CBC: What It Is, Effects and Safety | PatientsCann UK

CBC

cannabichromene

pronounced: kan-uh-bih-KROH-meen

A quiet, non-intoxicating cannabinoid studied for pain and mood.

Neutral cannabinoidFormula: C21H30O2Intoxicating: No
Type
Neutral
Formula
C21H30O2
Intoxicating
No
Key focus
Pain & mood

Cannabichromene · 314.5 g/mol

The molecule

Chemical structure

This is the accurate skeletal structure of CBC, drawn from PubChem data. Each corner and line-end is a carbon atom, and the red O marks oxygen. Its formula is C21H30O2 and it weighs 314.5 g/mol.

Pain reliefMoodAnti-inflammatoryAnti-bacterial

About

What is CBC?

Cannabichromene, or CBC, is one of the four most common cannabinoids in cannabis, alongside THC, CBD and CBG, yet most people have never heard of it. It does not make you high.

Like the others, CBC starts as an acid, CBCA, made from the mother cannabinoid CBGA, and it appears once the plant is heated.

In the body

How CBC Works

CBC barely touches the CB1 receptor, which is why it is not intoxicating. It does switch on the CB2 receptor, and it strongly activates the body's TRP channels, which sense pain and heat. This may be how it helps with discomfort.

Laboratory research has looked at CBC for pain, mood and inflammation, and even at how it might support brain cells. Like many minor cannabinoids, it is thought to work best as part of a team, the "entourage effect", rather than alone.

Receptor snapshot

Where CBC Acts

The endocannabinoid system has two main receptors. Here is how strongly CBC acts on each.

CB1Brain & nervous system
None

Barely touches CB1, so it is not intoxicating.

CB2Immune system & body
Partial

Does activate CB2, which is linked to inflammation.

Beyond CB1 and CB2: Strongly activates TRPA1 and TRPV pain and heat-sensing channels, which may be how it helps with pain.

In the plant

How CBC is Made

CBC is made from CBCA, which the plant produces from CBGA using an enzyme called CBCA synthase.

Heating turns CBCA into CBC. Over time, and with strong light, CBC can slowly change again into another cannabinoid called CBL.

Comes fromCBCA→ add heat →CBC

Good to know

Safety and Side Effects

CBC appears to be well tolerated, with little sign of serious side effects in the limited research so far. Because human studies are scarce, its long-term safety is not fully known.

As always, tell your prescriber before adding a new cannabinoid to your routine.

Questions

CBC: Common Questions

Is CBC intoxicating?
No. CBC hardly binds the CB1 receptor, so it will not make you high. It is being studied for pain, mood and inflammation.
What does CBC do?
CBC seems to work mainly through the body’s TRP pain and heat channels, and by activating CB2 receptors. Researchers think it works best together with THC and CBD, as part of the "entourage effect".
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Important: This page is for education only. It is not medical advice. Cannabinoid research is still developing, and many studies have been done in cells or animals rather than people. Always speak to your prescriber before changing your treatment. PatientsCann UK does not recommend any specific cannabis product.

References

  1. DeLong, G.T., Wolf, C.E., Poklis, A. and Lichtman, A.H. (2010) 'Pharmacological evaluation of the natural constituent of Cannabis sativa, cannabichromene and its modulation by delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol', Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 112(1-2), pp. 126-133. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.05.019.
  2. Izzo, A.A., Borrelli, F., Capasso, R., Di Marzo, V. and Mechoulam, R. (2009) 'Non-psychotropic plant cannabinoids: new therapeutic opportunities from an ancient herb', Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 30(10), pp. 515-527. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2009.07.006.
  3. Morales, P., Hurst, D.P. and Reggio, P.H. (2017) 'Molecular targets of the phytocannabinoids: a complex picture', Progress in the Chemistry of Organic Natural Products, 103, pp. 103-131. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-45541-9_4.
  4. National Center for Biotechnology Information (2025) PubChem Compound Database. Bethesda: U.S. National Library of Medicine. Available at: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (Accessed: 29 July 2026).