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GREENCHILL · SWISS CBD GUIDE

CBD, CBG, CBN and THC: what is the difference?

CBD, CBG, CBN and THC belong to the phytocannabinoid family, but they are neither interchangeable nor equivalent. This page compares their origins, their presence in the plant, how to read them in an analysis and the particular role of THC under Swiss rules.

Editorial review: 19 August 2026 Reading time: 8–10 min

Informative guide. GreenChill describes products, their composition, formats and conditions of use without therapeutic or medical promises.

KEY POINTS

The essentials in 30 seconds

01

CBD

Cannabidiol: a major cannabinoid in many low-THC hemp varieties.

02

THC

Tetrahydrocannabinol: the main intoxicating cannabinoid and a legally sensitive parameter in Switzerland.

03

CBG

Cannabigerol: a cannabinoid present in varying proportions.

04

CBN

Cannabinol: a cannabinoid that can arise particularly as THC changes and oxidises.

GUIDE CONTENTS What would you like to know? VIEW CONTENTS ↓
  1. 01What are cannabinoids?
  2. 02CBD: what the level really means
  3. 03THC: why you must always read it separately
  4. 04CBG: a distinct cannabinoid
  5. 05CBN: why it should not be confused with CBD
  6. 06Reading several cannabinoids in an analysis
01 What are cannabinoids? Understand a family of molecules, not four synonyms. TAP TO OPEN ↓

Phytocannabinoids are compounds produced by Cannabis sativa. CBD, THC, CBG and CBN have different structures and profiles. An analysis may also list their acidic forms, such as CBDA or THCA.

02 CBD: what the level really means Composition and quality are different concepts. TAP TO OPEN ↓

The CBD percentage and CBD content quantify the declared cannabidiol. These values alone do not describe aroma, freshness or overall quality.

03 THC: why you must always read it separately The key cannabinoid for the Swiss threshold. TAP TO OPEN ↓

The THC percentage and THC content must be distinguished from CBD. In Switzerland, the 1 % THC threshold determines whether the Narcotics Act applies.

04 CBG: a distinct cannabinoid Understand CBG without promises of effects. TAP TO OPEN ↓

CBG is a phytocannabinoid distinct from CBD. Its acidic precursor, CBGA, participates in the biosynthetic pathways leading to several cannabinoids.

05 CBN: why it should not be confused with CBD Variable presence and a link to changes in THC. TAP TO OPEN ↓

CBN can arise particularly when THC changes through oxidation and degradation.

06 Reading several cannabinoids in an analysis Move from a marketing figure to a measured profile. TAP TO OPEN ↓

An analysis may distinguish CBD, CBDA, THC, THCA, CBG, CBGA, CBN and other molecules. Check the method, unit, batch, date and quantification limits.

COMPARE

CBD, CBG, CBN and THC: a quick comparison

Cannabinoid What it represents What to read in the analysis
CBDCannabidiol.Percentage/content, batch and method.
THCThe main intoxicating cannabinoid.Swiss threshold and declared value.
CBGCannabigerol.Actual presence in the analysis.
CBNCannabinol.Storage context and measured level.
Acidic formsCBDA, THCA, CBGA…Check whether the report distinguishes them.

CBD

What it represents : Cannabidiol.

What to read in the analysis : Percentage/content, batch and method.

THC

What it represents : The main intoxicating cannabinoid.

What to read in the analysis : Swiss threshold and declared value.

CBG

What it represents : Cannabigerol.

What to read in the analysis : Actual presence in the analysis.

CBN

What it represents : Cannabinol.

What to read in the analysis : Storage context and measured level.

Acidic forms

What it represents : CBDA, THCA, CBGA…

What to read in the analysis : Check whether the report distinguishes them.

CHOOSING A PRODUCT

Which cannabinoid would you like to understand first?

Choose a family to go straight to the relevant information.
01
Read the composition

Do not confuse CBD content with overall quality.

DO NOT CONFUSE

Three common mistakes

01
A cannabinoid is not a promise

A measured molecule does not guarantee a specific effect.

02
Acidic forms matter

CBDA, THCA or CBGA may be listed separately.

03
The batch is more reliable than the name

The actual composition must come from the analysis.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Are CBD and CBG the same thing?

No. They are two different phytocannabinoids.

Is CBN simply old CBD?

No. CBN is chemically distinct and is notably linked to changes in THC.

Why does an analysis list CBD and CBDA?

Because they are different forms that some methods can quantify separately.

Can a product contain several cannabinoids?

Yes, at different concentrations.

Which level matters most in Switzerland?

For the Narcotics Act, THC content is legally central.

VERIFICATION

Scientific and Swiss references

Blebea et al. — 2024Review of the main phytocannabinoids and their chemical profiles.↗ OFSP / BAGSwiss rules for hemp products and the THC threshold.↗ Lazarjani et al. — 2020Methods for quantifying cannabinoids.↗ SwissmedicOverview of products containing cannabidiol (CBD).↗

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CONTINUE

Related guides

CBD: a beginner's guideReturn to the essential basics.→Understanding a CBD/THC analysisRead laboratory results.→Legal CBD in SwitzerlandUnderstand the THC threshold.→

AFTER THE GUIDE

Compare products by their actual composition

Use declared levels as composition data, then compare origin, format, batch and price.
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