The world of cannabinoids is vast. Research and experimentation are discovering and even formulating new compounds all the time In recent months, one of them has begun to appear on forums and online stores that offer cannabis-related products: CB9. Some present it as a derivative of CBD with mild psychoactive effects, as a new member of the cannabis world that arouses curiosity.
However, if you have investigated a little deeper, you will have noticed that the available information is confusing and, most importantly: it is not usually scientifically supported. If you’ve heard about the CB9 and want to know what it really is, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’re going to guide you through finding out what CB9 is, what’s being talked about online, how it differs from CBD, and what science really says about it.
CB9: A Popular New Cannabinoid
CB9 is one of those names that suddenly pop up in the digital cannabis community and spark conversations between enthusiasts and buyers. In forums and specialized pages it is repeated that it is a new, relaxing cannabinoid with mild psychoactive effects. Some say it’s a naturally occurring cannabinoid found in the plant, others say it’s a synthetic cannabinoid. This mix of rumours and sparse data has created an aura of confusion, but also curiosity around CB9.
At Maionais we care about your trust and knowledge, which is why we have tracked down what is so far the only scientific study that has been identified in a timely manner and its conclusions are still limited. What we can tell you is that it is a synthetic cannabinoid. What does that mean? To understand it better, you first need to know how these compounds arise.
What are synthetic and semi-synthetic cannabinoids?
Before we focus on CB9, it’s helpful to understand what it means for a cannabinoid to be synthetic or semi-synthetic. This will help you understand why new names come up in the hemp world so often.
Synthetic cannabinoids are compounds created in laboratories that seek to mimic the structure and effects of cannabinoids that are in the cannabis plant, such as THC or CBD. Unlike natural ones, they are not found naturally in the cannabis plant: they are the result of research and chemical synthesis. However, it is worth noting that, sometimes, some of these compounds are synthesized in the laboratory and are later identified in the plant. This, for now, is not the case with CB9, which has not been found in cannabis (Dadiotis et al., 2025).
These compounds are part of the emerging psychoactive substances, which reach the market before being thoroughly studied. They are created with slight chemical variations to differentiate themselves from known cannabinoids, which makes them interesting novelties, but also places them in ambiguous places in terms of legality and safety.
Where do cannabinoids like CB9 come from?
We can summarize it like this: synthetic cannabinoids are molecules designed by humans that try to mimic what the plant does for itself. For those who explore this world, they represent innovation and curiosity, although scientific information about them is still lacking.
Their manufacture is usually simpler than it seems. First, it starts from already known base molecules and chemically modifies them to obtain a new compound. For this reason, it is said that CB9 comes from CBD, as this would be the original molecule from which it was started to modify it until it reached this new compound.
What is said about CB9?
When looking for what CB9 is, what you will find most are descriptions in forums and online stores that present it as a novelty in the cannabis world, full of potential and interest. In addition to what has already been mentioned, many pages mention more supposed features that make it attractive to the community.
Alleged effects and benefits
On websites and forums that mention CB9, various potential benefits are attributed to it, although none are supported by scientific evidence. Among the most repeated descriptions are:
- General well-being and relaxation: It is mentioned that it could promote a feeling of calm and help relieve stress.
- Mild euphoria and altered sensory perception: Some pages indicate that, unlike CBD, it does have psychoactive effects, although they would be milder than those of THC.
- Possible rest support: It is suggested that it could facilitate sleep and help those who have difficulty relaxing at the end of the day.
- Potential in well-being: Some sites talk about potential anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anxiolytic properties, and their possible usefulness in chronic pain or neurodegenerative conditions is mentioned.
These are all potential benefits that are generally reported in many other cannabinoids, and widely studied in the case of CBD (Blebea et al., 2024). That could indicate that other novel cannabinoids may share these characteristics. However, CB9 has not yet been studied for any of these purposes and these claims are not supported by science.
Alleged composition and origin
Most pages that talk about it link CB9 with CBD and it is mentioned as a derivative or evolution of this natural cannabinoid. Some texts explain that it would be part of a generation of cannabis-inspired compounds, combining semi-synthesis and modification of known molecules.
Comparisons with other cannabinoids such as CBG or CBN are also spread, insinuating that CB9 would be somewhere between relaxing effects and mild stimulation. However, once again, the truth of these claims is still unproven.
What the science reveals about CB9
Being a cannabinoid that appeared so recently, there are not many studies on it yet. However, recently a scientific study managed to analyze it along with 3 other new cannabinoids that appeared on the European market (Dadiotis et al., 2025). Below, we explain their findings and claims.
Identifying CB9 and how it was discovered
The researchers confirmed that CB9 is a semi-synthetic cannabinoid, i.e. a molecule created in the laboratory from the modification of known cannabis compounds. It does not exist naturally in the plant, and its appearance represents a novelty for science. To identify it, the scientists used advanced laboratory techniques that allowed them to recognize that its structure is very similar to that of THC. This means that, although it is not identical, it shares key characteristics that could generate psychoactive effects.
Possible effects and properties of CB9 according to science
The study notes that because of its similarity to THC, CB9 could cause effects such as mild euphoria, relaxation, and slight changes in sensory perception. In addition, the authors speculate that, like other cannabinoids, it could have properties related to stress relief, inflammation or general discomfort, but they highlight that there are still no studies in humans to confirm this.
For now, CB9 remains a topic of early research, and any possible benefit is only a hypothesis based on what is known of similar compounds.
Precautions and recommendations on CB9
One of the most striking points of the study is that CB9 has already been detected in mixtures of products sold in Europe, sometimes without appearing on labels. These blends typically include several semi-synthetic compounds and, because they are not clearly identified, pose challenges for laboratories, regulators, and buyers. For this reason, it’s important to remember that CBD products and other legal and safe cannabinoids will always be lab-certified, and will have labels that clearly show their composition.
Inshort, science shows us that CB9 is real, new, and understudied. It’s interesting because it might behave like a milder THC, but we still don’t know for sure how it works or if it’s safe. Its appearance makes it a subject of observation for researchers and an example of how quickly the world of cannabinoids evolves.
CB9 vs CBD: The Key Difference
Now that we know the scientific findings about CB9, we can make a more accurate comparison with CBD considering how little is known so far.
CB9 is a semi-synthetic cannabinoid that does not exist in nature. The researchers identified it in the laboratory because its structure is very similar to THC. That structural similarity suggests that it could lead to mild psychoactive effects, such as mild euphoria, relaxation, and subtle changes in perception. CBD, on the other hand, is a widely studied natural cannabinoid. Over years of research, scientists have observed potential relaxation effects, modulation of emotional, inflammatory and pain responses, among many other potential uses and benefits that continue to be researched and are supported by numerous studies and experts.
It has been widely documented that CBD’s safety profile is generally safe when used responsibly (Blebea et al., 2024), and a large number of tests have been done on people and real-life use cases. CB9, on the other hand, does not yet have a defined safety profile and there are, for now, no scientific trials in humans. This makes the effects after use uncertain.
If your goal is to explore the world of cannabinoids more confidently, CBD is a much more reliable option. CB9, for now, is a field of scientific curiosity, while CBD has support and evidence that give it a firm place in the world of responsible wellness.
Conclusion: Informing yourself is also taking care of yourself
CB9 represents the intriguing nature of the emerging cannabinoid world: it sparks curiosity and conversations, but it still doesn’t offer certainties. Therefore, our recommendation is that you always verify that the sites you consult support their information with reliable sources, that they cite articles by experts and scientists who have observed in detail what they are talking about.
At Maionais, our priority is for you to explore this universe of hemp and cannabinoids with confidence. All our content is based on real research so that your curiosity goes hand in hand with safety and knowledge. Our articles cite the expert groups we rely on and always have a list of references at the end in case you want to go even deeper. We believe that having confidence and peace of mind is part of your quest for well-being, and that’s why in our CBD online store you will find details of the ingredients of each product, the certificates that guarantee its composition and even more information so that you can continue to learn and discover the world of cannabinoids safely.
References
- Blebea, N. M., Pricopie, A. I., Vlad, R. A., & Hancu, G. (2024). Phytocannabinoids: Exploring Pharmacological Profiles and Their Impact on Therapeutical Use. International journal of molecular sciences, 25(8), 4204. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25084204
- Dadiotis, E., Mpakaoukas, S., Mitsis, V., Melliou, E. and Magiatis, P. (2025), Identification of Three Novel Tetrahydrocannabinol Analogs in the European Market. Anal Drug Test. https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.3866
- Roque-Bravo, R., Silva, R. S., Malheiro, R. F., Carmo, H., Carvalho, F., Dias da Silva, D., & Silva, J. P. (2023). Synthetic cannabinoids: A pharmacological and toxicological overview. Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 63, 187–209. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-031122-113758
