Cannabinoids explained: types, effects and strength

Cannabis contains dozens of active compounds called cannabinoids. Some, like THC, are strongly intoxicating. Others, like CBD, are not intoxicating at all. Most people only know two or three by name, which makes the whole category more confusing than it needs to be.

The tool below lays the main cannabinoids side by side. Filter them by whether they are psychoactive, sort them by strength, and follow any one through to the products that contain it.

The main cannabinoid groups

Broadly, cannabinoids split into the ones that get you high and the ones that do not. THC and its relatives, including the far stronger THCP, sit on the intoxicating side. CBD, CBG and CBC sit on the non-intoxicating side and are used more for everyday wellness. THCA is the odd one out: raw and inactive until heat turns it into THC, which is the whole point of decarboxylation.

Strength is not the same as quality. A mild cannabinoid is not a worse one, it is a different tool for a different moment. Use the filters above to narrow things down, then read the individual guides on our blog to go deeper on any single compound. This page is for general information only and is not medical advice.