Rare Cannabinoids List: Short Answer

The rare cannabinoids found in cannabis include CBG, CBC, CBN, THCV, CBDV, CBDA, CBGA, CBCA, CBDVA, CBL, CBT, delta-8 THC, delta-10 THC, THCP, and CBDP. THC and CBD make up most of the resin in a cannabis plant. The rest sit below 1% of dry flower weight in most samples. Lab testing and selective breeding have pushed some of those numbers up since 2019.

Cannabis Cannabinoids List: A Comprehensive Guide

What Counts as a Rare Cannabinoid

Cannabis produces more than 100 cannabinoids. Two of them, delta-9 THC and CBD, dominate the plant's chemistry. Every other cannabinoid gets grouped as rare, minor, or exotic. The industry uses all three terms for the same compounds.

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Two mechanisms create a rare cannabinoid. The first is biosynthesis, where enzymes build a molecule in the plant. The second is degradation, where light, heat, or oxygen changes an existing molecule over time. CBN is an example of the second route.

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The List

CBG (Cannabigerol)

CBGA is the parent molecule at the start of the pathway. Enzymes convert CBGA into THCA, CBDA, and CBCA. CBG is what remains after those conversions. Flower tests 0.1% to 1% CBG in most samples. Some hemp cultivars reach 5%. Animal studies show activity at alpha-2 adrenergic receptors and weak binding at CB1 and CB2.

Cannabis Cannabinoids Names: A Buyer's Guide to What's on the Label

CBC (Cannabichromene)

CBC forms from CBCA. Flower tests below 0.5% CBC in most samples. CBC binds TRPA1 and TRPV1 channels. It shows low affinity at CB1.

CBN (Cannabinol)

CBN is an oxidation product of THC. Heat, light, and time convert THC into CBN. Old flower tests higher in CBN than fresh flower. CBN binds CB1 with less strength than THC.

THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin)

THCV is a propyl-chain version of THC. It appears in landrace cultivars from southern Africa and parts of Asia. Flower from those lines tests 0.1% to 0.5% THCV. Lab work shows THCV acting as a CB1 antagonist at low doses and an agonist at high doses.

CBDV (Cannabidivarin)

CBDV is the propyl-chain form of CBD. It shows up in hemp cultivars with high CBD. Tests land around 0.1% to 0.5%.

CBDA and THCA

These are the acid forms. Raw flower holds THCA and CBDA, not THC and CBD. Heat removes the acid group in a reaction called decarboxylation. THCA does not cause intoxication. The conversion needs heat above 220 degrees Fahrenheit.

CBGA, CBCA, and CBDVA

These are acidic precursors. CBGA sits at the start of the pathway. CBDA synthase and THCA synthase act on CBGA to build the other acids. Concentrations depend on cultivar, harvest date, and plant age.

CBL and CBT

CBL is a breakdown product of CBC. CBT is a ring-opened form of CBC. Published data on both is thin. Total content in flower is small enough that most labs do not report them.

Delta-8 THC

Delta-8 THC occurs in the plant at trace levels. Commercial delta-8 comes from CBD through a chemical reaction using acid catalysts. The FDA has not approved delta-8 THC for medical use and has sent warning letters to sellers over health claims.

Delta-10 THC

Delta-10 THC is an isomer of delta-8. It shows up as a byproduct of CBD conversion. Research on effects in humans is limited.

THCP (Tetrahydrocannabiphorol)

THCP has a seven-carbon side chain instead of the five-carbon chain in THC. A 2019 paper in Scientific Reports described the molecule and measured CB1 binding higher than delta-9 THC. Natural levels in flower are low. CBDP is the matching CBD analog.

How Concentrations Compare

Compounds That Are Not Plant Cannabinoids

HHC, THC-O, and H4CBD appear on many rare cannabinoid lists. They do not occur in cannabis at meaningful levels. HHC is made by adding hydrogen to THC. THC-O is made by adding an acetyl group. These are semisynthetic compounds, not plant-produced cannabinoids.

How to Read a COA

A certificate of analysis from an accredited lab lists each cannabinoid as a percentage of dry weight. Check the acid forms separately from the neutral forms. A label that says "total THC" adds THCA after multiplying by 0.877 to account for the lost acid group. If a product lists a rare cannabinoid without a COA number, the content is unknown.