Psychoactive and Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoids
Psychoactive and Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoids
LightLab 3 Tests the Potency of Psychoactive & Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoids
Psychoactive Cannabinoids Analyzed by LightLab 3
Δ9-THC Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol
Δ9-THC is the “active” or “neutral” form of THC. This is the primary psychoactive cannabinoid seen in cannabis plants. Plants do not directly produce Δ9THC. Instead, THCA is converted into Δ9THC through a process called decarboxylation. Decarboxylation occurs when the plant is smoked, otherwise heated, or exposed to light. Typically, plants have 0-5% Δ9THC. High levels of Δ9THC in plant material indicate the plant may not have been stored or cured well or may be old.
Total Δ9THC indicates the total quantity of Δ9THC if the sample was completely decarboxylated. Decarboxylation is the conversion of THCA to Δ9THC in the presence of heat or light. During the decarboxylation process, a CO2 molecule is released, so a THCA molecule will weigh less once it is converted to Δ9THC. For that reason, the total “potency”, or how much psychoactive Δ9THC a user would be dosed with requires a conversion factor. The “total Δ9THC” factors in the loss of weight of THCA when converting to Δ9THC. The equation used is as follows: Total Δ9THC= 0.877xTHCA + Δ9THC; This number is an indication of the overall “potency” of the sample.
THC-A Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid
THC-A is the “acidic” form of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Cannabis plants naturally produce THCA and is the primary cannabinoid that will be present in most cannabis strains. Typically, plants have 10-20% THCA. A higher THCA number means a more potent plant.
Δ8-THC: Delta-8-Tetrahydrocannabinol
D8THC is generally made by converting CBD or D9THC in a chemical reaction. Note that the process used to create D8THC often creates other cannabinoids, including D9THC. When running a D8THC sample, LightLab has a higher detection limit of 4% for flower samples and 12% for concentrates.
CBN Cannabinol
CBN is a breakdown component of Δ9THC. It is mildly psychoactive and sedative. Fresh cannabis plants typically show no CBN. Very old plants may contain 0-5% CBN. CBN can also be generated during extraction or distillation, and commonly occurs at 0-5% levels in extracted samples. More CBN is typically undesirable and is an indication of too much heat or exposure to environmental factors.
CBN-A: Cannabinolic Acid
CBN-A is the acidic form of CBN. It is often formed from aged cannabis plants. Very old plants may contain 0-5% CBNA. CBN-A in combination with CBN are good indicators of the age and storage conditions of plant material. Higher CBN-A and CBN typically indicate old plant material or poorly stored plant material.
Δ10-THC: Degraded THC, Dihydroxy-THC
In some cases, distillation can break down the THC molecule into by-products, reducing the potency of the product and affecting the taste. Two major components that can be broken down are CBN and Δ10-THC. LightLab can measure the amount of Δ10-THC, allowing distillation operators to ensure their product is pure and potent while maintaining high throughput. In some cases, extraction operators will intentionally attempt to generate novel cannabinoids through a degradation process. Δ10-THC is a precursor to most of the degradation products generated.
THCV: Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabivarin
Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabivarin is the neutral form of THCV. Varin cannabinoids have a 3 carbon “tail” or hydrocarbon chain as opposed to the Tetrahydrocannabinol’s 5 carbon tail.
THCV-A: Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabivarin
Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid is the acidic form of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabivarin and is found naturally in some cannabis cultivars. Varin cannabinoids have a 3 carbon “tail” or hydrocarbon chain as opposed to the tetrahydrocannabinol’s 5 carbon tail. Varin species are valued as a less potent fully natural cannabinoid.
HHC
Hexahydrocannabinol is a hydrogenated derivative of tetrahydrocannabinol. HHC is “hydrogenated”, meaning extra hydrogen has been added to the molecule. Although it has been found naturally, most HHC is converted from Δ8-THC, Δ9-THC or CBN.
D9THCP
Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabiphorol has a 7-carbon chain “tail” or hydrocarbon chain as opposed to the tetrahydrocannabinol’s 5 carbon tail. Δ9-THCP and Δ8-THCP differ in the same way that Δ9-THC and Δ8-THC differ- there is one double bond location that is changed between the two cannabinoids.Research suggests THCP cannabinoids are more potent than standard THC cannabinoids. Generally THCP species are fully synthesized rather than reacted from a different cannabinoid. This makes THCP more expensive to manufacture, and therefore a larger amount of mislabeled product can be found in the market.
D9THCO Acetate
Δ9-THC-O-Acetate is an “acetylated” form of Δ9-THC. The acetylation process is thought to increase the potency of a given cannabinoid. Since most samples labeled “THC-O” are hemp derived, Δ9-THC-O-Acetate is generally found in approximately the same ratio as the ratio of Δ9-THC to Δ8-THC in the starting/feedstock material before acetylation.
Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoids Analyzed by LightLab 3
CBD Cannabidiol
CBD is the neutral form of CBDA. Cannabis plants do not create CBD directly; however, this cannabinoid can be formed through the same decarboxylation process described above.
Total CBD: This number indicates the total quantity of CBD if the sample was completely decarboxylated. Decarboxylation is the conversion of CBDA to CBD in the presence of heat or light. During the decarboxylation process, a CO2 molecule is released, so a CBDA molecule will weigh less once it is converted to CBD. For that reason, the total CBD potential, or how much CBD a product will contain once fully decarboxylated requires a conversion factor. The “total CBD” factors in the loss of weight of CBDA when converting to CBD. The equation used is as follows: Total CBD= 0.877xCBDA + CBD
CBD-A Cannabidiolic Acid
CBDA is the CBD analog to THCA. It is the acidic form of CBD that plants produce. Typical non-CBD specific strains will have 0-2% CBDA. CBD Specific plants typically contain 5-20% CBDA. CBDA is not psychoactive.
CBC: Cannabichromene
CBC is the neutral form of CBC-A. CBC is often present in hemp and CBD-containing plants, and more rarely in THC-containing plants. Since many laboratories do not yet measure CBC, the Minors Module will allow hemp farmers, CBD growers, and processors to select for higher CBC plants and differentiate their product with a new unique cannabinoid.
CBC-A: Cannabichromenic Acid
CBC-A is the acidic form of CBC. It is non-psychoactive, and is formed in some plant genetics alongside THC-A and CBD-A, typically at a lower concentration. Its precursor is CBG-A. Some genetics will exhibit 1-5% CBC-A.
CBG Cannabigerol
CBG is the neutral form of CBGA, akin to CBD vs CBDA. CBG is often found in concentrates at low levels since plants that are harvested earlier contain CBGA, which is then decarboxylated during the extraction process. Note CBG is a calculated value in LightLab since CBG and CBD have nearly identical chromatographic retention times.
CBG-A Cannabigerolic Acid
CBG-A is a precursor molecule to THCA and CBDA. When a plant produces cannabinoids, it always produces CBGA first, then an enzymatic process converts CBGA to THCA and/or CBDA. CBGA can be used as an indicator of harvest readiness. If >1% CBGA is present in a sample, it typically means the plant can continue to produce active cannabinoids. A CBGA value of <1% is typically desirable. Plants commonly contain between 0-4% CBGA.
