Cannabinoids: the compound class explained

Cannabinoids are a family of related compounds produced by the Cannabis sativa plant. Hemp is a variety of Cannabis sativa defined in United States commerce by a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol content of not more than 0.3 percent by dry weight.

The plant first forms cannabinoids as acidic precursors. Heat and time convert those acids into the neutral compounds catalogued below. Members of the class share a related carbon skeleton but differ in ring structure and side chains, which is why analytical labs report each one separately on a certificate of analysis.

The pages below describe each compound as a chemical and botanical entity. They cover naming, occurrence in the plant, and molecular formula. They do not describe use.