Comprehensive Cannabinoid Categorization

Last, in our cannabinoid landscape and categorization series we begin to walk down the decision tree. This is a diagram that helps someone properly place a given compound in the proper category or to discard it from the dataset. The decision tree starts at the top with "Any Molecule" that exists, and then through a series of yes or no questions places it into the correct category.

Because the definitions are such an important part of this tool, we have included them here. They are indicated in bold when they appear in the decision tree diagram for easier reference.

? Cannabinoid – A cannabinoid is any small organic molecule capable of interacting, either as an agonist, antagonist, inhibitor both reversible and irreversible, of either cannabinoid receptor, namely CB1 and CB2 receptors.

? Cannabis spp. - Cannabis species plants are those of the Cannabis genus in the Cannabaceae family under the Rosales order in classical biological taxonomic nomenclature (Linnaeus). This category includes plants commonly called “marijuana”, Cannabis, hemp and includes the species specific epithets of C. sativa, C. indica, C. ruderalis and various unnamed hybrid breeds thereof.

? Enzyme – An enzyme is a protein that acts as a biological catalyst by accelerating chemical reactions. Enzymes are encoded in an organisms genome (DNA) and therefore can be described as native to a given organism. Enzymes catalyze reactions from precursor chemicals called substrates to output chemicals called products.

? Human synthetic activity – Human synthetic activity is defined as human directed chemical techniques and technologies used to modify a molecule to a new stable structure. This may include but is not limited to the use of reagents, catalysts, electrovoltaic potential, ultraviolet or any other frequency of radiant energy. These processes have the potential to create unintended products in side reactions that may be hazardous to human health. With respect to cannabinoids and the scope of this document, these processes have become increasingly common in the US Cannabis and Hemp industries since the 2018 Farm Bill and the economic incentives of that bill are largely responsible for the increase in this human activity.

? Hydrocarbon skeleton - For the purposes of this document, the hydrocarbon skeleton refers to the carbon-carbon bonds that make up the backbone of a cannabinoid structure. Modifications outside of this, such as heteroatoms (O, N, F, Cl, etc) are not considered part of the hydrocarbon skeleton, but organic groups such as methyl, ethyl, etc or modifications that severe or remove pre-existing natural C-C bonds that are not seen in nature are considered hydrocarbon skeleton modifications. This definition is critical for the definition between Fully Synthetic and Semi-Synthetic categories.

? Metabolite – For the purposes of this document, metabolite is defined to mean any organic small molecule made by human cytochrome family of enzymes (CYP class) from a cannabinoid as a starting substrate.

? Molecule – A molecule is any collection of atoms stably bonded together in covalent bonds with a consistent spatial geometry, forming a unique chemical species that can be repeatably detected by analytical chemical techniques.

? Trace concentrations - In analytical chemistry, trace elements have an average concentration of less than 100 parts per million or less than 100 micrograms per gram, as defined in the second edition of the IUPAC Compendium of Chemical.