THC, CBD, and the rest

THC is the compound that gets you high. It binds directly to receptors in the brain tied to mood, memory and perception. CBD doesn't produce a high at all. It works alongside THC, often softening the edge of anxiety or paranoia that a strong THC dose can bring, and is increasingly sold on its own for people who want the plant's calming effects without the intoxication.

But the plant makes over a hundred other cannabinoids, and a few show up often enough on current menus to know. CBG, usually present in small amounts, is associated with a clear-headed, non-sedating focus. CBN forms as THC ages and leans more sedating, often linked to sleep. THCV is less common and reported to suppress appetite rather than trigger it. The reverse of THC's usual effect.

None of these work in isolation. Cannabinoids and terpenes interact, the so-called entourage effect, which is why two strains with identical THC percentages can feel completely different. The percentage on the label is one data point, not the whole story.