Cannabis is a well-known herb with many purposes related to its numerous compounds, known as cannabinoids. Cannabidiol (CBD) and THC are the cannabinoids most people are familiar with, but there are over 100 known cannabinoids. Cannabis is probably most commonly used medicinally for treating pain, but is also frequently used for treating anxiety and insomnia. One of the lesser known cannabinoids which appears to be garnering more attention recently is cannabicyclol (CBL).
Where does CBL come from?
Cannabicyclol comes from the degradation of cannabichromene (CBC). When CBC is exposed to oxygen or ultraviolet light, CBL is the result. The plant produces very small amounts of CBLA, the acid form of CBL. At the same time, it’s difficult to convert CBLA to the active form, CBL. In other words, CBLA is resistant to decarboxylation. As a result, CBLA yields very little CBL upon heating.
Do we know what CBL can do for us?
Cannabinoids can trigger receptors to produce or to slow the breakdown of natural substances such as serotonin and anandamide. These natural substances positively influence body functions such as pain perception, mood, and the sleep cycle.
It is difficult to extract CBL from the plant. And perhaps in large part due to this reason, CBL has been studied very little. Therefore, it is not yet known how CBL may interact with the body’s cannabinoid receptors. However, based on what is known about cannabicyclol, it is not considered to have intoxicating potential.
What’s next?
There has been a growing emphasis on minor cannabinoids like CBL, cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabinol (CBN) in recent years. As oil extraction techniques advance, less common cannabinoids like CBL, will become more manageable to study for its medicinal applications.
References:
Hanus L, et al; Phytocannabinoids: a unified critical inventory; Natural Product Reports; 2016 Oct; 33: 1357-1392.
Lewis M, et al; Chemical Profiling of Medical Cannabis Extracts; American Chemical Society Omega; 2017 Sep; 2(9): 6091-6103.
