The complete list of cannabinoids holds more than 120 compounds found in Cannabis sativa, sorted into about 11 chemical families. THC and CBD draw most of the attention, yet the same plant also makes CBG, CBC, CBN, THCV, CBDV, and rare molecules such as THCP and CBT in trace amounts.
Counts shift as labs identify new molecules and reclassify old ones, so treat any total as a working figure. Most minor cannabinoids sit below 1% of a plant's dry weight.
Cannabinoids List Names: A No-Nonsense Guide
How many cannabinoids exist?
A review by Hanuš and colleagues lists 120 cannabinoids in cannabis, grouped into 11 subclasses. Add acid forms and breakdown products, and later surveys push the total past 140.
Two details explain the wiggle room. Some entries are isomers of each other, and others form as the plant ages or dries. The test method also sets the floor: a standard potency panel will miss anything present at a few parts per million.
Cannabinoids List Chart: Comprehensive Guide
The major cannabinoids
Delta-9 THC
The compound behind the cannabis high. It binds CB1 receptors in the brain and drives most of the plant's legal scrutiny. Delta-9 THC also breaks down into CBN over time.
CBD
CBD does not produce a strong high and binds CB1 with low affinity. It gets studied for seizures, anxiety, and pain, with the strongest clinical evidence in epilepsy. The FDA approved a purified CBD drug for specific seizure disorders.
CBG
Called the mother cannabinoid because CBGA sits at the start of the pathway that leads to THC, CBD, and CBC. Most cultivars finish below 1% CBG, which makes it costly to isolate.
CBC
CBC shows up in young plant tissue and interacts with receptors outside the CB1 and CB2 system. Research on humans is thin, so most claims rest on lab work.
Minor and rare cannabinoids
- CBN (cannabinol): forms as THC oxidizes, so older flower holds more of it.
- THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin): a propyl-chain THC variant, studied for appetite and blood sugar.
- CBDV (cannabidivarin): a propyl-chain CBD variant, researched in autism and seizure models.
- CBGV (cannabigerovarin): the propyl version of CBG.
- CBCV (cannabichromevarin): the propyl version of CBC.
- Delta-8 THC: a milder psychoactive cousin of delta-9, often made from hemp CBD.
- Delta-10 THC: rare in nature and mostly a lab conversion product.
- THCP (tetrahydrocannabiphorol): a seven-carbon chain THC found in 2019.
- THCB (tetrahydrocannabutol): a butyl-chain THC from the same research line.
- HHC (hexahydrocannabinol): a semi-synthetic relative, not a natural plant compound.
- CBT (cannabicitran): a minor cyclic cannabinoid with little published data.
- CBL (cannabicyclol): forms from CBC under light and heat.
- CBE (cannabielsoin): a CBC degradation product.
- CBND (cannabinodiol): a fully aromatized form linked to CBN chemistry.
- CBF (cannabifuran) and CBDP (cannabidiphorol): rare entries at the edges of the list.
Cannabinoid acids: the raw forms
Fresh cannabis does not hold much THC or CBD. It holds acids: THCA, CBDA, CBGA, CBCA, and the propyl versions THCVA, CBDVA, CBGVA, and CBCVA.
Heat removes a carboxyl group in a step called decarboxylation, turning THCA into THC and CBDA into CBD. Smoking, vaping, baking, and even long storage trigger the change, which is why raw flower and a baked edible can hit a person in different ways.
How researchers group cannabinoids
Scientists sort the list by core structure rather than by effect. The main families are CBG-type, CBC-type, CBD-type, THC-type, CBN-type, CBND-type, CBE-type, CBL-type, and CBT-type compounds.
This structure-first view explains odd family trees. THCV sits in the THC family, yet early work suggests it blocks CB1 receptors instead of switching them on.
Why convenience now decides which cannabinoids people try
Shopping habits changed the visible list. Gummies, tinctures, and drinks come pre-dosed, so a buyer can pick CBG for daytime or CBN for night without grinding flower or owning a device.
Convenience has a cost. CBN, THCV, and CBG degrade with heat and light, so a stable format matters as much as the compound. Blends also raise label risk, since a bottle that claims six cannabinoids must prove each one.
That is where the market sits today: format picks the molecule, not the other way around.
How to read a cannabinoid label
- Check the total THC and total CBD numbers, not just the headline figure.
- Look for a batch-specific lab report from an ISO 17025 lab.
- Compare the listed cannabinoids against the milligram dose per serving.
- Note the date, because CBN and CBG levels drift in stored product.
Frequently asked questions
Are all cannabinoids psychoactive?
No. THC and its close relatives (delta-8, THCP, HHC) act on CB1 receptors and alter perception. CBD, CBG, CBC, and most minor compounds do not produce a high at normal doses.
Do minor cannabinoids appear in every strain?
No. Genetics, harvest timing, and extraction decide the mix. Some chemovars lean on CBG, others on CBC or THCV, and many hold only traces.
Is HHC a natural cannabinoid?
HHC comes from hydrogenating CBD or THC, so it belongs in the semi-synthetic column. Natural HHC has been reported in trace amounts, but commercial supply is made in a lab.
What separates a cannabinoid from a terpene?
Cannabinoids act on the endocannabinoid system and its receptors. Terpenes are aromatic oils with a different chemical backbone and a different job.