Understanding Cannabinoids
THC. THCa. CBD. You've seen the letters. Here's what they actually mean.
Cannabis comes with its own vocabulary, but you shouldn’t need a chemistry degree to understand what’s in your products. Here’s a quick breakdown of a few cannabinoids you’ll see around Wildwood and what makes each one different.
What Is A Cannabinoid?
Cannabinoids are naturally occurring compounds in cannabis that interact with the body in different ways.
You’ve probably heard of THC and CBD, but they’re just part of a much bigger family.
Below are a few worth knowing.
THC - Tetrahydrocannabinol
THC is the primary intoxicating cannabinoid associated with cannabis and the classic “high” most people recognize.
It’s found across many cannabis products, including gummies, vapes, concentrates, and flower.
The one most people mean when they say “THC.”
THCa - Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid
THCa is a naturally occurring precursor to THC found in raw cannabis. On its own, THCa is not intoxicating in the same way as THC.
When heated through a process called decarboxylation, THCa converts into THC. That means when THCa is heated through vaping, smoking, or cooking edibles, you’re changing its chemical form.
THCa becomes THC when you heat it.
CBD - Cannabidiol
CBD is another naturally occurring cannabinoid found in cannabis. Unlike THC, CBD isn’t intoxicating and doesn’t produce the traditional cannabis “high.”
It’s commonly found in tinctures, vapes, gummies, topicals, and other cannabis and hemp products.
Cannabis without the traditional THC high.
CBG - Cannabigerol
CBG is a lesser-known cannabinoid found in much smaller amounts than THC or CBD in most cannabis plants.
CBG’s acid form, CBGa, is the starting point the plant uses to build other cannabinoids, including THCa, CBDa, and CBCa.
CBG is a parent cannabinoid whose acid form helps give rise to other cannabinoids.
CBN - Cannabinol
CBN is a minor cannabinoid that forms naturally as THC ages and breaks down over time.
It’s non-intoxicating to mildly intoxicating and is often found in products marketed for nighttime use, although research into its effects is still developing.
A minor cannabinoid commonly associated with nighttime products.
CBDa - Cannabidiolic Acid
CBDa is the naturally occurring precursor to CBD found in raw cannabis and hemp.
When CBDa is heated, it converts into CBD through the same general process that turns THCa into THC.
CBDa is the raw form that becomes CBD when heated.
CBV - Cannabivarin
CBV is a lesser-known minor cannabinoid that occurs naturally in cannabis, typically in very small amounts.
Compared with cannabinoids like THC and CBD, CBV hasn’t been studied extensively, so there’s still a lot to learn about its properties.
A naturally occurring minor cannabinoid we’re still learning about.
Now You Know What’s Inside
Knowing the terms makes it easier to find the right Wildwood product.
Whether you’re exploring THC, THCa, CBD, or something new, knowing what’s inside is a pretty good place to start.
