CBCV (cannabichromevarin) is a rare minor cannabinoid, the "varin" relative of CBC, with a three-carbon side chain instead of five. Cannabis makes it in trace amounts, first as the acid CBCVA, which turns into CBCV with heat. Researchers first isolated it from cannabis leaves. Research on CBCV is limited to a few laboratory studies.
Key facts
- Other names
- Cannabichromevarin, CBC-V, cannabivarichromene
- Formula
- C19H26O2
- Group
- Varin cannabinoids (propyl side chain); the varin form of CBC
- In the plant
- Trace amounts; the acid form CBCVA has been isolated from young cannabis leaves
- Research stage
- As of October 2026, a handful of laboratory and analytical studies; no studies in people
What is CBCV?
CBCV is short for cannabichromevarin. Its structure matches CBC (cannabichromene), except that the side chain on the aromatic ring has three carbon atoms instead of five. Chemists call cannabinoids with this shorter chain "varins". Its formula is C19H26O2, two carbon atoms and four hydrogen atoms fewer than CBC (PubChem).
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How does cannabichromevarin form in the plant?
Cannabinoids come in pairs. The common ones, such as CBC, THC and CBG, have a five-carbon chain. Their varin counterparts, CBCV, THCV and CBGV, have a three-carbon chain. The varins start from cannabigerovarinic acid (CBGVA) instead of CBGA. Plant enzymes turn CBGVA into acids such as CBCVA, and heat or time turns CBCVA into CBCV. The same route gives CBDVA (cannabidivarinic acid), the acid form of CBDV.
A 2023 review of cannabis chemistry describes how researchers isolated CBCV, a brownish-red compound, from leaves of Thai cannabis, and found its acid form CBCVA in young cannabis leaves (Fordjour et al., 2023). The enzymes that make the final cannabinoids belong to a gene family called the cannabinoid oxidocyclases, which evolved within the cannabis lineage (van Velzen and Schranz, 2021).
CBCV vs CBC: what is the difference?
| CBCV | CBC | |
|---|---|---|
| Side chain | Propyl (3 carbons) | Pentyl (5 carbons) |
| Formula | C19H26O2 | C21H30O2 |
| Plant precursor | CBGVA, via CBCVA | CBGA, via CBCA |
| Amount in hemp | Trace | Minor, but more common |
| Research | A few laboratory studies | More laboratory and animal studies |
What does research say about CBCV?
Very little research exists, and none of it is in people:
- Nerve cells in the lab: in a 2025 laboratory model of sensitised pain-sensing neurons, CBCV was one of ten minor cannabinoids that reduced the cells' response to capsaicin, the compound that makes chilli hot (Anand et al., 2025).
- Telling natural from synthetic CBD: CBCV has been used as one of several trace compounds in an analytical method that helps show whether a CBD sample was extracted from hemp or made synthetically (Brighenti et al., 2024).
These are laboratory findings. They don't show any effect of CBCV in people, and they don't apply to the trace amounts in a hemp extract.
How is CBCV extracted and measured?
Because hemp contains so little, CBCV is usually separated from other cannabinoids by chromatography, for example on silica gel columns or by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Most routine certificates of analysis don't list it.
For the wider family, read our guides to minor cannabinoids and to CBV (cannabivarin), another rare varin.
Frequently asked questions
What is CBCV?
CBCV (cannabichromevarin) is a rare cannabinoid, the varin form of CBC, with a three-carbon side chain. Cannabis makes it in trace amounts.
Is CBCV psychoactive?
No study has tested CBCV for intoxicating effects in people. It occurs in cannabis only in trace amounts.
How is CBCV different from CBC?
CBCV has a three-carbon side chain where CBC has five. It is formed from CBGVA instead of CBGA and is much rarer.
Is CBCV the same as CBV?
No. Both are varins, but CBCV is the varin form of CBC, while CBV is the varin form of CBN.
Does Formula Swiss sell CBCV?
No. CBCV is not an ingredient in any Formula Swiss product.
Related guides
Formula Swiss CBD oils are sold as cosmetics for use on the skin. They are not food supplements or medicines and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The studies in this article are laboratory research. This article is general information about cannabinoid chemistry.
Last reviewed:
Sources
- PubChem. Cannabichromevarin (CID 6451726); Cannabichromene (CID 30219).
- Fordjour E, et al. Cannabis: a multifaceted plant with endless potentials. Frontiers in Pharmacology 2023. doi:10.3389/fphar.2023.1200269
- van Velzen R, Schranz ME. Origin and evolution of the cannabinoid oxidocyclase gene family. Genome Biology and Evolution 2021. doi:10.1093/gbe/evab130
- Anand U, Anand P, Sodergren MH. Modulatory effects of "minor" cannabinoids in an in vitro model of neuronal hypersensitivity. Journal of Pain Research 2025. doi:10.2147/JPR.S547613
- Brighenti V, et al. A new HPLC method with multiple detection systems for impurity analysis and discrimination of natural versus synthetic cannabidiol. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 2024. doi:10.1007/s00216-024-05396-5
