Cannabicitran: The Other CBT

With so many cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, it’s easy to get confused now and again. Indeed, it seems as if many of these compounds are similar in terms of effects and even in name!

For example, cannabicitran is known as CBT or CBT-C. It should not be confused with cannabitriol, which is also known as CBT! While scientists have been aware of cannabicitran for over half a century, relatively little is known about it.

In this article, we investigate this mysterious cannabinoid, outlining the information we have on it at present.

What Is CBT-C?

It isn’t necessarily easy to define CBT since there are apparently nine known types of it! Obata and Ishikawa discovered cannabidiol in the 1960s, although researchers didn’t determine its chemical structure for another decade.

During the early days of cannabis research, it was believed that CBG was the sole precursor molecule, producing compounds like THC and CBD. However, additional research found that CBC branches further into the CBTs, with several different types of this cannabinoid now identified.

As far as cannabicitran is concerned, Crombie and Ponsford synthesized “cytrilidene cannabis,” a similar compound, in 1971. Three years later, researchers isolated CBT-C from Lebanese hashish.

From the little research that’s been conducted on cannabicitran, it seems as if it has a similar relationship to CBD as CBD does to THC. Interestingly, CBT-C was only classified as a cannabinoid in a 2011 journal that examined a male Cannabis sativa L. plant using a modern chromatographic method.

Another fascinating fact is that cannabicitran is found in plants and herbs apart from cannabis. For example, there’s evidence from a 2011 study that CBT-C is present in the Rhododendron anthopogonoides flowering plant. Interestingly, this particular plant is well-known to those who study Traditional Chinese Medicine since it is used extensively within this field.

CBT-C: Effects and Benefits

Minimal research into CBT-C exists at present. If you visit the National Library of Medicine, you’ll find few cannabicitran mentions in the entire database. There are even fewer studies that specifically focus on this cannabinoid. Thus, ascertaining its benefits and effects is tricky.

A study in 2023 found that CBT-C is found in levels of up to 10% in commercially purified CBD extracts.

Thus, it is perhaps unsurprising to learn that it is non-intoxicating and similar to CBD in other ways. It may have pain-relieving properties and could be useful as a means of managing glaucoma symptoms. There’s also a suggestion that CBT-C could have relaxing effects, and since it is non-intoxicating, it’s likely to be relatively non-addictive.

Its adverse effects could also be similar to those of CBD and may include:

Dry mouth
Diarrhea
Drowsiness
Fatigue
Decreased appetite

It’s quite likely that CBT-C is quite dissimilar to THC. In fact, like CBD, it could reduce the intoxicating effects of THC when used in conjunction with it.

By contrast, cannabicitran is more similar to CBG and CBL than it is different.

Is CBT-C Even Legal?

The likely answer is ‘yes’ due to the provisions included in the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized the cultivation of hemp. According to the bill, cannabis with a maximum delta-9 THC content of 0.3% is considered industrial hemp, while cannabis with more than this amount is marijuana and remains federally illegal.

A ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals stated that delta-8 THC and other ‘minor’ cannabinoids were legal under the Farm Bill as long as they met the provisions. So, if you find a CBT-C product that doesn’t contain much delta-9 THC, the seller can claim it comes from hemp and is, therefore, federally legal.

It is this loophole that has led to the explosion in sales of intoxicating cannabinoids such as HHC and THCP. However, federal agencies such as the DEA are seeking to close the loophole, thus leading to the ban of such compounds. It’s also a fact that many states have prohibited products containing these cannabinoids.

Given that CBT-C is non-intoxicating, it’s unlikely that it would meet the same fate. However, it is currently a moot point because you’re unlikely to find any CBT-C products available for commercial sale. Since it seemingly provides similar effects to CBD, there isn’t much appetite for trying to extract it as it’s only available in trace quantities within the cannabis plant.

From a buyer’s perspective, there seems little point in trying something that is, on the surface at least, no different from widely available CBD.

CBT-C: Not Coming to a Store Near You!

Ultimately, cannabicitran is an interesting cannabinoid in its own right. From the data that’s available, it seems likely that CBT-C is a non-intoxicating compound that offers similar effects to CBD. As such, it is likely to be legal and could prove an interesting alternative to cannabidiol.

By the same token, it’s only available in tiny quantities in the cannabis plant. Since it is so similar to CBD, there’s unlikely to be much call for it. Furthermore, there simply isn’t enough information on it to know the full suite of effects.

Then there’s the small matter of not being able to find reliable CBT-C products on the market!