We’ve seen numbers ranging from 66 to at least 113, and very few cannabinoids have been well-researched. Below we list all cannabinoids we’re aware of and will add more as they come to our attention. We’ve linked to further information on those we’ve written about.
Cannabichromenes
• Cannabichromene (CBC)
• Cannabichromenic acid (CBCA)
• Cannabichromevarin (CBCV)
• Cannabichromevarinic acid (CBCVA)
Cannabicyclols
• Cannabicyclol (CBL)
• Cannabicyclolic acid (CBLA)
• Cannabicyclovarin (CBLV)
Cannabidiols
• Cannabidiol (CBD)
• Cannabidiol monomethylether (CBDM)
• Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA)
• Cannabidiorcol (CBD-C1)
• Cannabidivarin (CBDV)
• Cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA)
Cannabielsoins
• Cannabielsoic acid B (CBEA-B)
• Cannabielsoin (CBE)
• Cannabielsoin acid A (CBEA-A)
Cannabigerols
• Cannabigerol (CBG)
• Cannabigerol monomethylether (CBGM)
• Cannabigerolic acid (CBGA)
• Cannabigerolic acid monomethylether (CBGAM)
• Cannabigerovarin (CBGV)
• Cannabigerovarinic acid (CBGVA)
Cannabinols and cannabinoids
• Cannabinodiol (CBND)
• Cannabinodivarin (CBVD)
• Cannabinol (CBN)
• Cannabinol methylether (CBNM)
• Cannabinol-C2 (CBN-C2)
• Cannabinol-C4 (CBN-C4)
• Cannabinolic acid (CBNA)
• Cannabiorcool (CBN-C1)
• Cannabivarin (CBV)
Cannabitriols
• 10-Ethoxy-9-hydroxy-delta-6a-tetrahydrocannabinol
• 8,9-Dihydroxy-delta-6a-tetrahydrocannabinol
• Cannabitriol (CBT)
• Cannabitriolvarin (CBTV)
Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinols
• Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC)
• Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (Δ8-THCA)
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinols
• Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
• Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-C4 (THC-C4)
• Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (THCA-A)
• Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid B (THCA-B)
• Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid-C4 (THCA-C4)
• Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabiorcol (THC-C1)
• Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabiorcolic acid (THCA-C1)
• Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)
• Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid (THCVA)
Miscellaneous cannabinoids
The following are other cannabinoids not classified in a class, or those we’re not sure what class they fit into:
• 10-Oxo-delta-6a-tetrahydrocannabinol (OTHC)
• Cannabichromanon (CBCF)
• Cannabifuran (CBF)
• Cannabiglendol
• Cannabiripsol (CBR)
• Cannbicitran (CBT)
• Dehydrocannabifuran (DCBF)
• Delta-9-cis-tetrahydrocannabinol (cis-THC)
• Tryhydroxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (triOH-THC)
We would be remiss not to mention this doozy: 3, 4, 5, 6-Tetrahydro-7-hydroxy-alpha-alpha-2-trimethyl-9-n-propyl-2 and 6-methano-2H-1-benzoxocin-5-methanol, or the OH-iso- HHCV to its friends. A major hat-tip is for Rudolf Brenneisen, the author of the “Chemistry and Analysis of Phytocannabinoids and the Other Cannabis Constituents*”, who has documented many of the above cannabinoids.
Many of the cannabinoids above are yet to be studied in any real degree to determine their potential therapeutic benefit or. It’s highly likely that the cannabis plant has more surprises for humanity. What makes things interesting is the potential for combinations of cannabinoids to offer a therapeutic effect that they may not have on their own, or to a lesser degree.
While the world of cannabinoids is a complex one, at least the next time someone drops 3, 4, 5, 6-Tetrahydro-7-hydroxy-alpha-alpha-2-trimethyl-9-n-propyl-2,6-methano-2H-1-benzoxocin-5-methanol into a conversation at a dinner party you’ll be able to nod sagely, knowing what they are talking about. If we’ve missed any cannabinoids that have been named or you spot anything needs correcting, please let us know.
Cannabinoids are only part of the cannabis story – albeit a major one. There are also compounds called terpenes, which we’ll look at in another article.
*Brenneisen R. (2007) Chemistry and Analysis of Phytocannabinoids and Other Cannabis Constituents. In: ElSohly M.A. (eds) Marijuana and the Cannabinoids. Forensic Science And Medicine. Humana Press.
Link as mentioned above.
How many Cannabinoids in Cannabis