What are the major compounds in cannabis? In prior weeks we’ve summarized the major cannabinoids in cannabis, the basics of temperature control with a vaporizer and how it all impacts your high.

Today we list out in a sortable table many of the known compounds in cannabis by type (cannabinoid, terpenoid, flavonoid, and generic label ‘toxin’), their known medical properties on the human body and their boiling points (minimum temperature to activate the compound).

For any weedist who wants to obtain a general understanding of what’s being released into their bodies when they use marijuana, this is a great primer table. In future articles, we’ll provide definitions of the medical properties from the table (i.e. analgesic) as well as deep dive on each major compound.

How to Read – Compounds in Cannabis, Properties and Boiling Points Table

The table is sorted by temperature in descending order . For example, if I consume cannabis below 224C, the table tells me I will not take in pulegone or quercetin since their boiling points require hire temperatures.

. You can click on any column (i.e. Compound Type) and sort the table in ascending order. Click a second time to sort by that same column in descending order.

in ascending order. Click a second time to sort by that same column in descending order. As a frame of reference, combustion begins at 230C or 446F. Combustion means the organic plant material is ignited as well as significant additional toxins are introduced into your body.

or 446F. Combustion means the organic plant material is ignited as well as significant additional toxins are introduced into your body. With temperatures above 200°C traceable amounts of benzene are found in the vapor mist. Benzene contributes to couch lock and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has concluded that there is sufficient evidence for carcinogenicity to humans. Although for all these alleged carcinogens in cannabis, still no proof has yet been found to link cannabis to lung cancer. Studies show no association between smoking cannabis and lung cancer.

Compound Name Compound Type Medical Properties Concentration (% dry weight) Boiling Point (F) Boiling Point (C) quercetin flavonoid Antioxidant

Antimutagenic

Antiviral

Antineoplastic > 0.1% 482 250 Carbon monoxide & smoke tars (at point of combustion) toxin Carcinogen

Other nasties ? 446 230 pulegone terpenoid Memory booster?

AChE inhibitor

Sedative

Antipyretic 0.001% 435.2 224 tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) cannabinoid Analgesic

Euphoriant 0.0-1.36% 428 220 cannabichromene (CBC) cannabinoid Antiinflammatory

Antibiotic

Antifungal 0.0-0.65% 428 220 naphthalene toxin Possible carcinogen

Light-headedness

Nausea

Sleepiness

Loss of appetite

Pale skin ? 424.4 218 α-terpineol terpenoid Sedative

Antibiotic

AChE inhibitor

Antioxidant

Antimalarial 0.02% 422.6-424.4 217-218 borneol terpenoid Antibiotic 0.008% 410 210 terpineol-4-ol terpenoid AChE inhibitor

Antibiotic 0.0004% 408.2 209 benzene toxin Carcinogen ? 392 200 linalool terpenoid Sedative

Antidepressant

Anxiolytic

Immune potentiator 0.002% 388.4 198 cannabinol (CBN) cannabinoid Oxidation breakdown product

Sedative

Antibiotic 0.0-1.6% 365 185 cannflavin A flavonoid COX inhibitor

LO inhibitor 0.02% 359.6 182 apigenin flavonoid Anxiolytic

Antiinflammatory

Estrogenic > 0.1% 352.4 178 p-cymene terpenoid Antibiotic

Anticandidal

AChE inhibitor 0.0004% 350.6 177 d-limonene terpenoid Cannabinoid agonist?

Immune potentiator

Antidepressant

Antimutagenic 0.14% 350.6 177 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) terpenoid AChE inhibitor

Increases cerebral

blood flow

Stimulant

Antibiotic

Antiviral

Antiinflammatory

Antinociceptive > 0.001% 348.8 176 Δ-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-8-THC) cannabinoid Resembles Δ-9-THC

Less psychoactive

More stable

Antiemetic 0.0-0.1% 347-352.4 175-178 Δ-3-carene terpenoid Antiinflammatory 0.0004% 334.4 168 β-myrcene terpenoid Analgesic

Antiinflammatory

Antibiotic

Antimutagenic 0.47% 330.8-334.4 166-168 cannabidiol (CBD) cannabinoid Anxiolytic

Analgesic

Antipsychotic

Antiinflammatory

Antioxidant

Antispasmodic 0.1-2.89% 320-356 160-180 Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cannabinoid Euphoriant

Analgesic

Antiinflammatory

Antioxidant

Antiemetic 0.1-25% 314.6 157 α-pinene terpenoid Antiinflammatory

Bronchodilator

Stimulant

Antibiotic

Antineoplastic

AChE inhibitor 0.04% 312.8 156 β-sitosterol flavonoid Antiinflammatory

5-α-reductase

inhibitor ? 273.2 134 β-caryophyllene terpenoid Antiinflammatory

Cytoprotective

(gastric mucosa)

Antimalarial 0.05% 246.2 119 toluene toxin Much less toxic than benzene

Light-headedness

Nausea

Sleepiness

Loss of appetite ? 231.1 110.6 cannabigerol (CBG) cannabinoid Antiinflammatory

Antibiotic

Antifungal 0.03-1.15% 125.6 052

Caveats to Compounds in Cannabis Table:

Each strain and batch of marijuana can have differing levels of compounds, if some are present at all. This table helps give a general sense of the potential additional compounds released into your body as you increase the temperature. The source materials were published in 2001. However it remains the most comprehensive information I could find. Some material is dated, i.e. it says an upper range of 2.89% for CBD but given its medical value strains are bred today with much higher levels such as Cannatonic at 7% CBD. Also, science continues to discover new compounds in cannabis and medical properties and this source information is at least 11 years old.

Source Articles:

Tailoring Your High Series: