Most Important Cannabinoids You Need To Know: More than CBD

January 30, 2020

THC, CBD, CBG, CBN and CBC: The Top Five Most Important Cannabinoids to Know

It’s overwhelming! The CBD craze! Everyone is talking about CBD. They say it does amazing things for everything and everyone! Is it true? Or is it the modern day snakes oil that’s got everyone gleefully blind folded in a game of Russian roulette?

Why are we only learning about this now?

The truth is that scientists have known about cannabinoids since the turn of the 20th century and much later in 1992, discovered the endocannabinoid system. They finally connected the dots! This was huge! But because cannabis has been illegal since 1937, research was very limited.

Fortunately the times are changing and progress is moving forward. The legalization of medical marijuana and now recreational, plus the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill legalizing hemp has slowly been diminishing the stigmatism around this magical and complex plant. Now we are gathering more scientific studies to support many anecdotal claims. Check out these three studies about cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system:

What Research Says About CBD, Northwestern Medicine

Cannabis and Cannabinoids (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version, National Cancer Institute

A Simple Guide to the Endocannabinoid System, Healthline

As a consumer and voice in the cannabis industry, it’s my responsibility to seek out new research and always be educating myself. Here are the Top Five cannabinoids you need to know:

#1 – THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol): You may be most familiar with this one. THC is the most psychoactive cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. This is the component that gets you high. What you probably haven’t heard of its close relative Delta-8. Read Here

Here are four key benefits research suggests THC has the potential to:

Provide pain relief
Stimulate appetite and treat eating disorders
Treat anxiety and PTSD
Relieve insomnia
Glaucoma treatment
Treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

Remember this viral clip from the documentary “Ride with Larry”?

#2 – CBD (cannabidiol): A non-psychoactive cannabinoid. Research suggests it may help with pain, inflammation, anxiety, seizure disorders and improve skin health. There is so much more research needed, but the scientific studies and anecdotal claims out there are promising. Check out this article on Medical News Today.

Here are some of many benefits research suggests CBD can do:

Relieve epilepsy
Ease symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS)
Act as an anti-inflammatory
Provide pain relief
Ease anxiety and the symptoms of PTSD
Fight off insomnia
Lower blood sugar issues in type 1 diabetes

#3 – CBN (cannabinol): CBN occurs naturally as the plant ages. Gradually over time as the plant is exposed to heat and air, the THC converts to CBN. It is a mildly-psychoactive cannabinoid because it has sedative properties. If you have trouble sleeping or suffer from insomnia, this is the cannabinoid you want to seek out in the products you purchase. The best part is it isn’t as heavy as some OTC or prescription options may be, so you shouldn’t experience a hangover feeling from using products containing CBN.

What are some of the other benefits research claims:

Treat insomnia
Anti-inflammatory
CBN has the ability to fight bacteria. A 2008 study found CBN one of several cannabinoids (including CBD) effective in treating MRSA, a bacterial infection that is resistant to antibiotics.
Reducing ocular pressure which means it may be a potential treatment for glaucoma patients.

Read this study about Cannabinoids and Glaucoma.

#4 – CBG (cannabigerol): Called “the Mother of All Cannabinoids” because all cannabinoids start out at CBGA. Also nicknamed “the Xanax of cannabinoids” among industry professionals because of its mood regulating properties. Research also suggests it may:

Inhibit the reproduction of abnormal cell growth, which offers hope to potentially use CBG for treating cancer.
It may stimulate bone growth making it a potential option for treating osteoporosis.
It has potential as a neuroprotectant, slowing or protecting against the degeneration of nerves. Check out this study of CBG for treating Huntington’s Disease.
Antibacterial agent, one of the cannabinoids that can fight MRSA.
An antidepressant: Studies suggest that CBG inhibits uptake of the neurotransmitters serotonin and GABA, which can lead to increased serotonin and GABA levels in the brain. This suggests CBG may have antidepressant qualities.

Check out this interview with Dr. Ethan Rosso. Fast forward to 4:37

#5 – CBC (Cannabichromene): So much more research is needed to understand the full benefits of cannabinoids, but CBC is the one cannabinoid I am really excited for. Even with the limited research available for CBC, so far research claims it may: