From CBD to THC
The Evolution of Cannabinoid Innovation — And How We Built a New Frontier
In 2019 and 2020, I had a front-row seat to one of the wildest chapters in modern cannabis history. Not just as an observer — but as a pioneer.
At the peak of the hemp-to-THC boom, my team and I were manufacturing over a quarter-million items every week and moving the first million Delta-8 THC cartridges ever sold into the market. Yes, it was chaotic. Yes, it was the wild west. But like all real innovation, it was raw, rapid, and revolutionary.
Today, with a more mature eye and a much clearer scientific understanding, I want to walk you through the explosion of cannabinoids that came from that era — the ones that changed everything — and where the industry is heading next.
Understanding Cannabinoids: A New Age of THC
The cannabis plant is much more than just THC and CBD. It contains over 150+ distinct cannabinoids — chemical compounds that interact with the body's endocannabinoid system. Some of the most impactful players include:
Delta-8-THC (Δ8-THC)
The gentle rebel. Delta-8 is a structural cousin of Delta-9, but with its double bond shifted to the 8th carbon atom.
It also binds to CB1 receptors, but with lower affinity, delivering a milder, less anxious high.
Many early users praised Delta-8 for its clarity, relaxation, and reduced paranoia.
Delta-8's legal production from hemp-derived CBD created the first true mass-market THC alternative — and it changed the entire cannabis economy overnight.
Delta-9-THC (Δ9-THC)
The classic. Delta-9 is the primary psychoactive molecule behind traditional cannabis.
It binds strongly to CB1 receptors in the brain, creating the euphoric high — but can also cause paranoia or anxiety in sensitive users.
When you buy cannabis flower, edibles, or vape pens from a dispensary, you're usually getting Delta-9 THC.
Little-known fact: Delta-9 can also be created from hemp through careful isomerization — making it Farm Bill compliant when formulated correctly.
Delta-10-THC (Δ10-THC)
The fresh experiment. Delta-10 is another rare isomer, with its double bond at the 10th position.
Reports suggest it offers an even lighter, more focused high — though research is still emerging.
Its production usually results in a blend of Delta-10 and other isomers, depending on synthesis conditions.
THC-P (Tetrahydrocannabiphorol)
The powerhouse. THC-P has a seven-carbon chain, compared to Delta-9’s five — a tiny difference that makes a massive impact.
It's estimated to be up to 30 times more potent in binding affinity to CB1 receptors.
Users report extreme potency, but human experience is usually only 3–5x stronger — not 30x the high.
This cannabinoid demands caution and respect — and its discovery opened a whole new frontier in therapeutic research.
HHC (Hexahydrocannabinol)
The sleeper. HHC is a hydrogenated version of THC — a chemical cousin created by saturating the molecule with hydrogen.
It’s slightly less psychoactive than Delta-9 and carries a more sedative, body-heavy effect.
Uniquely, HHC is also far more stable than other cannabinoids, making it ideal for products with longer shelf lives.
How It Happens: CBD-to-THC Conversion (Isomerization)
The isomerization of CBD into THC is a scientific art form. Here’s how we built those early Delta-8 and Delta-9 products at scale:
Dissolution: CBD is dissolved in a solvent with an acid catalyst (often p-Toluenesulfonic acid or hydrochloric acid).
Heating: The solution is heated carefully, promoting molecular rearrangement.
Cyclization: The CBD loses a proton and forms a new ring structure — converting into either Delta-9 or Delta-8, depending on the reaction conditions.
Purification: Distillation and chromatography remove unwanted byproducts, leaving behind the desired cannabinoid.
Neutralization: Residual acids are neutralized, ensuring consumer safety.
The process requires extreme precision. Bad chemistry leads to dangerous leftovers — a fact lost on many rushed players during the height of the boom.
The Wild West Era: Lessons From a Million Cartridges
By 2020, we had already manufactured over a million Delta-8 cartridges and were producing over 250,000 hemp-derived THC items every single week. We innovated formulations. We built large-scale production systems. We fought through changing lab standards, regulatory confusion, and market chaos.
Was it perfect? No. It was the wild west — but that's what real innovation always looks like. Rules and standards evolve because someone pushes the frontier first. Many of the safety and purification protocols that are now standard practice — including full panel testing, optical isomer separation, and GMP-style facility designs — were pioneered during that chaotic phase.
Without that era, the cannabinoid space would not exist today as it does.
Where the Future Is Headed
The landscape is shifting fast:
New cannabinoids like THC-JD and THC-H are entering the scene, offering even more potent or targeted effects.
Pharma companies are moving in, synthesizing cannabinoids through yeast fermentation and biotech methods.
Consumer demand is maturing — purity, transparency, and clinical validation are replacing early novelty.
The next phase will reward clean chemistry, traceability, and scientific integrity — not just marketing hype. But the spirit that fueled the Delta-8 boom — creativity, resilience, and sheer will to create something new — remains the heartbeat of this industry.
And for me, I have been growing medically rare terpenes from yeast in bioreactors for longer than I have been making Delta 8. That will be my focus for the future. The next revolution in cannabinoids isn’t happening in fields — it’s happening in bioreactors. Using genetically engineered yeast strains, biotech companies are now producing pure cannabinoids like CBD, CBG, THC, and rare compounds like THCV without growing a single cannabis plant.
Here’s how it works:
Genetic Engineering: Scientists insert cannabis genes responsible for cannabinoid production into yeast or other microorganisms.
Fermentation: These modified yeast cells are placed in bioreactors, where they ferment sugars and convert them directly into cannabinoids.
Purification: The cannabinoids are then extracted and purified, just like in pharmaceutical production.
Why it matters:
Purity: No pesticides, heavy metals, or environmental contamination risks.
Precision: Scientists can produce minor cannabinoids that are hard to find naturally — like CBGA, CBC, or THCV — at industrial scale.
Cost: Over time, producing cannabinoids this way could become cheaper and more sustainable than farming.
New Compounds: Biotech can tweak cannabinoid structures slightly, creating novel therapeutic compounds optimized for specific conditions (pain, anxiety, inflammation, neuroprotection).
Just like brewing beer or making insulin, yeast fermentation is taking cannabinoids into the biotech age.
Instead of acres of hemp plants, the future might look like small stainless steel tanks pumping out ultra-pure, pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoids — available at a fraction of the cost and environmental impact.
It’s not science fiction. It's already happening — and it’s going to change everything.
Parting Thoughts
I’m proud of where we started. I'm even more excited for where we're going. As cannabinoids evolve — from Delta-8 to THC-P to biotech-derived THC analogs — one truth remains:
Real innovation doesn’t come from playing it safe. It comes from daring to build something no one has ever seen before.
And that's exactly what we did — way more than one million cartridges ago.
Oh, and by the way, I am busy doing it all over again creating street legal, bioidentical psychedelics like 4-HO-DET.
I love this. You were one of the culture heroes who decided that what you were doing was legal and screw the consequences. Six years later and it is an industry. You should win a cannabis medal in all the rigged nonsense of the cannabis field.