Cannabinoids explained simply: they are compounds produced by the cannabis plant. THC and CBD are the best known, while minor cannabinoid abbreviations can add more detail to a listing.
Cannabinoids explained: the major two
- THC — the main intoxicating cannabinoid. See THC vs CBD.
- CBD — non-intoxicating; often paired with THC in ratios.
Minor cannabinoids you may see
- CBG (cannabigerol) — a precursor cannabinoid, usually present in small amounts.
- CBN (cannabinol) — forms as THC ages.
- THCA — the raw, non-intoxicating acid form of THC that converts to THC with heat.
How they are measured
Cannabinoid content appears on every product — as a percentage for flower and concentrates, and in milligrams for edibles and tinctures.
Why the abbreviation matters
THC, THCA, CBD and CBG are different labels. Read the exact abbreviation rather than treating every cannabinoid number as interchangeable. A product description should also make clear whether a value is a percentage, a concentration, an amount per unit or a package total.
Minor cannabinoids may not appear on every listing. Their absence from the page does not provide enough information to estimate a value, so use only the facts displayed for that item.