Abstract

Although there are over 300 cannabinoid or cannabinoid-related compounds reported as natural constituents of Cannabis (Turner, et al., 1980) most strains of marihuana are characterized by the production of a biogenetically related series of compounds (Figure 1). Cannabinoids are terpenophenolic compounds believed to originate in the plant from condensation of a terpene derivative (such as geranyl pyrophosphate) with the phenol olivetol (as olivetolic acid) to form the cannabinoid series which includes cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), cannabichromenic acid (CBCA), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), and Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (Δ⁹-THCA) (Mechoulam, 1970; Shoyama, et al., 1975). These cannabinoids occur naturally predominantly in their water-soluble acid forms but are readily decarboxylated to their water-insoluble neutral forms by mild heating or drying of plant tissues or extracts.