The passage of the 2018 Farm Bill legalized the manufacture and sale of hemp-derived cannabinoids, leading to a surge in the availability and consumption of minor cannabinoids—phytocannabinoids present in low concentrations within the Cannabis plant and their semi- and fully-synthetic counterparts. Despite the growing market, scientific research on the pharmacology, toxicology, and long-term effects of these compounds remains limited. To assess consumer awareness, usage patterns, and safety concerns, we conducted an anonymous survey (n=105) across multiple online platforms. Results indicate that cannabidiol (CBD), ∆8-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆8-THC), and cannabinol (CBN) are the most frequently used cannabinoids, with vapes and edibles being the preferred methods of consumption. Improved sleep, pain relief, and recreational use were the primary motivations for consumption. While 91.4% of respondents considered themselves at least “somewhat knowledgeable” about minor cannabinoids, concerns about product purity, long-term effects, and safety were widespread. Notably, 71.4% of participants reported seeking third-party testing results when purchasing these products. The findings highlight a disconnect between consumer confidence and the limited scientific understanding of minor cannabinoids, emphasizing the need for further toxicological and pharmacological research, as well as enhanced regulatory oversight to ensure product safety and efficacy.
Introduction
Minor cannabinoids are traditionally defined as the cannabinoids found in minor relative quantities within the Cannabis plant. A more modern definition includes the phytocannabinoids as well their semi- and fully-synthetic counterparts. The passage of the 2018 Farm Bill legalized the manufacture and sale of cannabinoids extracted or derived from hemp, and as a result, products containing “minor” cannabinoids as a main component have exploded in both popularity and availability over the past several years, notably in states where the sale of Cannabis flower is banned. Many of these new cannabinoids are products of acid-catalysis (1), hydrogenation (2), or semi-synthesis (3). Functional group interconversion or semi-synthesis using phytocannabinoids is rapid and cost-effective, ensuring a consistent flow of these products for years to come. Hemp-derived minor cannabinoid products are now available at an enormous range of retailers, from dispensaries to gas stations.
While behavioral, toxicological, and pharmacological studies have been performed for a select few of the roughly 100 identified minor cannabinoids, little is known about consumer trends or preferences. Because these compounds are regulated by a patchwork of state-by-state laws, there is no requirement to report or even collect consumer data. Our team used an anonymous survey (n=105) to collect information about consumer knowledge, usage and consumption preferences, awareness of impacts, and safety concerns.
Methods
A set of 13 questions were generated to encompass a large set of unanswered thoughts within the hemp space. They focus primarily on safety, the purpose of using cannabinoids, methods of consumption, general knowledge about these products. The questions are as follows:
What is your age range? (optional)What is your gender? (optional)What is your approximate annual income? (optional)Which of these minor cannabinoids have you heard of, tried, or use regularly? Followed on by: If you’ve heard of, tried, or regularly use any minor cannabinoids that are not in the question above, please list them here.What methods do you use to consume minor cannabinoids?For what purpose do you use minor cannabinoid products?Do you feel comfortable purchasing minor cannabinoid products from the following locations: Dispensary, smoke shop/head shop, gas station/convenience store, online retailer?How would you rate your overall knowledge of any potential health benefits or effects associated with minor cannabinoids in the human body?Do you have any concerns about the long-term effects of consuming minor cannabinoids?How important is product safety to you when choosing minor cannabinoid products?What specific safety concerns do you have regarding the use of minor cannabinoids?How concerned are you about the purity or quality of minor cannabinoids in the products that you use?Do you look for third-party testing lab results when purchasing minor cannabinoid products?
These questions were placed into Google Forms and the link was posted onto several social media sites (LinkedIn, Reddit, Discord, Instagram). All data were exported into Microsoft Excel and analyzed.
Results and Discussion
Of the survey respondents who chose to disclose their age (n=103), 74.7% were between the ages of 20 to 50; 9.7% were under 20 years of age; and 15.6% were over 50 years of age. Of survey respondents who chose to disclose their gender (n=99), 82.4% were male. Approximate annual income for those who chose to report it (n=88) was surprisingly evenly distributed. Of these respondents, 11.4% were unemployed. The two incomes with the most respondents were <$20,000 and $20,000-$40,000, both with 15.9% of the responses. The remaining categories, broken up in $20,000 increments up to >$140,000, shared between 4.5% and 14.8% of the remaining respondents. Participants with an approximate annual income of >$140,000 made up 13.6% of the responses.
Survey participants were given a list of popular minor cannabinoids and were asked to declare which they had heard of, tried, and used regularly. Of the minor cannabinoids that were used regularly, cannabidiol (CBD) was the most popular (n=34), followed by Δ8-THC (n=25) and cannabinol (CBN) (n=25), cannabigerol (CBG) (n=24), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) (n=18), and cannabichromene (CBC) (n=16). For the more popular cannabinoids, the ratio of those who had tried it to those who use it regularly was roughly 2:1; but for the more unpopular cannabinoids, that ratio was more pronounced, such as 4.5:1 for tetrahydrocannabiphorol (THCP), 8:1 for cannabidiphorol (CBDP) (see Table I). In a free response question, participants indicated that they also regularly used cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabitriol (CBT), cannabielsoin (CBE), cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabinodiol (CBND), cannabinol acetate-O (CBNO), hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), hexahydrocannabivarin (HHCV), hexahydrocannabiphorol Acetate (HHCPO), hexahydrocannabiphorol (HHCP), tetrahydrocannabihexol (THCH), hexahydrocannabidiol (H4 CBD), exo-tetrahydrocannabinol (exo-THC), and Δ10-THC.
Vapes and edibles were the two most popular consumption methods, at 63.8% and 61.9%, respectively. Topicals came in third with 27.6% (see Table II). Better sleep quality was the top reason for minor cannabinoid use at 55.2%, followed by a tie for recreation/fun and pain relief, both at 51.4% (see Table III). In a free response question, participants indicated that they also use minor cannabinoid products to help them cope with a myriad of mental health disorders, such as autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. 80.0% of respondents expressed that they would be comfortable purchasing their minor cannabinoids from dispensaries, and 75.2% were comfortable purchasing through online retailers. This is in stark contrast to the 69.5% who stated that they would not purchase their minor cannabinoids from a smoke shop/head shop, or the 87.6% who stated that they would not purchase from gas stations/convenience stores (see Table IV). This is interesting because there are several news articles (4,5) that bring up how the public has access to these products at gas stations.
A majority (91.43%) of respondents consider themselves either “somewhat knowledgeable” or “very knowledgeable” about the overall health benefits and effects on the body from minor cannabinoid use. This is interesting, because even scientists who specialize in cannabinoid research have extremely limited knowledge about how minor cannabinoids impact a biological system. A recent review by Docampo et al. (6) concerning saturated cannabinoid toxicological and safety profiling shows that there is not much literature on these topics outside of in vitro testing. With that said, only 39.1% of survey takers are “somewhat concerned” or “very concerned” about long-term effects of consuming minor cannabinoids, even though over 87.6% of respondents state that product safety is “very important” to them.
Product safety is reiterated when respondents were asked if there are any concerns about safety.Over 91% of respondents were concerned about purity, impact on long-term health, and side effects and 86.7% were “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned” about purity or quality of the minor cannabinoids in product that they are using or consuming. Of the survey takers, 71.4% “always” look for third party testing lab result when purchasing a minor cannabinoid product. Ingredients (79%), potency (78.1%), and safety testing (76.2%) were most important to consumers when choosing a minor cannabinoid product.
Conclusion
The surge in availability and use of minor cannabinoids following the 2018 Farm Bill has created a market where consumer interest far outpaces scientific understanding. Our survey results reveal a high degree of consumer confidence in the perceived benefits of these cannabinoids, though concerns about purity, quality, and long-term effects remain significant. While most users are drawn to these products for potential therapeutic benefits such as improved sleep, pain relief, and recreational purposes, many lack a clear understanding of the limited research available on safety and efficacy. The preference for purchasing from reputable sources and reliance on third-party testing further underscore a strong desire for product quality and safety. As industry continues to evolve, more educational efforts and rigorous research are essential to ensure that consumer knowledge and safety keep pace with market growth, empowering individuals to make informed choices about minor cannabinoids.
References
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About the Authors
Monica K Pittiglio received undergraduate degrees in Biology and Industrial Chemistry Technology, followed by a Master’s in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a concentration in Cannabis Science and Medicine. Her work in genetics and drug synthesis-based academic research laboratories, coupled with her experiences as an analytical chemist and quality control inspector, gave her the blend of experience necessary to direct Sunflower Wellness’s quality assurance program. She specializes in maintaining GMP standards, technical writing, and the chemical analysis of cannabis. Giovanni A. Ramirez is currently an R&D chemist at Sunflower Wellness, formerly Colorado Chromatography, where he focuses mainly on computational chemistry and medicinal chemistry while also assisting in organic bench work. He also participates in writing manuscripts, patents, and technical reports. Westley Cruces co-founded Colorado Chromatography Labs and joined as their Chief Science Officer in the spring of 2020. Together with Kyle Ray, he commercialized HHC manufacturing, built out multiple laboratories, returned 100% ROI within 18 months, and has authored over 10 publications and patents while at CCL. After screening various compounds against cancer cell lines, he had two hits with solid IC-50 values. The CCL team spun off BlackStone Therapeutics and set out to complete the preclinical studies needed to apply to Phase 1 Clinical Trials. Direct correspondence to wes@sunflowerwellness.us.
How to Cite this Article
Pittiglio, MK.; Ramirez, GA.; Cruces, W. A Consumer Trends Survey of Minor Cannabinoids Cannabis Science and Technology, 2025, 8(1), 20-23.
This survey assesses consumer awareness, usage patterns, and safety concerns with results indicating that cannabidiol (CBD), Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC), and cannabinol (CBN) are the most frequently used cannabinoids, with vapes and edibles being the preferred methods of consumption. Read More
