CBD vs THC vs HHC vs CBG: All Cannabinoids Explained

Cannabis contains far more than THC. More than 120 cannabinoids have now been identified in the plant, alongside roughly 200 terpenes and hundreds of flavonoids. Each compound has its own action, its own receptor profile and its own legal status. Over the past decade scientific research into these compounds has accelerated sharply — shifting the conversation about cannabis from "high or not" to a richer field of pharmacology, terpenes and spectrum choice.

In this guide we lay out every cannabinoid that matters in practice: from the famous big four (THC, CBD, CBG, CBN) to semi-synthetic variants like HHC and Delta-8, plus the cannabinoid acids the plant produces before decarboxylation. We cover how the endocannabinoid system works in your body, why terpenes do more than smell, and what the entourage effect means for choosing cannabis products.

What are cannabinoids?

Cannabinoids are a group of chemical compounds that bind to cannabinoid receptors in the body. There are three main categories:

Phytocannabinoids — produced by plants. Cannabis is the best-known source but not the only one — echinacea, helichrysum and some liverworts also produce compounds that act on cannabinoid receptors. In Cannabis sativa more than 120 different phytocannabinoids have been identified. The plant produces them in glandular trichomes — those crystalline structures on the flower — as secondary metabolites.

Endocannabinoids — made by the body itself. The two most important are anandamide (from the Sanskrit ananda, joy) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). They are produced "on demand" the moment the nervous system needs them, and are broken down relatively quickly.

Synthetic cannabinoids — produced in a laboratory. Some are legitimate research tools (JWH-018, WIN 55,212-2), others are sold illegally as "spice". A separate category are semi-synthetic cannabinoids, where a natural cannabinoid is chemically modified — such as HHC and Delta-8 THC. We come back to these later.

The endocannabinoid system: how it works in your body

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) was discovered in the 1990s, ironically as a direct response to research into how cannabis works. In 1988 Allyn Howlett and colleagues identified the first cannabinoid receptor in rat brain tissue (Devane et al., Mol Pharmacol 1988). In 1992 Raphael Mechoulam isolated the first endogenous cannabinoid — anandamide (Devane et al., Science 1992).

The ECS regulates what pharmacologists call homeostasis: keeping various bodily functions in balance. Sleep, mood, appetite, pain perception, stress response, memory, immune function — the ECS plays a part in all of them. Not as a lead actor, but as a brake and accelerator that fine-tunes other systems.

Two receptors are central:

CB1 receptors — primarily in the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord). Highest density in the basal ganglia, cerebellum, hippocampus and cortex. Responsible for the psychoactive effects of THC. CB1 activation explains why THC affects coordination, memory, appetite and pain perception.

CB2 receptors — primarily in immune cells and peripheral tissue (spleen, tonsils, gut). No psychoactive effects on activation. Central role in inflammation regulation.

The two key endogenous cannabinoids:

• Anandamide (AEA) — binds to CB1 and CB2, structurally similar to THC. Broken down rapidly by the enzyme FAAH (fatty acid amide hydrolase).
• 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) — present in much higher concentrations than anandamide. Broken down by MAGL (monoacylglycerol lipase).

Phytocannabinoids like THC and CBD work because they're chemically similar enough to these endocannabinoids to activate the same receptors — or, in CBD's case, by inhibiting the breakdown of endocannabinoids and amplifying the endogenous signal.

The major cannabinoids: an overview

THC — Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol

The best-known phytocannabinoid, and the compound that gives cannabis its characteristic psychoactive effect. Discovered in 1964 by Raphael Mechoulam. THC is a partial agonist of both CB1 and CB2, with stronger affinity for CB1. The psychoactivity stems from CB1 activation in the brain.

In the plant THC exists as THCA — the acidic precursor. THCA itself is not psychoactive. Only through heating (decarboxylation) or prolonged storage is THCA converted to THC.

Beyond the well-known effects on mood, perception and appetite, science also investigates THC for pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea, multiple sclerosis spasticity and sleep. Clinical applications exist in registered medicines like dronabinol and nabilone, and in prescription medicinal cannabis.

CBD — Cannabidiol

The other big name, and the cannabinoid the cosmetics and supplements industry has been built on since 2015. CBD isn't a typical CB1 agonist; its affinity for CB1 and CB2 is low. Instead it works through a notably complex pharmacological mechanism:

• Allosteric modulation of CB1 (changing how the receptor responds to other compounds)
• Inhibition of FAAH, keeping anandamide active longer
• Activation of TRPV1 (pain sensor receptor)
• Activation of 5-HT1A (serotonin receptor)
• Activation of PPAR-γ (nuclear receptor involved in metabolism and inflammation)

Net result: CBD has no psychoactive effect but is actively researched for anxiety, inflammation, epilepsy and sleep. The only FDA-approved cannabinoid medicine — Epidiolex — is CBD-based and is prescribed for two rare childhood epilepsies (Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes).

In our range you'll find full spectrum CBD oil in various strengths: CBD Oil 10% Vital Energy, CBD Oil 10% Relief & Pain, CBD Oil 10% Every Day and the stronger CBD Oil 15%.

CBG — Cannabigerol, mother of all cannabinoids

CBG is often called "the mother cannabinoid" because CBGA — its acidic form — is the chemical precursor to THCA, CBDA and CBCA. The plant produces CBGA first, and specific enzymes then convert it into the other acids. In most commercial cannabis strains only 1-2% CBG remains by harvest; special CBG-dominant cultivars are bred to reach higher percentages.

CBG binds to CB1 and CB2 with low affinity, but is a strong agonist of α2-adrenergic receptors and an inhibitor of 5-HT1A. Research is investigating applications in glaucoma (lowering eye pressure), inflammatory bowel disease, neuroprotection, and as an antibacterial — in vitro studies show activity against MRSA. Clinical evidence is still early but the field is growing rapidly.

CBN — Cannabinol

CBN forms through oxidation of THC. Older cannabis therefore contains more CBN than fresh — a process accelerated by heat, light and air exposure. CBN is mildly psychoactive: roughly a quarter of THC's potency. In the wellness industry CBN is heavily promoted as "the sleep cannabinoid", but scientifically that narrative remains weakly supported.

A frequently cited 1975 study by Karniol found synergistic sedation between THC and CBN — but that says more about the combination than about CBN alone. Modern research is still hunting for the exact mechanism. What does hold up in practice: aged cannabis (with more CBN) is reported by users as more sedating than fresh harvest. Whether that's down to CBN itself or terpene degradation is an open question.

Minor cannabinoids: CBC, THCV, CBDV, THCP

Alongside the major four there are dozens of "minor" cannabinoids occurring at low concentrations or only recently discovered:

CBC (cannabichromene) — derived from CBCA. Binds weakly to CB1 and CB2 but is a strong activator of TRPA1 and TRPV1 (pain and temperature receptors). Investigated for pain, neuroprotection and mood. CBC and CBD appear to enhance each other synergistically in inflammation studies in animals.

THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin) — a propyl analogue of THC (shorter side chain). At low doses THCV actually acts as a CB1 antagonist — it blocks THC's effects. At higher doses it shifts to agonist and becomes mildly psychoactive. Associated with appetite suppression — hence its nickname "diet weed" in English sources. Found in higher concentrations in African and Asian landrace strains like Durban Poison.

CBDV (cannabidivarin) — propyl analogue of CBD. Researched for epilepsy and autism spectrum conditions. Non-psychoactive like CBD.

THCP (tetrahydrocannabiphorol) — discovered in 2019 by Citti and colleagues (Citti et al., Sci Rep 2019). A heptyl analogue of THC with a longer side chain. Binding affinity for CB1 is more than 30× stronger than THC. Occurs in very low concentrations in the plant — possibly an explanation for the variable potency of apparently similar chemovars.

CBDP (cannabidiphorol) — heptyl analogue of CBD, discovered in parallel by the same group. Activity largely unknown.

Semi-synthetic cannabinoids: HHC, Delta-8 and THC-O

In recent years compounds have appeared on the market that don't occur naturally in the plant (or only at trace levels) but are produced via chemical conversion from CBD or THC. Three main variants:

HHC (hexahydrocannabinol) — a hydrogenated form of THC where the double bond on the cyclohexenyl ring is saturated with hydrogen. First synthesised by Roger Adams in 1944, but only appeared on the consumer market around 2020 via a chain that extracts CBD from hemp, converts it to THC, and then hydrogenates it to HHC. The effect is somewhat THC-like but weaker and with a different metabolic profile. In the Netherlands HHC has been listed on the Opium Act schedule since 2023 and is therefore prohibited. Next Level Smart does not sell HHC products. For the broader HHC debate see our article HHC vs THC: everything about hexahydrocannabinol.

Delta-8 THC — an isomer of Delta-9 THC with the double bond shifted from position 9 to position 8 on the cyclohexyl ring. Occurs naturally in very low concentrations; commercial Delta-8 is almost always synthesised from CBD through acid-catalysed isomerisation. About two-thirds the potency of Delta-9 THC. Legal status varies across the EU; in the Netherlands the same enforcement logic applies as with HHC.

THC-O (THC-O-acetate) — an acetate ester of THC, not naturally present in the plant. Claimed to be more potent than Delta-9 THC. Safety data is limited; reported EVALI-style lung inflammation cases with vape use have drawn regulatory attention in the United States.

Cannabinoid acids and decarboxylation

A crucial point for anyone wanting to understand the chemistry: the living plant doesn't produce THC, it produces THCA. Not CBD, but CBDA. These acidic precursors carry an extra carboxyl group (-COOH) on the molecule.

Decarboxylation is the loss of that carboxyl group — it escapes as CO₂. The process happens through:

• Heat — at around 100-110 °C slowly, at 120-140 °C quickly
• Smoking — instantaneous through combustion heat
• Vaporising — automatic once the flower exceeds 100 °C
• Aging — slow over weeks to months, even at room temperature

Unprocessed raw cannabis contains almost exclusively the acids. Eating raw leaf gives no psychoactive effect — only after decarboxylation does THCA convert to THC. The acidic forms do have their own activity, though — THCA is being researched for anti-inflammatory effects, CBDA for anti-emetic effects. An emerging research field that has gained increasing attention in recent years.

Terpenes: aroma, flavour and pharmacology

Alongside cannabinoids, cannabis produces around 200 different terpenes — volatile aromatic compounds that also occur in lemon, pine, lavender and hops. Terpenes are responsible for how a strain smells and tastes, but they do more than that: they have their own pharmacological activity and interact with cannabinoids.

The eight most relevant cannabis terpenes:

One stand-out: caryophyllene is the only known terpene that directly binds to CB2 receptors. That technically makes it more a dietary cannabinoid than an ordinary terpene — a unique position it earned in 2008 after a key publication by Gertsch and colleagues.

The entourage effect: why the whole plant works

The term "entourage effect" was introduced in 1998 by Mechoulam and Ben-Shabat, and expanded in an influential 2011 review article by Ethan Russo (Russo, Br J Pharmacol 2011). The core idea: the pharmacological action of a cannabis extract is more than the sum of the isolated cannabinoids — terpenes and minor cannabinoids modify each other's effects through synergistic and antagonistic interactions.

Concrete examples from Russo's review:

• CBD reduces the anxiety side-effects of high-dose THC
• Myrcene enhances the sedative effect of CBN
• Limonene and CBD appear to additively support stress reduction
• Pinene counteracts the short-term memory effect of THC

This is why pure THC isolate (the prescription drug dronabinol, for example) clinically behaves differently from full-spectrum cannabis containing the same amount of THC. Patients consistently report that the plant works better than the pill — and the entourage effect hypothesis offers a mechanistic framework.

Not all researchers are convinced: a counter-current argues that many claims rest on anecdotal reports and that controlled clinical studies are scarce. The debate continues — but in the CBD products market "full spectrum" now carries a clear price premium over isolate.

Spectrum choice: full spectrum, broad spectrum or isolate

For CBD products you'll see three spectrum designations on packaging — directly applicable to the choice between our CBD oils:

Full spectrum — contains all naturally occurring cannabinoids from the hemp plant, including up to 0.2% THC (EU limit for industrial hemp) plus terpenes and flavonoids. Maximum entourage effect. Our CBD Oil 10% Vital Energy, CBD Oil 10% Relief & Pain, CBD Oil 10% Every Day and the stronger CBD Oil 15% are all full spectrum CO₂ extracts. The CBD MCT Oil 10% uses an MCT carrier oil for improved absorption.

Broad spectrum — like full spectrum but with the THC removed via an additional purification step. No psychoactivity, but you still get terpenes and minor cannabinoids. Suitable for anyone wanting to avoid THC entirely (e.g. for drug-testing-sensitive jobs) while still benefiting from the entourage effect.

CBD isolate — 99%+ pure CBD, all other cannabinoids and terpenes removed. No entourage effect, but full dosage control and zero THC. Flavourless — handy for use in recipes.

Which spectrum fits depends on the goal:

• Maximum therapeutic effect → full spectrum
• Avoid THC completely, still want synergy → broad spectrum
• Precise dosing, predictable effect, neutral flavour → isolate

For growers preferring to cultivate rather than buy oil: our CBD seed selection within Inner Earth Seeds has three options: Charlotte's Dream (CBD) — feminized photoperiod with 12-16% CBD and 0.3-0.6% THC, Charlotte's Dream Auto (CBD) with 18-22% CBD, and Swiss Chocolate CBD with 8-15% CBD and a chocolate-coffee profile.

Legal status per cannabinoid in the Netherlands (May 2026)

For the practical context of how Novel Food is enforced in the Netherlands, see our complete indoor growing guide and outdoor growing guide where the legal framework around home cultivation is covered in depth.

Last update: May 2026 | Next Level Smart