The Family Tree of Cannabinoids - Starting with CBGA

You’ve probably heard of THC and CBD — the cannabis superstars. But here’s a fun fact: both of them actually come from the same parent. Meet CBGA — the “mother cannabinoid.” 

Step 1: The Mother Cannabinoid

• CBGA (cannabigerolic acid) is the starting point for almost everything in cannabis.
• Think of it as the root of the family tree.

• Depending on the plant’s genetics, CBGA gets converted into one of three main acids:

  • THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid)

  • CBDA (cannabidiolic acid)

  • CBCA (cannabichromenic acid)

(Biosynthesis of the cannabinoids: Journal of Cannabis Research, 2021)

Step 2: Heat = Transformation

Cannabis doesn’t produce THC or CBD directly. It makes acids (like THCA and CBDA). When you smoke, vape, or cook the flower, heat causes decarboxylation — basically, it pops off a carbon group and transforms the acid into its active form.

• THCA → THC (the classic high) 
• CBDA → CBD (the chill, non-psychoactive one) 
• CBCA → CBC (a minor but mighty cannabinoid) 

(THCA decarboxylation process: ScienceDirect, 2021; EIHA Report, 2014)

Different Strains, Different Journeys

All cannabis starts the same way (with CBGA), but the path it takes depends on genetics:

• High-THC strains: Most CBGA becomes THCA, which turns into THC.
• High-CBD strains (hemp): Most CBGA becomes CBDA, which turns into CBD.
• Rare strains: Some channel more CBGA into CBCA or even leave some as CBG.

(On CBGA as a gateway compound: Oxford/Synthetic Biology, 2023; MDPI Review, 2024)

It’s like different majors in college — everyone starts with the same general classes (CBGA), but ends up specializing in something else.

 The Fun Science Vibe

So next time you light up, you’re actually performing a tiny science experiment:

• You’re heating THCA and converting it into THC.
• Or you’re activating CBDA into CBD.
• Or maybe you’re unlocking rarer cannabinoids like CBC and CBG.

It’s chemistry in action — only way tastier.

Myth-Busting: Does the Sun Make Weed Release THC?

A common question: if heat makes THC, does sunlight make cannabis fields release it? The answer is no.

• Decarboxylation (THCA → THC) requires sustained high heat (220–240°F / 105–115°C). Sunlight alone isn’t hot enough to make that happen in live plants.
• Outdoor plants in the field are still loaded with THCA, not THC.
• Some very slow conversion can happen over time if the flower is dried or stored badly in sunlight, but not enough to make fields release THC clouds.
• Trichomes (the crystals on buds) act as natural shields, protecting cannabinoids from UV rays and slowing down degradation.

So, no... standing in a cannabis field won’t get you high. The magic only happens when you add real heat through smoking, vaping, or cooking.

Bottom Line

• All cannabis flower starts with CBGA.
• Where it goes depends on the strain’s genetics.
• THC, CBD, and CBC are just different branches of the same family tree.
• And no, sunshine doesn’t make fields of cannabis release THC into the air.

Cannabis is living proof that science and fun can totally mix. And now you know the family tree (and the myths) behind your favorite flower. 🌿

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📚 References

1. Flores-Sanchez, I.J., & Verpoorte, R. (2021). The biosynthesis of the cannabinoids. Journal of Cannabis Research. 
2. SynBio Oxford (2023). Biosynthesis of cannabigerol and cannabigerolic acid: the gateways to further cannabinoid production.
3. A unique approach for in-situ monitoring of the THCA decarboxylation. ScienceDirect, 2021.
4. EIHA (2014). Decarboxylation of THCA to active THC.
5. MDPI (2024). Cannabigerol (CBG): A Comprehensive Review of Its Molecular.