Delta-9-tetrahyrdocannabinol (△9-THC), better known to cannabis users simply as THC, is the cannabis plant's primary component for causing psychoactive effects. Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (△8-THC) is a cannabis compound that has become popular because of its similarity to THC, the main compound in cannabis that gets you high. The similarities between the two cannabinoids lie in their chemical structures and their names. Delta-8 THC can cause effects similar to regular THC, but they will be much less potent. Potency testing can determine how much of each cannabinoid you have in your samples.
THC-A and CBD-A are usually the most abundant cannabinoids in strains. They are the cannabinoid Acids. Cannabinoid acids are not known to produce intoxicating effects like THC, but they do have a variety of interesting properties. For example, many cannabinoid acids have antibiotic or insecticidal properties. This is likely related to the reason Cannabis produces these compounds in the first place; to defend itself. When cannabinoid acids are exposed to heat energy (decarboxylation), they lose the "A" part turn into neutral plant cannabinoids. Cannabidol (CBD) and cannabidiolic acid (CBD-A) are both well-known and abundant chemical compounds native to the cannabis and hemp plant. CBD is the major non-psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis.
Cannabigerolic Acid (CBG-A) is produced in the plant's trichromes and triggers targeted plant cells necrosis for natural leaf pruning to allow the plant to maximize energy directed toward the flower. CBG-A is a foundational compound of the cannabis flower. It can be referred to as the "granddaddy" of cannabbinoids because it is at top of the cascade reaction that produces three major cannabinoid lines: THC-A, CBD-A and CBC-A, which eventually become THC, CBD and CBC. CBG-A may also convert to CBG, but in a majority of strains, CBG-A eventually converts to either THC or CBD.
Cannabinol (CBN) is a mildly psychoactive cannabinoid found only in trace amounts in cannabis, and is mostly found in aged cannabis. CBN is the cannabinoid into which THC breaks down into after prolonged periods of time. The degradation can be accelerated by exposing dried plant matter to oxygen and heat.
Cannabichromene (CBC) is considered one of the "big six" cannabinoids prominent in medical research. It doesn't get as much attention, but CBC's benefits are extremely promising. CBC has the same origins as both THC and CBD do in that they all stem from CBG-A. The specific plant enzymes cascade and "direct" the breakdown product into one of three lines. For CBC, it converts from CBG-A into cannabichrome carboxylic acid (CBC-A), and then finally to CBC after exposure to hear or ultraviolet light. CBC is non-intoxicating, so it doesn't produce a euphoric high like THC.
Terpenes are highly aromatic compounds that determine the smell of many plants and herbs. Some terpenes play a protective role in the plant, helping the plant to recover from damage; others act as a part of the plant's immune system to keep away infectious germs. However, some may also act on the endocannabinoid system in the body in a similar way to cannabinoids. The key difference is that the body absorbs and uses these compounds in different ways. Many terpenes are bioactive, which means they may affect the body. This effect will vary based on the concentration of the terpene itself and how a person uses it. Some people believe that terpenes will affect or enhance the high a person gets from using cannabis. This is known as the 'entourage effect' and it implies that terpenes enhance or alter the effects of THC and CBD in the body.
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