Glossary
Types of cannabinoids: CBD, THC, CBG, CBN and more
Start here if a hemp label or lab report lists cannabinoids you do not recognize.
Of the more than 100 cannabinoids found in cannabis, only a handful show up in meaningful amounts in hemp products: CBD and THC, their raw acid forms CBDA and THCA, and a few minor ones like CBG, CBN and CBC. This guide sorts the main types of cannabinoids, explains how the plant makes them and compares them in one chart, including which ones are intoxicating.
What are cannabinoids?
The word cannabinoid covers three groups of compounds:
- Phytocannabinoids: cannabinoids made by plants, such as CBD, THCA and CBG. Phyto means plant. When people say cannabinoids, they usually mean these.
- Endocannabinoids: compounds the human body makes itself, such as anandamide and 2-AG. They are part of the endocannabinoid system, a cell-signaling network scientists are still studying.
- Synthetic and converted cannabinoids: compounds made or changed in a lab. Some do not occur in nature at all, and others, like most delta-8 THC sold today, are made by chemically converting CBD.
How hemp makes cannabinoids
Hemp makes cannabinoids in tiny resin glands called trichomes, mostly on its flowers. The process happens in a few steps:
- The plant first makes CBGA, the acid form of CBG.
- Enzymes in the plant turn most of that CBGA into THCA, CBDA or CBCA. The plant's genetics decide which one dominates. Hemp strains are bred to make mostly CBDA, or in the case of THCA flower, mostly THCA.
- Heat and time remove part of each acid's structure, a process called decarboxylation. That turns THCA into delta-9 THC, CBDA into CBD and CBCA into CBC.
- Over time, THC slowly breaks down into CBN, especially when exposed to air, light and heat.
Types of cannabinoids chart
| Cannabinoid | Full name | Intoxicating? | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBD | Cannabidiol | No | The main cannabinoid in hemp; CBD oils, capsules, gummies and creams |
| CBDA | Cannabidiolic acid | No | The raw form of CBD in fresh hemp and raw extracts |
| CBG | Cannabigerol | No | A minor cannabinoid; CBG oils and blends |
| CBN | Cannabinol | Not considered strongly intoxicating; research is limited | Forms as THC ages; CBN blends made for nighttime use |
| CBC | Cannabichromene | No | Small amounts in full spectrum extracts |
| THCA | Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid | Not until heated | Raw hemp and THCA flower; becomes delta-9 THC when smoked or vaped |
| Delta-9 THC | Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol | Yes | The main intoxicating cannabinoid; its level defines hemp under the 2018 Farm Bill, with total THC counted from December 11, 2026 |
| Delta-8 THC | Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol | Yes | Tiny amounts in nature; most is made from CBD by conversion |
| HHC | Hexahydrocannabinol | Can be | Semi-synthetic; made in a lab |
Want a deeper comparison of the three non-intoxicating cannabinoids people ask about most? Read CBD vs. CBN vs. CBG.
Major vs. minor cannabinoids
CBD and THC, along with their acid forms, are the major cannabinoids because hemp and cannabis make them in the largest amounts. Everything else is called a minor cannabinoid. CBG, CBN and CBC usually make up a small share of the plant, so products built around them use special strains or concentrated extracts. That is one reason minor cannabinoid products often cost more per milligram than CBD.
Natural vs. converted and synthetic cannabinoids
Some cannabinoids sold today are not pulled straight from the plant. Delta-8 THC, HHC and THC-O are made by chemically changing hemp-derived CBD or THC. Federal law is changing around these products. Synthetic cannabinoids that a plant cannot naturally produce lose hemp status on November 12, 2026. Converted cannabinoids such as delta-8 are expected to follow as early as November 12 and no later than December 11, 2026. A total-THC standard that counts THCA, with a cap of 0.4 mg total THC per container, is set to begin December 11, 2026. Our guide to the 2026 hemp rule changes explains what that may mean.
THC cannabinoids: what to know before you buy
- THCA, delta-8 THC and delta-9 THC products are for adults 21 and over.
- They are intoxicating (THCA once heated) and can show up on drug tests. Full spectrum CBD contains small amounts of THC too.
- Do not drive or operate machinery after using a THC product.
- State rules differ, and some states restrict or ban these products. Laws are changing in 2026.
- Talk to your doctor before using any cannabinoid product, especially if you are pregnant, nursing or take medication.
Reading cannabinoids on a lab report
Each cannabinoid gets its own line on a lab report, usually as a percentage and in milligrams per gram. The report also shows total THC and, often, total CBD, which combine each acid form with its active form. Our explainer on the certificate of analysis shows how to read one.
How Tahoe CBD fits in
Most of what we sell is built around CBD. Our full spectrum CBD oils keep CBD alongside the minor cannabinoids and small amount of THC found in hemp. If you want to explore minor cannabinoids, browse our CBG products and our CBN products made for nighttime use. Lab reports are posted on our Lab Reports page when available. Ask us about any product and we will send the most recent report we have for it, or tell you plainly that it is not available yet.
Related terms
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