Which option lists the chemical most responsible for marijuana's psychoactive effects?

• A. Cannabinol
• B. Cannabidiol
• C. Cannabigerol
• D. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

Answer: (D)

Psychoactive effects from cannabis come from compounds that actively engage brain cannabinoid receptors, especially CB1. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol has the strongest affinity for CB1 and acts as a partial agonist in the central nervous system, producing the hallmark effects like euphoria, altered perception, and changes in cognition. Other cannabinoids in marijuana aren’t the primary drivers of these psychoactive experiences: cannabidiol is not psychoactive and can even temper some THC effects, cannabinol is a weaker, often degraded form with limited psychoactivity, and cannabigerol is not psychoactive at typical doses. So, the chemical most responsible for the classic psychoactive effects is THC.