It can be easy to get lost in the alphabet soup of 140+ cannabinoids. That’s why we’ve created our series of quick and informative guides to several of the most popular cannabinoids around.

Cannabichromene (CBC) is one of the most common cannabinoids produced by the Cannabis sativa plant. This non-intoxicating cannabinoid has numerous medical applications, a fascinating history, and an exciting future.

Read on to delve deeper into all things CBC.

A Quick History of CBC

In 1966, two teams of researchers identified CBC without prior knowledge of the other team’s work. Israeli chemists Yehiel Gaoni and Raphael Mechoulam isolated and identified cannabichromene’s molecular structure; German researchers Claussen, Von Spulak, and Korte also isolated CBC using benzene percolation of hemp.

Decades later, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (i.e. the Farm Bill) was a major step forward in cannabis policy within the United States. This piece of legislation made hemp—that is cannabis with under 0.3% THC—federally legal. Just like CBD, CBG, and other non-psychoactive cannabinoids, hemp-derived CBC became legalized as a result of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.

And, if you travel frequently or if you’re one of our overseas readers, you’ll be heartened to know that CBC is not listed among the scheduled narcotics in the United Nations’ Convention on Psychotropic Substances.

The Science and Medicinal Benefits of CBC

CBC arises in Cannabis sativa through a set of processes. When cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) reacts with enzymes in a cannabis plant’s trichomes, this reaction forms cannabichromenic acid (CBCA). CBC forms as a result of the decarboxylation of CBCA.

The average CBC content in cannabis is around 0.3% and most cultivars have less than 1% CBC. “Mutant” cultivars with higher levels of cannabichromene often have lower than average levels of THC and CBD.

CBC used to be the cannabinoid with the second highest concentration in Cannabis sativa. However, in recent decades, growers have prioritized achieving higher THC and CBD concentrations in their cultivars. This has led to CBC percentages falling dramatically.

CBC is known to have medicinal effects for a range of conditions. This cannabinoid has been classified as an:

• Analgesic (Relieves Pain)
• Antibacterial (Slows Bacteria Growth)
• Anti-Inflammatory (Reduces Inflammation)
• Anti-Proliferative (Inhibits Cancer Cell Growth)
• Bone Stimulant (Promotes Bone Growth)

One additional aspect to note: When used together, cannabichromene and THC produce an entourage effect that leads to a stronger anti-inflammatory response than when either cannabinoid is used on its own.

Side effects have been noted with the use of CBC. These include:

• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Nausea

As always, we recommend that you consult with your doctor prior to making any changes in your wellness or therapeutic regimen.

Because of the relative lack of valid studies on appropriate dosages for specific conditions and the wealth of products of varying quality on the market, we recommend that you acquire a Patient Journal to track your body’s unique response to CBC.

Conclusion

While CBC is nowhere near as popular as THC or CBD, you may want to look into this cannabinoid in greater depth if you have some of the medical challenges that CBC treats.

If you’d like to learn more about other cannabinoids, check out our article that separates the facts from the hype about Delta-8-THC.