Δ9-THC (Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol) Naturally abundant

This is the primary psychoactive cannabinoid the plant makes all on its own. Fresh, well-grown cannabis flower routinely contains 15–30 % Δ9-THC in its natural trichomes. Concentrates and distillates are just purified versions of what the plant already produced. No lab synthesis required.

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Δ8-THC (Delta-8-Tetrahydrocannabinol) Lab-synthesized

The plant makes only trace amounts (usually <0.1 %) of Δ8 naturally. Virtually every Δ8 gummy, cart, or tincture you see is created by chemically isomerizing hemp-derived CBD in a lab with acids or catalysts. Natural Δ8 is negligible.

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HHC (Hexahydrocannabinol) Lab-synthesized

HHC does not exist in any meaningful quantity in the living or cured plant. It is made by hydrogenating Δ9-THC or Δ8-THC in a reactor (similar process to making margarine). If you’re buying HHC, it was born in glassware, not on a plant.

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THCP (Tetrahydrocannabiphorol) Naturally produced, mostly synthesized

Discovered in 2019 in an Italian strain called FM2; the plant can make tiny amounts (usually <0.1 %), but every commercial THCP product on the market today is semi-synthetic – labs start with CBD or Δ9 and extend the side chain. True natural THCP is still a lab-curiosity level.

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THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin) Naturally produced, mostly synthesized

African landraces (Durban Poison), some old-school sativas, and modern bred varieties like Doug’s Varin, Pineapple Purps, or Jack the Ripper can hit 5–15 % THCV in flower. Distillate is often just concentrated from those natural high-THCV plants, though some labs now synthesize it too.

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CBD (Cannabidiol) Naturally produced

Modern hemp cultivars and many Type II/III cannabis strains produce 10–25 % CBD in their trichomes with almost no THC. CBD isolate, full-spectrum oil, or broad-spectrum products all start with what the plant naturally makes.

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CBG (Cannabigerol) Naturally produced

The plant converts almost all CBGA into THC or CBD, so regular flower rarely exceeds 1 % CBG. Breeders now use “CBG-dominant” genetics or harvest plants at 6–7 weeks to keep CBG levels at 8–18 %. All commercial CBG you buy is from those specially grown or early-harvested plants – no synthesis needed.

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CBN (Cannabinol) Naturally occurring once aged

Fresh cannabis has almost zero CBN. Leave buds exposed to air and light (or deliberately oxidize them), and THC slowly turns into CBN. Most “CBN for sleep” products are either aged flower extract or very lightly lab-converted THC → CBN, but the molecule itself forms naturally over time.

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CBC (Cannabichromene) Naturally occurring

Many balanced strains have 0.5–3 % CBC naturally alongside THC and CBD. It’s a regular part of full-spectrum oil and almost never synthesized because the plant already makes plenty.

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CBDV (Cannabidivarin) and CBDA (Cannabidiolic acid)

Naturally occurring 

Shows up in certain landrace indicas and some hemp cultivars (1–8 % possible). CBDA is simply the raw acidic form of CBD present in every living trichome before decarboxylation. Fresh-plant tinctures, juices, or “raw” gummies contain exactly what the plant produced.