A cannabinoid is a compound that acts on the body's cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2. Cannabis makes more than 100 of them, mostly as acids such as THCA and CBDA that heat turns into THC and CBD. The body makes its own, such as anandamide, and chemists have made many synthetic ones. THC causes a high; CBD and most others do not.
Key facts
- Three groups
- Phytocannabinoids (from plants), endocannabinoids (made by the body) and synthetic cannabinoids
- In cannabis
- About 125 cannabinoids identified among more than 500 compounds (Radwan et al., 2021)
- Chemistry
- Plant cannabinoids are C21 terpenophenolic compounds, made mainly in the resin glands
- Receptors
- CB1, mostly in the brain and nervous system; CB2, mostly in immune cells
- Body's own
- Anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) are the best studied
- UK status
- THC is a Class B drug; pure CBD is not controlled (as of October 2026)
Prefer watching? This video covers the key points:
What is a cannabinoid?
The word comes from cannabis, the plant in which these compounds were first found. Today "cannabinoid" covers any compound that acts on the cannabinoid receptors, whether it comes from a plant, the body or a laboratory. In cannabis, the cannabinoids are C21 terpenophenolic compounds, and a 2021 review counts 125 of them among more than 500 compounds reported in the plant (Radwan et al., 2021).
What are the types of cannabinoids?
| Group | Where they come from | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Phytocannabinoids | Plants, above all cannabis and hemp | THC, CBD, CBG, CBC, THCV |
| Endocannabinoids | Made by the body from arachidonic acid | Anandamide (AEA), 2-AG |
| Synthetic cannabinoids | Made in a laboratory | Research compounds such as CP55940; illicit "spice" products |
Synthetic cannabinoids range from research tools to illicit products, and many are controlled drugs in the UK. Our article on synthetic and natural cannabinoids explains the difference.
How do cannabinoids work?
Cannabinoids act on the endocannabinoid system, a signalling network found throughout the body. Its two best-known receptors are CB1, the main type in the brain and nervous system, and CB2, found mainly in immune cells and other tissues outside the brain. The body's own cannabinoids, anandamide and 2-AG, were the first to be identified and remain the best studied (Zou and Kumar, 2018). Similar lipids, such as oleamide, are also being studied.
THC activates CB1 receptors in the brain, which is why it intoxicates. CBD has a low affinity for these receptors and acts in other ways, and it does not cause a high. Read more in CBD vs THC.
How does the cannabis plant make cannabinoids?
The plant makes cannabinoids in the trichomes, the resin glands on its flowers and upper leaves, and makes them almost entirely as acids. CBGA comes first and is converted by specific plant enzymes into THCA, CBDA or CBCA (Citti et al., 2019). Heat removes a carboxyl group and turns these acids into THC, CBD and CBC, a reaction called decarboxylation (Wang et al., 2016). Our article on how heat affects cannabinoids explains the process.
Which cannabinoids are found in cannabis?
These are the cannabinoids we cover in our guides:
| Cannabinoid | Full name | In brief |
|---|---|---|
| THC | Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol | Main intoxicating cannabinoid; Class B in the UK |
| CBD | Cannabidiol | Not intoxicating; main cannabinoid in most hemp |
| CBG | Cannabigerol | Not intoxicating; its acid, CBGA, is the precursor of the others |
| CBC | Cannabichromene | Not intoxicating; formed from CBCA |
| THCV | Tetrahydrocannabivarin | THC relative with a shorter side chain |
| CBDV | Cannabidivarin | CBD relative with a shorter side chain |
| CBN | Cannabinol | One of the major cannabinoids listed in cannabis |
| THCA | Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid | Acid form of THC; turns into THC when heated |
| CBDA | Cannabidiolic acid | Acid form of CBD |
| THCP | Tetrahydrocannabiphorol | Trace cannabinoid found in 2019; binds CB1 strongly in lab tests |
More guides: minor cannabinoids, which cannabinoids are psychoactive and the entourage effect.
What are the effects of cannabinoids?
They differ from compound to compound. THC causes a high and can impair memory and coordination. CBD does not intoxicate: in 2018 the World Health Organization's Expert Committee on Drug Dependence found no effects in humans indicating any abuse or dependence potential (WHO, 2018). For most minor cannabinoids, research is at an early stage and comes mainly from cell and animal studies.
Are cannabinoids legal in the UK?
It depends on the compound. Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, cannabis and a number of cannabinoids, including THC, are Class B drugs. Pure CBD, as an isolated substance, is not controlled. The Home Office notes that consumer CBD products can contain traces of controlled cannabinoids, and such a product is only exempt from the controls if it meets the "exempt product" conditions (Home Office, 2024). See Is CBD oil legal in the UK?
From our production
We test every batch in Switzerland, and we have never had a failed test since 2013. We don't sell HHC or any other cannabinoid that intoxicates.
— Robin Roy Krigslund-Hansen, co-founder and CEO
Frequently asked questions
What is a cannabinoid?
A cannabinoid is a compound that acts on the body's cannabinoid receptors. There are three groups: phytocannabinoids from plants, endocannabinoids made by the body and synthetic cannabinoids made in laboratories.
How many cannabinoids are there?
A 2021 review counts about 125 cannabinoids among more than 500 compounds reported in cannabis. THC and CBD are the best known and usually the most abundant.
What is the difference between THC and CBD?
Both are cannabinoids from the cannabis plant. THC activates CB1 receptors in the brain and causes a high; CBD does not. In the UK, THC is a Class B drug, while pure CBD is not controlled.
What are the effects of cannabinoids?
They vary by compound. THC is intoxicating and can impair memory and coordination. CBD and most other cannabinoids do not cause a high, and research on many of them is at an early stage.
Does the body make its own cannabinoids?
Yes. The body makes endocannabinoids, of which anandamide (AEA) and 2-AG are the best studied. They act on the same CB1 and CB2 receptors as plant cannabinoids.
Can you overdose on cannabinoids?
A fatal overdose from cannabis alone is unlikely, but too much THC can cause severe anxiety, paranoia and vomiting. Synthetic cannabinoids sold illicitly are far more dangerous.
Related guides
This article is for information only and does not describe any product in our shop. Formula Swiss CBD oils are cosmetic products for use on the skin. They are not medicines. See our full disclaimer.
Last reviewed:
Sources
- Radwan MM, Chandra S, Gul S, ElSohly MA. Cannabinoids, phenolics, terpenes and alkaloids of cannabis. Molecules 2021. doi:10.3390/molecules26092774
- Zou S, Kumar U. Cannabinoid receptors and the endocannabinoid system: signaling and function in the central nervous system. Int J Mol Sci 2018. doi:10.3390/ijms19030833
- Wang M, Wang YH, Avula B, et al. Decarboxylation study of acidic cannabinoids. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2016. doi:10.1089/can.2016.0020
- Citti C, Linciano P, Russo F, et al. A novel phytocannabinoid isolated from Cannabis sativa L. with an in vivo cannabimimetic activity higher than Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol: Δ9-tetrahydrocannabiphorol. Sci Rep 2019. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-56785-1
- World Health Organization, Expert Committee on Drug Dependence. Cannabidiol (CBD): critical review report. Geneva: WHO; 2018.
- Home Office. Drug licensing factsheet: cannabis, CBD and other cannabinoids. Updated 3 October 2024.
