Resin · Trichome · Glow

The living cannabinoid horizon

A three-dimensional index of the molecules inside the flower. Drag to rotate the field — select any compound to open its dossier.

THC
Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol
C₂₁H₃₀O₂
CBD
Cannabidiol
C₂₁H₃₀O₂
CBG
Cannabigerol
C₂₁H₃₂O₂
CBN
Cannabinol
C₂₁H₂₆O₂
CBC
Cannabichromene
C₂₁H₃₀O₂
THCV
Tetrahydrocannabivarin
C₁₉H₂₆O₂
THCA
Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid
C₂₂H₃₀O₄
CBDA
Cannabidiolic acid
C₂₂H₃₀O₄
Δ8-THC
Δ8-Tetrahydrocannabinol
C₂₁H₃₀O₂
CBGA
Cannabigerolic acid
C₂₂H₃₂O₄
THCP
Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabiphorol
C₂₃H₃₄O₂
HHC
Hexahydrocannabinol
C₂₁H₃₂O₂
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The mission

A clear atlas of cannabis chemistry

Marijuana.Directory catalogs the cannabinoids inside the flower — their structures, receptor targets, and reported effects — grounded in the science and free of the hype. Every entry is a molecule you can turn over, read, and understand.

20
Cannabinoids mapped in detail, from THC to the trace acids
2
Core receptor families — CB1 in the brain, CB2 in the body
144+
Known cannabinoids identified in the cannabis plant to date
The compound index

20 cannabinoids, decoded

From the abundant to the trace. Search or filter, then select any card to open its full dossier.

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How they work

The endocannabinoid system

CB1

Central receptors

Concentrated in the brain and nervous system, CB1 is the docking site behind THC’s psychoactivity and much of cannabis’ effect on mood and perception.

CB2

Peripheral receptors

Found mainly in immune tissue and the periphery, CB2 is a target for anti-inflammatory effects without the intoxication of CB1 activation.

SYNERGY

The entourage effect

Cannabinoids and aromatic terpenes appear to modulate one another, so the whole-plant profile can shape an experience that isolated molecules do not.

From acid to effect

One precursor becomes many

The plant builds nearly every cannabinoid from a single acidic precursor. Heat then decarboxylates the acids into the neutral compounds we know.

THE MOTHER
CBGA
Cannabigerolic acid
→
ACIDIC FORMS
THCA · CBDA · CBCA
Raw, non-intoxicating
→
AFTER HEAT
THC · CBD · CBC
Decarboxylated, active
The aromatic partners

Terpenes

Cannabinoids don’t act alone. Terpenes — the plant’s aromatic oils — shape aroma and flavor, and through the entourage effect they color the character of every strain.

Myrcene

C₁₀H₁₆ · Earthy · Musky
The most abundant terpene in cannabis, associated with deep relaxation and the classic “couch-lock” sensation.
Sedating Relaxing Analgesic
Also in · Mango, hops, thyme

Limonene

C₁₀H₁₆ · Bright · Citrus
A zesty citrus terpene widely linked to elevated mood and relief from everyday stress.
Mood lift Anti-stress Antifungal
Also in · Citrus rind, juniper

Pinene

C₁₀H₁₆ · Fresh · Pine
A crisp, sharp pine aroma tied to alertness, focus, and easier breathing.
Alertness Memory Bronchodilator
Also in · Pine, rosemary, basil

Linalool

C₁₀H₁₈O · Floral · Lavender
A delicate floral terpene prized for its calming, anxiolytic character.
Calming Anxiolytic Sleep aid
Also in · Lavender, mint

Caryophyllene

C₁₅H₂₄ · Peppery · Spicy
The only terpene known to bind a cannabinoid receptor (CB2) directly, driving anti-inflammatory effects.
Anti-inflammatory CB2 active Gut support
Also in · Black pepper, cloves

Terpinolene

C₁₀H₁₆ · Herbal · Sweet
A complex, fresh aroma with mildly uplifting and antioxidant properties.
Uplifting Antioxidant Antibacterial
Also in · Nutmeg, apple, cumin
Getting it in

Consumption methods

How cannabis enters the body shapes how fast it arrives, how long it lasts, and how intense it feels.

SMOKING 01

Inhalation

Combusting dried flower — the fastest and most familiar route, and the harshest on the lungs.
Onset
Seconds
Duration
1–3 hrs
Intensityhigh
VAPOR 02

Vaporizing

Heating flower or oil below combustion. Cleaner than smoke and gentler on the terpenes.
Onset
Seconds
Duration
1–3 hrs
Intensityhigh
INGESTED 03

Edibles

Eaten and processed by the liver into stronger 11-hydroxy-THC. Slow to arrive and easy to overdo.
Onset
30–120 min
Duration
4–8 hrs
Intensityvery high
TINCTURE 04

Sublingual

Drops held under the tongue, absorbed through the mucosa. Discreet, with fine dose control.
Onset
15–45 min
Duration
4–6 hrs
Intensitymoderate
TOPICAL 05

Topicals

Balms and creams applied to skin for localized relief. Non-intoxicating — they don’t reach the bloodstream.
Onset
15–60 min
Duration
2–4 hrs
Intensitylow
DABBING 06

Concentrates

Flash-vaporizing high-potency extracts. Immediate and intense, over a short arc.
Onset
Seconds
Duration
1–2 hrs
Intensityvery high
Flower families

Strain types

Cannabis is traditionally sorted into three broad families, each with its own growth habit and reputation for effect.

Indica

Cannabis indica
NIGHT
Originating in the cool highlands of the Hindu Kush, indicas are prized for a heavy, physical calm.
Plant
Short & bushy
Key terpene
Myrcene
Relaxing Sedating Pain relief

Sativa

Cannabis sativa
DAY
Equatorial in origin and tall in stature, sativas carry a reputation for a bright, cerebral lift.
Plant
Tall & slender
Key terpene
Limonene
Uplifting Creative Focus

Hybrid

Indica × Sativa
ANYTIME
The vast majority of modern cultivars — crosses bred to dial in a specific balance of traits.
Plant
Blended habit
Key terpene
Varies by cross
Balanced Versatile Tailored
Note

Beyond the binary. Researchers increasingly find that a plant’s cannabinoid and terpene chemotype predicts how it feels far better than the indica / sativa label alone. Treat the families as a starting point, not a rule.

Where it stands

Legal status

A snapshot of cannabis policy around the world. Laws shift quickly — always verify your local jurisdiction.

Recreational Decriminalized Medical Prohibited
Canada
Recreational
Uruguay
Recreational
Germany
Recreational
Malta
Recreational
Luxembourg
Recreational
Czech Republic
Recreational
South Africa
Recreational
California (US)
Recreational
New York (US)
Recreational
Netherlands
Decriminalized
Portugal
Decriminalized
Spain
Decriminalized
Mexico
Decriminalized
Italy
Decriminalized
United Kingdom
Medical
Australia
Medical
Israel
Medical
Poland
Medical
Florida (US)
Medical
Thailand
Medical
France
Prohibited
Japan
Prohibited
United Arab Emirates
Prohibited
Indonesia
Prohibited
Singapore
Prohibited
The long view

A history of the science

c. 2700 BCE

First medicinal records

Cannabis appears in the pharmacopeia attributed to the Chinese emperor Shen Nung — among the earliest written accounts of its medicinal use.

1839

Cannabis enters Western medicine

Irish physician William O’Shaughnessy documents its therapeutic effects, sparking interest across Europe and North America.

1940

CBD is isolated

Chemist Roger Adams isolates cannabidiol at the University of Illinois — the first cannabinoid to be characterized.

1964

THC is decoded

Raphael Mechoulam and Yechiel Gaoni isolate and map the structure of THC in Israel, pinpointing the source of the plant’s psychoactivity.

1988

The CB1 receptor

Researchers locate the CB1 receptor in the brain, revealing the biological system that cannabinoids act upon.

1992

Anandamide found

Scientists identify anandamide, an endocannabinoid the body produces itself — the natural counterpart to THC.

1996

First medical legalization

California’s Proposition 215 makes it the first US state to legalize cannabis for medical use.

2013

A nation legalizes

Uruguay becomes the first country in the world to fully legalize and regulate recreational cannabis.

2018

Mainstream milestones

The US FDA approves Epidiolex, a CBD medicine, and Canada legalizes recreational cannabis nationwide.

2026

Reform and recalibration

Germany legalises adult use (2024) as Thailand returns to a medical-only model (2025). In 2026 the United States reclassifies FDA-approved and state-licensed medical cannabis to Schedule III — a first crack in federal prohibition, though recreational cannabis remains Schedule I.