CBC (cannabichromene): the cannabinoid you are already using without knowing it

When most people think of cannabinoids, they think of THC and CBD. But the cannabis plant produces more than a hundred different cannabinoids, most of which are being actively researched. CBC, or cannabichromene, is the third most abundant cannabinoid in the plant after CBD and THC, and probably the one that has received the least public attention despite the research that has built up around it. This article explains what it is, how it works and why it matters in the context of full-spectrum products.

What CBC is and how the plant synthesises it

CBC (cannabichromene) was first identified in 1966 by researchers Gaoni and Mechoulam at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the same team that isolated THC. Like CBD and THC, CBC derives from cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), the “mother cannabinoid” from which most phytocannabinoids originate.

CBGA is converted into cannabichromenic acid (CBCA) by a specific enzyme (CBCA synthase), and CBCA turns into CBC through decarboxylation (loss of CO₂) with heat or time. This process is analogous to the one that turns CBDA into CBD or THCA into THC.

The concentration of CBC in the plant varies depending on the strain and growing conditions. In unselected strains it can be the second most abundant cannabinoid after CBD, especially in young plants. However, commercial CBD strains are bred mainly for their CBD content, and CBC usually appears as a minor cannabinoid on the COAs of most products on the market.

How CBC works in the body

CBC has a different mechanism of action from CBD and THC, which makes it scientifically interesting. It does not bind with high affinity to the CB1 or CB2 receptors of the classic endocannabinoid system. Instead, it acts mainly on the TRPV1 and TRPA1 receptors —involved in nociception and inflammation— and on the TRPPA1 receptor, an ion channel related to the perception of pain and extreme temperatures.

CBC also inhibits the reuptake of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), one of the endocannabinoids the body produces itself, which potentially increases the availability of this compound in the nervous system.

This distinct pharmacology is what leads some researchers to suggest that CBC could complement the effects of CBD and THC in ways that neither of them can replicate on its own, a hypothesis framed within the concept of the entourage effect.

What scientific research says about CBC

Research on CBC is preliminary and has been carried out mainly in animal and in vitro models. The most cited studies have explored anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive (related to pain perception) properties, as well as possible antidepressant properties in animal models.

A study by DeLong et al. (2010) published in Psychopharmacology evaluated CBC in mouse models of depression and found effects comparable to those of reference antidepressants in some of the models used. A study by Maione et al. (2011) in the European Journal of Pharmacology explored the antinociceptive properties of CBC in the rat gut.

It is important to note that these studies are basic exploratory research, not evidence of clinical efficacy in humans. To date, no clinical trials of CBC in humans have been published. Conclusions from animal studies cannot be directly extrapolated to effects in people.

CBC in full-spectrum products

The most practical reason to know about CBC is to understand what it means to find it on the COA of a full-spectrum CBD product. Full-spectrum products, by definition, retain the complete cannabinoid profile of the original plant, including CBC.

In lab reports, CBC usually appears at concentrations of between 0.1% and 0.5% in full-spectrum CBD flowers, and in similar or lower proportions in full-spectrum oils. Its presence on the COA is a positive sign that the extract has not been overly processed and retains the plant’s original profile.

CBC vs CBD: key differences

CBD and CBC share the same precursor (CBGA) and are both non-psychoactive. But they have different mechanisms of action: CBD works mainly by modulating the endocannabinoid system indirectly and on receptors such as TRPV1, TRPV2 and GPR55; CBC acts mainly on TRPV1 and TRPA1 and by inhibiting endocannabinoid reuptake.

This pharmacological difference is why basic research is exploring whether they might have complementary effects when present together, although the available evidence on this potential synergy is still very preliminary.

Scientific sources and references

• Gaoni, Y. & Mechoulam, R. (1966). “Cannabichromene, a new active principle in hashish.” Chemical Communications, 20, 20–21.
• DeLong, G.T. et al. (2010). “Pharmacological evaluation of the natural constituent of Cannabis sativa, cannabichromene and its modulation by Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol.” Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 112(1-2), 126–133.
• Maione, S. et al. (2011). “Non-psychoactive cannabinoids modulate the descending pathway of antinociception in anaesthetised rats through several mechanisms of action.” British Journal of Pharmacology, 162(3), 584–596.
• Russo, E.B. (2011). “Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects.” British Journal of Pharmacology, 163(7), 1344–1364.