

Our professional and friendly team is happy to assist you with your CBD-related questions.