To learn about other cannabinoids go to our Cannabis Hemp Dictionary page.
Cannabitriol, or CBT, is a cannabinoid found in extremely low levels in cannabis. In fact, it’s not even always present in the cannabis plant. For this reason, CBT is considered to be a minor cannabinoid. It is also classified as an phytocannabinoid. However, it is still hypothesized to have some interesting and potentially useful effects.
CBT was first discovered and isolated in 1966,as an oxidizing bi-product of tetrahydrocannabinol. This cannabinoid has been identified both as a trace component of cannabis and as a metabolite in cannabis users.
CBT was first isolated around 50 years ago, yet very little research has been conducted into the potential benefits of the cannabinoid since. This lack is due in part to the fact that it’s hardly present in the cannabis plant. You will, however, find it in many CBD products, as it is useful for preventing crystallization.
Not much is known about the chemistry behind CBT, but one thing that is known is that there are nine different chemical variations of the cannabinoid. The molecular structure of CBT was first determined by researchers in 1976, about ten years after it was first isolated.
CBT-C, otherwise known as cannabicitran, is among the nine known variations of CBT, and it is often confused with cannabitriol itself, so you can expect to see that name inaccurately used in different articles regarding the cannabinoid.
Currently, there are exactly zero studies on the effects of CBT, but it has been theorized that it may offer similar benefits to CBD. It may also play a role in the entourage effect, which is the phenomenon in which consuming multiple cannabinoids at once can amplify their individual effects while also potentially producing unique effects.
