KC CHRONICLE   June 2023 Newsletter

Expanding upon last month's Q&A, our resident Director of Health & Wellness, Cody Freeze, PharmD RPH, will now take a journey into the fascinating "minor cannabinoids." We will expand from THC and CBD in last month's issue, and on into CBC, CBDV, CBG, CBN, and THCV. To submit a question, please send to info@kccannabis.org.

As a scientist and pharmacist, I will start with two things.

Firstly, the information I summarize below may change, maybe quickly. Even today, minor cannabinoids are still being discovered.

The second caveat is, remember this is just a drop in the bucket about minor cannabinoids. There are hundreds of cannabinoids and terpenes, perhaps thousands, and I haven't even written about flavonoids, sulfur containing compounds, or other cannabis puzzle pieces.

Each chemovar/strain of cannabis is unique, but with a shared genetic history. Therefore, the ratios of these minor cannabinoids can vary somewhat like terpene blends and concentrations can vary from chemovar to chemovar. For instance, some chemovars/strains produce a larger than average amount of THCV, say, in addition to THC. These minor cannabinoids and their concentrations can sometimes be found on the certificate of analysis (CoA) for the batch and particular grow cycle harvest. As time continues, we hope to see more data on more products.

Now, let's learn a little about the general form and function of SOME "minor cannabinoids."

Q: What are some common minor cannabinoids?

A: Minor cannabinoids are gaining interest! While these agents may not get as much fanfare and stigma as THC and CBD, I will do my best to explain a few briefly below.

CBC, or cannabichromene, is believed to have anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties, but the concentrations necessary for effect are unknown. There are some aspects of CBC suggesting it may affect pain perception either directly, indirectly or both. It may also have effects on blood pressure and mood.

CBDV, or cannabidivarin, has shown some effect on certain neurological electrical pathways related to seizures, and maybe even behaviors related to neurological inflammation. This is one we know very little about, but are learning about quickly, as it has entered the spotlight lately in a big way. Like THCV, the V- is short for -varin, and denotes a shorter hydrocarbon tail chain, compared to CBD.

CBG, or cannabigerol, is sometimes called the mother of all cannabinoids, as it is THE precursor and scaffold for making the other cannabinoids. Therefore, it would make sense it is thought this compound has much to do with keeping cannabis healthy as a plant itself when growing, and is perhaps involved with protecting cannabis from harmful UV radiation, as well as a variety of bacteria and fungal species. It may have anti-inflammatory and eye pressure regulation effects. Some patients report using chemovars containing CBG help with stress and discomforts.

CBN, or cannabinol, can be what happens after a fresh bag of cannabis is stored open, for many days, on the dash of a parked vehicle, in the humid Missouri afternoon sun. CBN is the oxidized form THC takes over time with exposure to heat and the air, but is also produced in larger concentrations in certain chemovars, or is degraded by various other chemical or environmental factors. It may help with sleep, but there is data to suggest its role as an antioxidant, reducing cellular damage and stress.

THCV, or tetrahydrocannabivarin, is my absolute personal favorite. THCV, like CBDV, is structurally similar to its relative THC, just as CBDV is to CBD. The difference in activities between the -varins and their THC and CBD counterparts are sometimes extreme, resulting in wild differences you can't always predict as a scientist. This just excites us, because we are driven by knowledge. Speaking of exciting, THCV is thought to have effects on our stress response, appetite, blood sugar, metabolism regulation, and even nerve impulses, possibly implicating it in future considerations for seizure, and many other applications.

Extra credit: Explore the chemovar/strain Doug's Varin, the breeder's intent, and why it's called Doug's Varin.