Plant-derived cannabinoids (phytocannabinoids) such as CBD and THC are made by the cannabis plant; synthetic cannabinoids are made in a laboratory. Some synthetic ones are exact copies of plant cannabinoids, such as dronabinol, which is synthetic THC. Others are new molecules: the "Spice"-type synthetic cannabinoids act much more strongly on the brain's CB1 receptor and have been linked to hospitalisations and deaths. Semi-synthetic cannabinoids such as HHC sit in between.
Key facts
- Phytocannabinoids
- Made by the plant, for example CBD, THC, CBG and CBDV
- Endocannabinoids
- Made by the body, for example anandamide and 2-AG
- Synthetic copies
- Lab-made but identical to a plant cannabinoid, for example dronabinol (Δ9-THC)
- Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists
- New lab molecules sold as "Spice" or "K2"; about 300 identified, many full CB1 activators
- Semi-synthetic
- Made by chemically converting a cannabinoid, for example HHC; under UN control since 6 December 2025
- International control (as of October 2026)
- 22 synthetic cannabinoids have been placed under UN control since 2015
What are plant-derived cannabinoids, and how do they differ from "cannabinoids"?
"Cannabinoid" is the umbrella term. It covers three groups: phytocannabinoids, made by the cannabis plant; endocannabinoids such as anandamide and 2-AG, made by the body; and synthetic cannabinoids, made by chemists. "Phytocannabinoids" (from the Greek phyton, plant) therefore means the same as plant-derived cannabinoids. Hemp makes many of them, most only in tiny amounts; see our list of cannabinoids.
Plant-derived does not automatically mean a mixture. A hemp extract contains many compounds, including several cannabinoids and terpenes, but a single cannabinoid such as CBD can also be purified from it. The two are different materials, and research on an extract can't simply be applied to a pure compound, or the other way round.
What types of synthetic cannabinoids are there?
| Type | How it is made | Examples | Same molecule as in the plant? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phytocannabinoid | Made by the cannabis plant and extracted from it | CBD, THC, CBG, CBDV | Yes |
| Synthetic copy | Built in a lab from chemical starting materials | Dronabinol (synthetic Δ9-THC); synthetic CBD | Yes |
| Synthetic analogue (medicine) | A related molecule designed in a lab | Nabilone | No |
| Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist (SCRA) | New molecules made in illicit labs | The "Spice" and "K2" products | No |
| Semi-synthetic | A cannabinoid chemically converted in a lab | HHC and related compounds | No: made from a plant cannabinoid, but a different molecule |
The US Food and Drug Administration, for example, distinguishes between cannabis-derived compounds and "cannabis-related" synthetic ones. It lists dronabinol as synthetic but "also naturally occurring" and nabilone as "not naturally occurring" (FDA).
Synthetic THC vs natural THC: what's the difference?
The molecule is the same. Dronabinol is Δ9-THC made by chemical synthesis, so its effects at the receptor are those of THC: a partial activator of CB1 and CB2 (Pertwee, 2008). The differences lie in what comes with it. A cannabis extract also contains other cannabinoids and terpenes, while a purified synthetic compound contains none. The two also leave different traces. In a 2024 analysis of CBD samples, natural CBD contained small amounts of other plant cannabinoids such as CBDV, whereas synthetic CBD was generally purer but could contain a by-product of synthesis, abnormal-CBD (Brighenti et al., 2024). For THC itself, see what is THC?
Why are "Spice"-type synthetic cannabinoids more dangerous?
THC only partly activates the CB1 receptor (Pertwee, 2008). Many synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) are potent full agonists, so the same receptor is switched on much more strongly (Jones et al., 2025). They are the most diverse group of new psychoactive substances, with about 300 identified. Fifteen SCRAs that emerged between 2015 and 2021 alone were linked to 154 hospitalisations and 209 deaths in the US, Europe, Asia and Australasia (Lea Houston et al., 2024).
They are also hard to recognise. SCRAs have been found as adulterants in cannabis and other drugs, so people can take them without knowing (Jones et al., 2025).
What are semi-synthetic cannabinoids like HHC?
Semi-synthetic cannabinoids are made by chemically converting a cannabinoid in a laboratory. The best known is HHC (hexahydrocannabinol), which intoxicates in a similar way to THC. HHC was first reported in Europe in 2022. In March 2025 the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs added it to Schedule II of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, with effect from 6 December 2025, making it the first semi-synthetic cannabinoid under international control (UNODC, 2025). HHC also cross-reacts with standard THC drug screens (Helander et al., 2024). Read more in what is HHC? and which cannabinoids are psychoactive.
Is hemp synthetic or natural?
Hemp is a plant, Cannabis sativa grown for low THC, and the cannabinoids in a hemp extract are natural phytocannabinoids. What matters is what a product actually contains. A full-spectrum hemp extract keeps several plant cannabinoids and terpenes, while an isolate is a single purified compound that could in principle come from the plant or from synthesis. Our guide to full spectrum, broad spectrum and isolate explains the differences, and how CBD is derived from hemp covers extraction.
A certificate of analysis shows which cannabinoids a batch contains. In our April 2026 certificates, for example, two full-spectrum oils contained 0.05% CBDV alongside CBD, CBG, CBC and CBN (see what is CBDV?). The certificates are on our test results page, and all our oils are in the CBD oil collection.
From our production
Our hemp is grown in Central Switzerland. We don't sell HHC or any other cannabinoid that intoxicates, and we don't sell THCA products that turn into THC when heated.
— Robin Roy Krigslund-Hansen, co-founder and CEO
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between synthetic and natural cannabinoids?
Natural (plant-derived) cannabinoids are made by the cannabis plant. Synthetic cannabinoids are made in a laboratory, either as copies of plant cannabinoids, such as dronabinol, or as new molecules such as the "Spice"-type drugs.
Is synthetic THC the same as natural THC?
Dronabinol, the synthetic form of THC, is the same molecule as the Δ9-THC in cannabis. A cannabis extract also contains other cannabinoids and terpenes, which a purified synthetic compound does not.
What are phytocannabinoids?
Phytocannabinoids are cannabinoids made by plants, mainly cannabis. Examples are CBD, THC, CBG and CBDV. The body's own cannabinoids are called endocannabinoids.
Why are synthetic cannabinoids like Spice dangerous?
Many are potent full activators of the CB1 receptor, unlike THC, which activates it only partly. Fifteen of them were linked to 209 deaths between 2015 and 2021, and they have been found as hidden adulterants in other drugs.
Is HHC synthetic?
HHC is semi-synthetic: it is made by chemically converting a cannabinoid in a laboratory. Since 6 December 2025 it has been under international control in Schedule II of the UN 1971 Convention.
Is CBD natural or synthetic?
CBD occurs naturally in hemp, but it can also be made synthetically. Analysis of impurities can tell the two apart: natural CBD carries traces of other plant cannabinoids such as CBDV.
Related guides
This article summarises published research and regulation. It is not medical or legal advice. Formula Swiss oils are cosmetics for use on the skin, and our pet oils are for external use. See our full disclaimer.
Last reviewed:
Sources
- US Food and Drug Administration. FDA and cannabis: research and drug approval process. fda.gov
- Pertwee RG. The diverse CB1 and CB2 receptor pharmacology of three plant cannabinoids: Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin. Br J Pharmacol 2008;153(2):199–215. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707442
- Brighenti V, Marani M, Caroli C et al. A new HPLC method with multiple detection systems for impurity analysis and discrimination of natural versus synthetic cannabidiol. Anal Bioanal Chem 2024;416(20):4555–4569. doi:10.1007/s00216-024-05396-5
- Jones AT, Marwan Abu Taha A, Miller GP. The resurgence of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists as adulterants in the era of cannabis legalization. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2025;170:106043. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106043
- Lea Houston M, Morgan J, Kelso C. Narrative review of the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and toxicities of illicit synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists. Mini Rev Med Chem 2024;24(1):92–109. doi:10.2174/1389557523666230515163107
- UNODC Laboratory and Scientific Service (6 December 2025). CND decision on international control of hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and carisoprodol enters into force. unodc.org
- Helander A, Johansson M, Villén T, Andersson A. Appearance of hexahydrocannabinols as recreational drugs and implications for cannabis drug testing. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 2024;84(2):125–132. doi:10.1080/00365513.2024.2340039
- Formula Swiss. Certificates of analysis, report 260410_A01 (analysed 8 April 2026).
