Cannabinoids & Terpenes

Evidence Levels Used

Cannabis contains about 125 identified cannabinoids in 11 chemical classes, more than 120 characterized terpenes, and over 200 aroma compounds in total. Fewer than a dozen of these compounds have been tested in people. Most product labels and certificates of analysis (COAs) report about 10 cannabinoids and 20 to 40 terpenes.

Level	Meaning
Proven	At least one controlled human trial showed a benefit
Human data, non-cannabis	The compound has been tested in people, but from another source (such as lavender or eucalyptus oil), usually at doses far higher than cannabis provides
Lab or animal only	Effects seen in cells or animals; not shown in people
Failed in humans	A controlled human trial found no benefit
Not studied	Identified chemically; no pharmacology reported

Cannabinoids on Product Labels

These are the cannabinoids most often measured on New York COAs and product labels. The ” A” at the end of a name means the raw acid form found in the living plant; heat (smoking, vaping, baking) converts it to the active neutral form.

Cannabinoid	Intoxicating?	Proven in humans	Hypothetical (lab or animal only)	Notes
THC (Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol)	Y es	Chemotherapy nausea, appetite in AIDS, MS spasticity (with CBD), modest relief of chronic and nerve pain, PTSD nightmares (see Physician Reference)	Many	Most benefits and most side effects track with THC dose
THCA (THC acid)	No, unless heated	None	Anti-nausea in animals, anti-inflammatory, nerve protection	Becomes THC when heated
CBD (cannabidiol)	No	Seizures in Lennox-Gastaut, Dravet, and tuberous sclerosis (Epidiolex); small trials in anxiety; topical CBD for thumb arthritis and foot neuropathy. Failed: oral CBD for knee arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and blood sugar in type 2 diabetes	Many	Inhibits liver enzymes that clear other drugs; check interactions
CBDA (CBD acid)	No	None	Anti-nausea in animals	Becomes CBD when heated
CBG (cannabigerol)	No	Acute anxiety and stress: 20 mg reduced both in 34 healthy adults (Cuttler 2024)	Inflammatory bowel disease, glaucoma, antibacterial	The plant makes THC and CBD from it
CBGA (CBG acid)	No	None	Anti-inflammatory	Parent molecule of most cannabinoids
CBN (cannabinol)	Mildly	Sleep: 20 mg nightly reduced awakenings (2024RCT)	Pain, appetite, antibacterial	Forms as THC ages; old flower is higher in CBN
CBC (cannabichromene)	No	None	Anti-inflammatory, pain relief , nerve protection; acts on TRP pain channels (2026 review)	Can be the second or third most abundant cannabinoid in some landrace strains
CBCA (CBC acid)	No	None	None established	Becomes CBC when heated
THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin)	Weak; acts differently from THC	Type 2 diabetes: lowered fasting blood sugar in 62 patients (Jadoon 2016)	Appetite suppression (human data conflicting), Parkinson’s, seizures	First isolated in 1971
THCVA (THCV acid)	No	None	None established	Becomes THCV when heated
CBDV (cannabidivarin)	No	Failed: no better than placebo for focal seizures in 162 adults (GW topline)	Autism, Rett syndrome, nausea	Early-phase studies only in autism
CBDVA (CBDV acid)	No	None	None established	Becomes CBDV when heated
Δ8-THC	Yes, less potent than Δ9-THC	Only four human studies since 1970	—	Occurs in trace amounts; most products are lab-converted from CBD (see below)
CBL (cannabicyclol)	No	None	None established	Forms when CBC is exposed to light
CBE (cannabielsoin)	No	None	None established	Forms from CBD
CBT (cannabitriol or cannabicitran)	No	None	None established	Labels use “CBT” for two different compounds; ask which one

Complete Cannabinoid Catalog: 125 Compounds in 11 Classes

A 2021 review by the University of Mississippi cannabis program counted 125 cannabinoids isolated from the plant (Radwan et al., Molecules 2021; summary). Outside the compounds in the table above, almost none has been tested for any medical effect; most were identified only as trace constituents of high-potency flower or hashish.

Names ending in -varin (C3), -orcol (C1), -hexol (C6), and -phorol (C7) are the same core molecule with a shorter or longer side chain. In lab tests, binding to the CB1 receptor rises as the chain lengthens, up to about eight carbons.

Class	Count	Members	What is known
Δ9-THC type	25	Δ9-THC; THCA-A and THCA-B; THC-C4 (THCB) and its acid; THCV and THCVA; tetrahydrocannabiorcol (THC-C1) and its acid; THC aldehyde (tetrahydrocannabinal); eight esters of THCA with terpenes (β- and α-fenchyl, epi-bornyl, bornyl, α-terpenyl, 4-terpenyl, α-cadinyl, γ-eudesmyl); 8α- and 8β-hydroxy-THC; 11-acetoxy-THCA; 8-oxo-THC; cannabisol (a THC dimer); THCP (tetrahydrocannabiphorol, C7); THCH (tetrahydrocannabihexol, C6)	THC and THCV studied in people. THCP binds CB1 about 30 times more strongly than THC in lab tests (Citti 2019). Others not studied
Δ8-THC type	5	Δ8-THC; Δ8-THCA; 10α- and 10β- hydroxy-Δ8-THC; 10aα-hydroxy-10-oxo-Δ8-THC	Δ8-THC has four human studies since 1970; the rest not studied
CBG type	16	CBG; CBGA; CBG monomethyl ether (CBGM) and its acid (CBGAM); cannabigerovarin (CBGV) and its acid (CBGVA); cannabinerolic acid; 5-acetyl-4-hydroxy-CBG; γ-eudesmyl- and α-cadinyl-cannabigerolate; four 6,7-epoxy-CBG and CBGA derivatives; camagerol; sesquicannabigerol	CBG has one small human trial; the rest not studied
CBD type	10	CBD; CBDA; CBD monomethyl ether (CBDM); CBD-C4 (CBDB); cannabidivarin (CBDV) and its acid (CBDVA); cannabidiorcol (CBD-C1); cannabidihexol (CBDH, C6); cannabidiphorol (CBDP , C7); cannabitwinol (a CBD dimer)	CBD proven; CBDV failed in seizures; CBDP never biologically tested
CBND type	2	Cannabinodiol (CBND); cannabinodivarin	Not studied
CBE type	5	Cannabielsoin (CBE); cannabielsoic acids A and B; CBE-C3; cannabielsoic acid B-C3	Not studied
CBL type	3	Cannabicyclol (CBL); cannabicyclolic acid (CBLA); cannabicyclovarin (CBLV)	Formed when CBC or CBCA is exposed to light, so not true plant products. Not studied
CBC type	9	CBC; CBCA; two forms of cannabichromevarin (CBCV); cannabichromevarinic acid (CBCVA); 4-acetoxy-CBC; 3″-hydroxy-Δ4″-CBC; 7-hydroxycannabichromane; a CBC-C3 derivative	CBC lab and animal only; the rest not studied
CBN type	11	CBN; cannabinolic acid; shorter-chain homologs including cannabivarin (CBV) and cannabiorcol; CBN methyl ether; 8-hydroxy-CBN and 8-hydroxy-CBNA; 1′S-hydroxy-CBN; 4-terpenyl cannabinolate	CBN has one small human sleep trial; the rest not studied
CBT type	9	Three cannabitriol isomers; CBT-C3 and a C3 homolog; two ethoxy-cannabitriols (likely made by ethanol during extraction); 8,9-dihydroxy-CBT; a CBDA ester of 9-hydroxy-CBT	Not studied
Miscellaneous	30	Dehydrocannabifuran; cannabifuran; 8-hydroxy-isohexahydrocannabivarin; 10-oxo-Δ6a(10a)-THC; cannabicitran; cis-Δ9-THC; cannabicoumaronone and cannabicoumarononic acid; cannabiripsol; cannabitetrol; cannabichromanones (C5, C3, B, C, D); cis- and trans-iso-Δ7-THCV and iso-Δ7-THC; four geranyl-pentylphenol and benzoquinone derivatives; cannabimovone; cannabioxepane; six hydroxylated or epoxidized hexahydrocannabinols (natural relatives of HHC); 9α-hydroxy-10-oxo-Δ6a,10a-THC	Not studied. Natural HHC relatives occur only in traces; commercial HHC is made in a lab

Totals by class: Δ9-THC 25 · Δ8-THC 5 · CBG 16 · CBD 10 · CBND 2 · CBE 5 · CBL 3 · CBC 9 · CBN 11 · CBT 9 · miscellaneous 30 = 125. Later reviews count over 150 as new trace compounds are reported.

Converted, Semi-Synthetic, and Synthetic Cannabinoids

These are usually made in a lab from hemp CBD or by chemically modifying THC, and are sold mostly in unregulated hemp stores. None has been evaluated for safety in people.

Compound	How it is made	Human Evidence	Concerns
Δ8-THC	Chemically converted from CBD	Four human studies since 1970	Intoxicating. FDA received 104 adverse event reports in one 15-month period, 55% needing medical care, and warned about contaminants from the conversion process (UCLA Health summary)
Δ10-THC	Chemically converted	None	No safety data
HHC (hexahydrocannabinol)	Hydrogenation of THC	None	Intoxicating; no therapeutic data. Distinct from the trace natural HHC relatives in the catalog
THCP and THCB sold as hemp products	Mostly synthesized	None	THCP binds CB1 far more strongly than THC in the lab; potency in people unknown
THC-O acetate	Synthetic; not found in the plant	None	Not the same as tetrahydrocannabiorcol (THC-C1), which is sometimes also abbreviated THCO

Metabolite worth knowing: 11-OH-THC is made by the liver from swallowed THC. It is strongly psychoactive and is a main reason edibles feel stronger and last longer than inhaled THC at the same dose.

Primary Terpenes

More than 120 terpenes have been characterized in cannabis, including 61 monoterpenes and 51 sesquiterpenes (2025 forensic methods paper). These are the ones most often reported on COAs. Only one, limonene, has a controlled human study done with cannabis. Two others, linalool and eucalyptol, have strong human data from other plant sources at far higher doses.

Terpene	Aroma; also found in	Human Evidence	Hypothetical (lab or animal only)	Notes and safety
β-Myrcene	Earthy, musky; hops, mango, lemongrass	None	Sedation and pain relief in rodents	Often the most abundant cannabis terpene. Topical myrcene added nothing to CBD in a combination study (André 2024). See safety notes
d-Limonene	Citrus; orange and lemon peel	Proven, small: inhaled with THC, reduced THC-caused anxiety and paranoia in 20 adults (Spindle 2024)	Mood, anti-inflammatory	Did not change other THC effects or THC blood levels
β-Caryophyllene	Peppery, spicy; black pepper, cloves, hops	None with cannabis	Full agonist at the CB2 receptor; anti- inflammatory in mice, with the effect absent in mice lacking CB2 (Gertsch 2008)	The only major terpene shown to act on a cannabinoid receptor. Approved as a food additive
α-Pinene	Pine; pine needles, rosemary	None	Anti-inflammatory, airway opening, memory effects in lab studies	Common in many cultivars
β-Pinene	Pine, woody; conifers	None	Limited lab data	Often paired with α-pinene
Linalool	Floral, lavender; lavender, coriander	Human data, non-cannabis: lavender oil capsules (Silexan, about 37% linalool), 80 mg daily for 10 weeks, beat placebo for anxiety in 5 RCTs with 1,213 patients (meta-analysis)	Sedative and anti-seizure effects in animals	Cannabis delivers far less linalool than these capsules
α-Humulene	Hoppy, woody; hops, sage	None	Anti- inflammatory in animals	A ring-opened form of caryophyllene
Terpinolene	Fresh, piney, floral; lilac, nutmeg, apples	None	Sedative in mice	Dominant in some cultivars, such as Jack Herer (ACS Omega 2021)
β-Ocimene	Sweet, herbal; basil, mint, orchids	None	Limited lab data	—
1,8-Cineole (eucalyptol)	Camphor-mint; eucalyptus, rosemary	Human data, non-cannabis: 200 mg three times daily for 6 months cut COPD exacerbations by 38.5% and improved uncontrolled asthma in RCTs (review)	Anti-inflammatory, mucus-thinning	Cannabis contains only trace amounts compared with these capsule doses
Caryophyllene oxide	Woody, dry; oxidized clove oil	None	Limited lab data	Forms as caryophyllene oxidizes during drying and storage
α-Bisabolol	Floral, sweet; chamomile	None for therapeutic effect	Anti-inflammatory, skin soothing in lab studies	Widely used as a soothing ingredient in skincare
Nerolidol	Woody, floral; neroli, ginger, jasmine	None	Sedation in animals; helps other compounds pass through skin (Liktor-Busa 2021)	Relevant to topicals
Guaiol	Pine, woody; guaiacum. wood, cypress pine	None	Limited lab data	—
Camphene	Damp woodland, fir needles	None	Lipid-lowering in rats	—
Borneol	Camphor, minty; camphor tree, rosemary	None with cannabis	Pain relief in animals	Long used in traditional Chinese medicine
Fenchol	Camphor, citrus; basil, fennel	None	Limited lab data	—
Geraniol	Rose, floral; roses, geranium	None	Limited lab data	—
α-Terpineol	Lilac, floral; pine oil	None	Limited lab data	—
Valencene	Sweet citrus; Valencia oranges	None	Cartilage protection in lab studies (André 2024)	—
trans-β-Farnesene	Green apple, woody; apple peel, hops	None	Limited lab data	—
Menthol	Cool mint; peppermint	Human data, non-cannabis: FDA-recognized topical pain reliever at 1.25% to 16% (FDA monograph M017)	—	Trace in cannabis; relevant when added to topicals
Camphor	Medicinal, cooling	Human data, non-cannabis: FDA-recognized topical counterirritant at 3% to 11% (same monograph)	—	Trace in cannabis; relevant when added to topicals

Other Terpenes and Terpenoids Reported in Cannabis

These appear on extended terpene panels or in published profiling studies, usually at low levels. None has been tested in people for a cannabis-related effect. Unless noted, the evidence level is “not studied” or “limited lab data.

Group	Compound	Aroma; also found in	Notes
Monoterpene	δ-3-Carene	Sweet, pine, cedar; cypress	—
Monoterpene	α-Terpinene	Woody, citrus; cardamom	—
Monoterpene	γ-Terpinene	Herbal, citrus; citrus peel	—
Monoterpene	α-Phellandrene	Peppery, minty; dill	—
Monoterpene	β-Phellandrene	Minty, citrus; water fennel	—
Monoterpene	p-Cymene	Citrus, woody; cumin, thyme	—
Monoterpene	Sabinene	Spicy, woody; black pepper, nutmeg	—
Monoterpene	cis-β-Ocimene	Sweet, herbal; basil	Isomer of β-ocimene
Monoterpenoid	Isopulegol	Minty, herbal; mint oils	—
Monoterpenoid	Pulegone	Minty, camphor; pennyroyal	See safety notes
Monoterpenoid	Citronellol	Rose, citrus; citronella, rose	—
Monoterpenoid	Nerol	Sweet rose; neroli, lemongrass	Isomer of geraniol
Monoterpenoid	Geranyl acetate	Fruity, floral; citronella, palmarosa	—
Monoterpenoid	Terpinen-4-ol	Peppery, woody; tea tree	Main component of tea tree oil
Monoterpenoid	Sabinene hydrate	Minty, herbal; marjoram	—
Monoterpenoid	Isoborneol	Camphor, woody	Isomer of borneol
Monoterpenoid	Fenchone	Camphor, earthy; fennel	—
Sesquiterpene	α-Bergamotene	Woody, citrus; bergamot	—
Sesquiterpene	α- and β-Selinene	Herbal; celery seed	—
Sesquiterpene	Germacrene B and D	Woody, spicy	—
Sesquiterpene	γ-Elemene	Woody, spicy	—
Sesquiterpene	δ-Cadinene	Herbal, thyme	—
Sesquiterpene	α-Copaene	Woody, spicy	—
Sesquiterpene	Longifolene	Woody; pine resin	—
Sesquiterpene	α-Guaiene	Woody, balsamic; guaiacum	—
Sesquiterpene	α-Cedrene	Cedar	—
Sesquiterpenoid	α-, β-, and γ-Eudesmol	Woody	γ-Eudesmol forms an ester with THCA in the plant (see catalog)
Sesquiterpenoid	Bulnesol	Spicy, woody	Often reported with guaiol
Sesquiterpenoid	Cedrol	Cedar	—
Sesquiterpenoid	Farnesol	Floral; lily of the valley	—
Sesquiterpenoid	Humulene epoxide	Woody	Forms as humulene oxidizes
Diterpene	Phytol	Faint floral	Breakdown product of chlorophyll
Triterpene	Friedelin and epifriedelanol	Odorless	Found mainly in roots, not flower

Other Compound Families

Cannabis contains more than 500 identified constituents in total. Beyond cannabinoids and terpenes, three families come up in patient questions.

Family	Compounds	What is known
Flavonoids	Cannflavin A, B, and C (unique to cannabis); isocannflavin B (caflanone); apigenin, luteolin, kaempferol, quercetin, orientin, vitexin, isovitexin	Lab only. Cannflavin was 30 times more potent than aspirin at blocking an inflammatory signal in cells, but 18 times weaker than indomethacin (history). A cannflavin derivative slowed pancreatic tumors in animals when delivered with radiation. Flavonoids make up well under 1% of the plant
Stilbenoids	Canniprene and other prenylated bibenzyls	Lab only. Canniprene blocks inflammatory enzymes in cell studies
Volatile sulfur compounds	3-Methyl-2-butene-1-thiol (“VSC3”) and related prenyl sulfur compounds	The source of cannabis’s skunk smell, identified in 2021 (ACS Omega). Chemically related to garlic’s sulfur compounds; no health effects studied. Levels rise late in flowering and peak during curing

Safety Notes

Terpenes break down when overheated. In laboratory dabbing studies, myrcene, limonene, and linalool formed methacrolein, an airway irritant, at all temperatures hot enough to vaporize cannabinoids, and benzene, a carcinogen, at the highest temperatures consumers use (Portland State, ACS Omega 2017). Low-temperature vaporizers and avoiding high-heat dabbing reduce exposure.
Synthetic myrcene and pulegone were removed from FDA’s list of approved food flavorings in 2018 because they caused cancer in lab animals at high doses. FDA found no public health risk at normal use levels, and natural myrcene in plants was not affected (FDA).
Added terpenes. Some vape oils and edibles add “botanical” terpenes that did not come from cannabis. The COA should list total and individual terpene content.
Converted cannabinoids such as delta-8 THC and HHC sold outside regulated programs carry contamination and labeling risks (see above).

Bottom Line

For nearly every condition, the THC:CBD ratio matters far more than any minor cannabinoid or terpene.
Positive human data with the cannabis compound: CBN (staying asleep), CBG (acute stress, healthy volunteers), THCV (blood sugar), limonene (THC-caused anxiety). Each rests on one small study.
Positive human data from other sources, at much higher doses: linalool (lavender oil for anxiety), eucalyptol (COPD and asthma), menthol and camphor (topical pain).
Most interesting but untested in people: β-caryophyllene, the only major terpene that acts on a cannabinoid receptor.
Failed in people: CBDV for seizures; oral CBD for arthritis pain and ulcerative colitis.
Everything else on this page is chemistry, not proven medicine. Use terpene profiles as a tiebreaker between products with the same THC:CBD ratio.

Sources

Checked against the literature as of October 2026.

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