Emerging Cannabinoids: Beyond CBD and THC

For decades, most cannabis conversations have focused on two major cannabinoids: CBD, short for cannabidiol, and THC, short for tetrahydrocannabinol.

CBD and THC deserve that attention. They are the best-known, most widely discussed, and most researched cannabinoids in the plant. But they are not the whole story.

As cannabis science develops, researchers, breeders, patients and product formulators are looking more closely at the lesser-known cannabinoids found in the plant — compounds such as CBG, CBN, CBC, THCV and CBDV. These are often called “minor cannabinoids,” not because they are unimportant, but because they usually appear in much smaller amounts than CBD or THC.

This is one of the most exciting areas of cannabis research. Many of these cannabinoids are still in the early stages of study, but they are helping expand the conversation beyond the old idea that cannabis is only about “CBD versus THC.”

This guide introduces some of the emerging cannabinoids attracting attention, why they are being studied, and what Australians should understand about them in the current regulatory landscape.

What are cannabinoids?

Cannabinoids are naturally occurring compounds found in the cannabis plant. They interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, a signalling system involved in balance and regulation across many processes, including sleep, mood, appetite, immune response and pain signalling.

CBD and THC are the most famous cannabinoids, but they are only two members of a much larger plant family. Researchers have identified well over 100 cannabinoids in cannabis, with many appearing only in tiny amounts.

As breeding, extraction, analysis and formulation technology improve, these lesser-known cannabinoids are becoming easier to detect, study and discuss. That is why the cannabis conversation is starting to move beyond the “big two.”

Why emerging cannabinoids are so interesting

The growing interest in minor cannabinoids comes from a few different directions.

First, cannabis is not a one-compound plant. Different cannabinoids may interact with the body in different ways, and they may also influence each other when present together in a broader plant extract.

Second, patient experience has helped push research forward. Many people using medicinal cannabis products describe differences between CBD-only, THC-containing, balanced, broad-spectrum and full-spectrum formulations. Minor cannabinoids may be one part of that bigger picture.

Third, international markets are moving quickly. In some countries, cannabinoids such as CBG and CBN are already appearing in oils, capsules, gummies, topicals and sleep or recovery-style formulations. Australia remains more tightly regulated, but the global research and product conversation is moving fast.

The key is balance: emerging cannabinoids are promising and genuinely fascinating, but they should not be oversold as proven miracle compounds. The science is still developing.

Meet the emerging cannabinoids

1. CBG: cannabigerol

CBG stands for cannabigerol. It is sometimes called the “mother cannabinoid” because its acidic precursor, CBGA, is an important starting point in the plant’s cannabinoid pathway. As the cannabis plant matures, CBGA can be converted into other cannabinoid acids that later become cannabinoids such as CBD, THC and CBC.

CBG is non-intoxicating, which means it is not associated with the “high” of THC. This has made it especially interesting to researchers and wellness-focused cannabis markets overseas.

CBG is being explored in relation to inflammation, gut health, mood, focus, antibacterial activity and neurological research areas. Much of the research is still preclinical or early-stage, but interest in CBG has grown quickly because it appears to have its own distinct profile rather than simply behaving like CBD.

2. CBN: cannabinol

CBN stands for cannabinol. It forms as THC ages and oxidises, which is why it is often associated with older or heat-exposed cannabis material.

CBN is commonly discussed in relation to sleep and night-time formulations, especially in international markets where CBN products are more visible. Many consumers associate CBN with relaxation, evening routines and deeper rest.

The science around CBN and sleep is still developing, and it is important not to overstate the evidence. CBN may not act like a simple “sleeping pill,” and its effects may depend on dose, product type, other cannabinoids and the individual person.

That said, CBN remains one of the most talked-about emerging cannabinoids because the patient and consumer interest is so strong, especially when it appears alongside CBD, THC or relaxing terpene profiles.

3. CBC: cannabichromene

CBC stands for cannabichromene. It is another non-intoxicating cannabinoid that has started attracting more attention as researchers look beyond CBD and THC.

CBC is being explored in relation to inflammation, pain signalling, mood-related pathways, skin research and brain health. It may also be relevant to the broader entourage effect conversation, where researchers and patients are interested in how cannabinoids may work together in a wider plant profile.

Like many minor cannabinoids, CBC is promising but still early. It is not a household name like CBD, and it is not yet supported by the same level of clinical evidence. But it is one of the compounds that shows just how complex and layered the cannabis plant really is.

4. THCV: tetrahydrocannabivarin

THCV stands for tetrahydrocannabivarin. It is structurally related to THC, but it does not behave exactly the same way.

THCV has attracted interest because it is often discussed in relation to energy, appetite, metabolism and focus. In some international cannabis spaces, it has even been nicknamed “diet weed,” although that phrase is far too simplistic and not something we love. It reduces a complex cannabinoid to a marketing hook.

Research is exploring THCV in metabolic and neurological contexts, but this is still an emerging field. THCV may also behave differently depending on dose and product formulation, so it should not be assumed to be simply “THC but energising.”

THCV is a good example of why cannabinoid education matters. A familiar-looking acronym does not mean a cannabinoid will behave in a familiar way.

5. CBDV: cannabidivarin

CBDV stands for cannabidivarin. It is structurally similar to CBD and is non-intoxicating.

CBDV has attracted interest in neurological research, including seizure-related and neurodevelopmental areas. Because CBD has an established role in some specific epilepsy medicines, researchers have also been interested in whether related cannabinoids such as CBDV may have their own neurological relevance.

This does not mean CBDV should be treated as a proven therapy or used without medical guidance. It simply means CBDV is part of the next wave of cannabinoid research, especially for scientists looking at how different non-intoxicating cannabinoids may influence brain and nervous system pathways.

Emerging cannabinoids at a glance

What about emerging cannabinoids in Australia?

Australia’s medicinal cannabis framework is still more tightly controlled than many international consumer markets. While people overseas may come across CBG oils, CBN sleep gummies, THCV products or other rare cannabinoid blends in wellness and retail settings, Australia generally treats cannabinoid products through a more regulated therapeutic goods lens when they are used or promoted for therapeutic purposes.

The TGA groups medicinal cannabis products by cannabinoid profile, including CBD-dominant products, balanced products, THC-dominant products and products where other cannabinoids may be part of the profile. This means minor cannabinoids may appear within some prescribed medicinal cannabis products, particularly full-spectrum or broad-spectrum formulations.

However, that does not mean isolated minor cannabinoid products are generally available as ordinary retail products in Australia. Product status can depend on composition, cannabinoid content, intended use, claims being made, supply pathway and whether the product is being treated as a medicine.

In plain English: minor cannabinoids are part of the future conversation, but Australians still need to navigate them through the current legal and medical framework.

Full-spectrum, broad-spectrum and minor cannabinoids

Minor cannabinoids are often discussed alongside terms like full-spectrum and broad-spectrum.

A full-spectrum cannabis or hemp extract generally means the product contains a wider range of naturally occurring plant compounds. This may include CBD, THC, minor cannabinoids, terpenes and other constituents, depending on the product and how it is made.

A broad-spectrum extract is often used to describe a product that contains multiple plant compounds but has been processed to remove or reduce THC, depending on the formulation and market.

These terms can be helpful, but they are not enough on their own. A label should still explain which cannabinoids are present, how much is included, whether THC is detectable, and whether the product has been tested.

Why looking beyond CBD and THC matters

Looking beyond CBD and THC helps us appreciate cannabis as a complex plant rather than a two-compound story.

In the future, we may see more targeted cannabinoid profiles designed around different times of day, different product formats and different patient needs. For example, researchers and formulators are already exploring areas such as:

• CBD and CBN combinations for night-time formulations;
• CBG-rich products for daytime or focus-style formulations;
• CBC and other cannabinoids in skin and inflammation research;
• THCV in appetite, metabolic and energy-related research;
• CBDV in neurological and seizure-related research;
• broader cannabinoid profiles that include terpenes and minor cannabinoids alongside CBD and THC.

This is where cannabis science feels genuinely exciting. The future may not be about finding one “best” cannabinoid. It may be about understanding how different cannabinoids, ratios, formats and plant profiles work for different people.

The entourage effect and minor cannabinoids

The entourage effect is the idea that cannabinoids, terpenes and other plant compounds may influence each other when present together.

This is one reason minor cannabinoids are attracting so much attention. Even when they appear in small amounts, they may contribute to the overall character of a full-spectrum product. They may not need to be the “main” cannabinoid to matter.

That said, the entourage effect should be discussed carefully. It is a promising and widely discussed idea, but it is not a guarantee that every full-spectrum product is automatically better than every isolate or single-cannabinoid product.

The more useful view is this: minor cannabinoids may help explain why different cannabis products can feel different, even when their CBD and THC levels look similar on paper.

What consumers should know now

If you are reading about emerging cannabinoids online, it helps to stay curious but grounded.

Useful questions include:

• Which cannabinoid is being discussed?
• Is the information based on human research, animal research, lab research or personal experience?
• Is the product full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, isolated or synthetic?
• Does the product contain THC?
• Is the cannabinoid content listed in milligrams?
• Is there third-party testing or a certificate of analysis?
• Is the product being supplied through an appropriate pathway?
• Are health or medical claims being made?
• Is this relevant to your own situation, and have you discussed it with a qualified health professional?

There is nothing wrong with being excited about emerging cannabinoids. We are excited too. But excitement is best paired with clear labels, honest education, quality testing and realistic expectations.

Where Made In Hemp stands

At Made In Hemp, we see minor cannabinoids as part of the next chapter in cannabis education.

CBD helped bring cannabis back into mainstream conversation because it offered people a non-intoxicating way to think about cannabinoids. THC continues to challenge stigma because it shows that the “high” associated with cannabis is only one part of a much wider medical and plant-science conversation.

Emerging cannabinoids take that conversation even further. They remind us that cannabis is not simple, and that is part of what makes it so fascinating.

As licensed industrial hemp growers and long-time hemp educators, we are passionate about helping Australians understand the difference between hemp seed oil, hemp extracts, CBD, THC, minor cannabinoids and medicinal cannabis language. We cannot provide medical advice, but we can help make the terminology clearer and the conversation more grounded.

Final thoughts

CBD and THC may have laid the foundation, but they are not the final chapter.

CBG, CBN, CBC, THCV, CBDV and other emerging cannabinoids show just how much there is still to learn about the cannabis plant. Some may become more important in future formulations. Some may remain niche. Some may surprise us as research develops.

The best approach is open-minded but realistic: follow the science, listen to patient experience, ask better questions, and avoid both extremes — cannabis does not need to be oversold as magic, and it does not need to be treated with fear.

We are only beginning to understand the full potential of this plant. That is what makes the next stage of cannabis education so exciting.