Written by Shepherd King

CBC (short for Cannabichromene) is a cannabinoid — a natural compound produced by the cannabis plant. Just like other cannabinoids, CBC produces a range of unique effects that you’ll experience when you smoke or ingest certain forms of cannabis.

For a long time, CBC took a backseat to more popular cannabinoids like THC and CBD. That’s not the case anymore. This compound is now getting a lot of attention for its calming, soothing properties.

Let’s take a closer look at the science behind CBC’s effects.

Table of Contents

• Cannabinoids Explained

• CBC at a Glance

• How Does CBC Work?

  • Is CBC Psychoactive?

  • How Powerful are CBC’s Effects?

  • CBC and the Entourage Effect

• Is CBC Legal?

• Trying CBC for the First Time

  • Smoking or Edibles?

  • Combining CBC With Other Cannabinoids

  • Coming Down From a High

• FAQs About CBC

• The Best CBC Products To Try: Our Picks

  • Counting Sheep

  • Ice Cream Cake

  • Gush Mintz

Cannabinoids Explained

You already know that CBC is a cannabinoid, but there’s more to know about this group of chemical compounds.

The cannabis plant produces more than 100 cannabinoids, some of which produce psychoactive effects. It’s because of these compounds that smoking or ingesting weed gets you high.

CBC is one of the “big six” cannabinoids, a group of compounds that are the most well-researched and popular in the cannabis industry at the moment. This group also includes:

• THC (Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol): This is the primary psychoactive component in weed, and it’s also a source of appetite stimulation, relaxation, creative inspiration, and more under some circumstances.

  • Delta-9 is a key ingredient in many of the gummies and other yummy edibles that we sell in the Mood Shop.

  • In addition, THCa (Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid) converts to Delta-9 THC when heated or smoked. THCa is found in all of the cannabis flower in the Mood Shop.

• CBD (Cannabidiol): One of the most popular non-psychoactive cannabinoids on the planet, CBD is known for its calming effects.

  • We often combine CBD and THC in our gummies and other edibles for a more balanced, mellow high.

  • Like CBC, CBD doesn’t produce a high on its own.

• CBG (Cannabigerol): CBG is another non-psychoactive cannabinoid that’s sometimes referred to as the “mother of all cannabinoids.” That’s because it’s the chemical precursor to multiple other compounds, including CBD and THC.

  • CBG may have some anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

  • As we’ll discuss more below, CBG also plays a role in the formation of CBC.

• CBN (Cannabinol): This cannabinoid is only mildly psychoactive, but it has powerful sedating effects. It’s produced when cannabis trichomes go beyond their peak point of ripeness.

  • CBN is technically a byproduct of THC.

  • If you’re looking for gummies that help you wind down and rest, there’s nothing better than our Sleepytime Delta-9 THC Gummies, which feature CBN.

• THCv (Tetrahydrocannabivarin): Sometimes called “diet weed,” THCv is slightly psychoactive and produces an energizing, clear-headed high with some appetite-suppressing effects.

  • Some folks report feeling particularly grounded and centered while using THCv.

  • This cannabinoid is also the strongest case against the stoner’s tale that “all weed causes the munchies.”

CBC at a Glance

CBC is a cannabinoid that starts its life as cannabigerolic acid (CBGA).

The Cannabis Sativa plant produces CBGA in its trichomes, hairlike outgrowths that produce the majority of the plant’s cannabinoids. From there, the plant’s enzymes convert CBGA into cannabichrome carboxylic acid (CBCa), the chemical precursor to CBC.

Next, CBC forms as CBCa breaks down in response to light and heat. This final stage in CBC’s development can happen while you’re smoking weed, as the heat from your lighter or torch starts the process of decarboxylation.

Find out more about the effects of using cannabis from the Mood Blog.

How Does CBC Work?

CBC interacts with your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) to produce its effects. The ECS is a cell-signaling system that regulates and controls many of your body’s most important functions — including sleep, memory, emotions, and even body temperature. The ECS also triggers your body and mind’s response to cannabinoids like CBC.

Your endocannabinoid system contains CB1 receptors, which interact with psychoactive cannabinoids like THC to produce the high that you expect from weed. CBC doesn’t directly bind to these cannabinoid receptors. Instead, it interacts with the TRP (transient receptor potential) channels in your endocannabinoid system.

These channels include the TRPV1 and TRPA1 receptors, which play a role in regulating the way we experience sensations like pain.

When CBC binds to these receptors, it can impact the way that you feel, calming both your body and your mind.

Learn more about the effects of specific cannabinoids from the Mood Blog.

Is CBC Psychoactive?

CBC doesn’t produce psychoactive effects on its own. That’s because, unlike THC, the primary psychoactive component in weed, CBC doesn’t bind to your ECS’s CB1 receptors.

Instead of getting you high, CBC produces calming, sedating effects that can be especially helpful if you’re experiencing everyday aches.

It’s worth mentioning that when you take in CBC by smoking cannabis flower, you’ll still get high. That’s because, in this case, CBC coexists with psychoactive cannabinoids like THC. However, the psychoactive effects of CBC-rich weed will most likely be lower.

How Powerful Are CBC’s Effects?

Now you know that CBC doesn’t have the same psychoactive effects that you’d get from Delta-8 or Delta-9 THC. However, CBC can still be a very powerful cannabinoid.

One of the unique sources of CBC’s potency is its impact on the uptake of anandamide, a natural byproduct of your endocannabinoid system that can improve your mood and modulate your perception of pain.

More research is needed on the potential benefits of CBC, and it’s not currently approved by the FDA for use as a medical treatment. If you want to harness the cannabinoid’s powerful effects, think of it as a supplement.

CBC and the Entourage Effect

The entourage effect is a theory about the relationship between different cannabinoids. It’s pretty fascinating. Here’s the gist.

Some cannabis experts believe that cannabinoids are more effective when consumed together than on their own. Some research indicates that cannabinoids like CBC, CBD, and THC work together to produce unique effects that they couldn’t individually.

In theory, CBC plays a key role in the entourage effect in some cases, essentially balancing out the high produced by forms of THC like Delta-8 and Delta-9.

While we still need more research to come to solid conclusions about the entourage effect, we do know that CBC can lead to a mellower, milder high.

Is CBC Legal?

The Farm Bill, passed in 2018, changed the way that hemp and all hemp-derived cannabinoids (including CBC) are regulated. Based on this bill, products containing CBC are legal as long as they contain no more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight.

Thanks to the Farm Bill, buying CBC online or locally at a dispensary isn’t an issue. However, not all products that contain CBC meet the Farm Bill’s criteria for hemp, and there are some potential legal issues with buying products over the 0.3% THC threshold.

The Farm Bill deems cannabis that contains more than 0.3% THC marijuana, which is federally illegal in the US. Some marijuana products contain high levels of non-psychoactive cannabinoids like cannabidiol (CBD) and CBC, but they’re still illegal.

So, the bottom line is that CBC is legal, but it’s sometimes a component in illegal forms of cannabis.

Order your CBC products from a reputable, Farm Bill-compliant source to stay on the up and up. All of the products in the Mood Shop meet the Farm Bill’s standards for hemp and are third-party-tested for quality, safety, and consistency.

Learn more about the legal status of Cannabis from the Mood Blog.

FAQs About CBC

Q: How does CBC make you feel?

A: CBC doesn’t get you high on its own. However, since it’s a key component in some cannabis strains, be prepared to experience the effects of THC, which can get you high.

When used on its own, CBC can calm your nerves and might make you feel less tense and achy. It’s important to note, though, that the cannabinoid isn’t a medical treatment for pain — although it does have some therapeutic potential.

Q: Where can you buy CBC products?

A: You can get CBC in multiple forms either online or from a dispensary near you. You have plenty of options to choose from in terms of CBC products, including edibles, flower, and more.

Q: Does CBC have side effects?

A: Some folks report that CBC makes them feel a bit tired, especially in higher concentrations. If you’re new to cannabinoids, we recommend starting out small to see how just a little bit makes you feel.

Q: How well-researched is CBC?

A: Based on peer-reviewed research on CBC, we know that the cannabinoid can have analgesic effects in some cases, both in topical form and when ingested.

In addition, research tells us that cannabichromene has anti-inflammatory properties, which it shares with other cannabinoids like CBD and CBN.

The Best CBC Products To Try: Our Picks

These are a few of our top recommendations for THCa flower with calming, soothing effects and high levels of relaxing cannabinoids like CBC:

Counting Sheep

This sweet and minty strain is a crossbreed of Sunset Sherbert and Thin Mint Cookies plants. Grown in California, it’s a 55/45 Indica-dominant hybrid with a scent of vanilla, lemon, and mint.

At 26.47 THCa content, Counting Sheep is a powerful strain that’s loaded with relaxing cannabinoids. Its soothing effects are perfect for you if you’re a light sleeper, are on the road and struggling to get some rest, or just want to relax at night.

Save $25 or more when you order 7g of Counting Sheep flower for just $93. Subscribe to save 15%.

Ice Cream Cake

Ideal for winding down, this strain contains 25.22% THCa and plenty of cannabinoids and aromatic, flavorful terpenes. It as a citrusy, gasoline-y scent that will refresh you and help clear your head before bed.

Earthy and rich, this strain is a crossbreed of Wedding Cake and Gelato #33 plants grown in California.

Pick up 3.5 g of Ice Cream Cake flower for just $40. Subscribe to save 15%.

Gush Mintz

A top-shelf 50/50 hybrid, Gush Mintz smells like gasoline and pine and has the highest THCa content (27.07%) of the strains on our list.

This strain is relaxing and grounding thanks to an abundance of cannabinoids like CBD and CBC. A crossbreed of Kush Mintz and Durban Gushers plants grown in Oregon, it’s high-potency and highly relaxing.

Get 1g of Gush Mintz for only $17. Subscribe to save 15% on your order.