Key Takeaways
- CBC (cannabichromene) is a cannabinoid that won’t get you high on its own. The plant makes it from CBGA, the same starting point as THC and CBD.
- Most CBC products in New York also contain THC, so the product itself can still get you high.
- Most CBC research has been done in labs and on animals. A 2024 scientific review says it still needs to be studied in people.
- CBC works on different parts of your body’s cannabinoid system than THC does, mainly the CB2 receptor and the sensors that react to chili heat.
- At NugHub you can find CBC in Ayrloom’s Mood Bliss vape and in gummies from Ayrloom, Eaton Botanicals and MyHi.
If you typed “what is CBC” into Google and got a page full of blood tests, welcome. This is the other CBC, the one that grows on a plant.
We’ve already broken down CBG, CBN and THCV. CBC was the last big one on our list, and it’s been popping up on more New York labels lately, so it’s about time.
What is the CBC cannabinoid (cannabichromene)?
CBC (cannabichromene) is a cannabinoid that won’t get you high on its own. The plant makes it from CBGA, and usually not much of it.
CBC is short for cannabichromene. It’s not new: it was discovered over 50 years ago, and Leafly counts it among the “big six” cannabinoids researchers pay the most attention to.
People call it a “minor” cannabinoid, which only means the plant doesn’t make much of it compared to THC or CBD. A 2024 review in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics says most strains produce only small amounts.
We checked our own menu in October 2026 to see. Out of roughly 1,775 products, 477 had some CBC in their lab results, and in most of them it was a trace. Ayrloom’s Mood Bliss vape is the exception, because Ayrloom adds CBC on purpose.
Does CBC get you high?
No. In most studies CBC doesn’t switch on CB1, the receptor behind the THC high, so it won’t get you high alone. THC blends still will.
THC gets you high by flipping on CB1, a receptor all over your brain. According to the 2024 review, CBC doesn’t do that, and several studies found it leaves CB1 alone.
Shopping is where it gets tricky. Almost every CBC product at a New York dispensary comes with THC in it. A 2:1 THC:CBC gummy has twice as much THC as CBC, so the THC is what you’ll feel. Check the ratio on the label and go by the THC number.
Where does CBC come from in the plant?
CBC starts out as CBGA. The plant turns CBGA into CBCA, and heat, drying or light turns CBCA into the CBC on your lab report.
Pretty much every cannabinoid starts life as CBGA. That’s why CBG gets called the “mother cannabinoid.” From there, the plant turns CBGA into THCA, CBDA or CBCA.
| Stage | What it is | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| CBGA | The starting point for most cannabinoids | The plant turns it into THCA, CBDA or CBCA |
| CBCA | The raw form of CBC | Builds up while the plant is growing |
| CBC | The form on your lab report | Shows up when CBCA gets heated, dried or hit with light |
It’s the same idea as THCA turning into THC when it’s heated. The review points to heat and drying, and Leafly adds UV light.
What does CBC actually do?
Most CBC research comes from lab and animal studies. It acts on CB2 and TRP receptors, but there’s very little human data yet.
You’ll see a lot of big promises about CBC online, everything from skin to mood. Almost all of it traces back to cells in a dish or studies on mice. The 2024 review found four things:
- It turns on CB2. CB2 is another receptor in your body’s cannabinoid system. CB1, the one behind the THC high, is still a question mark for CBC.
- It wakes up your “spicy” sensors. CBC switches on TRPA1 and TRPV1, the same kind of sensors that react when you bite into a chili pepper. In the study the review cites, TRPA1 responded to CBC more than any other channel tested.
- There’s barely any human research. The only human data came from studies where people took CBC together with THC and CBD in a cannabis extract. CBC was tolerated up to 26.4 mg a day in those studies.
- The scientists want more studies. “Further studies are needed” on CBC’s use and its safety and tolerability in people, the review’s authors write.
So if anyone tells you exactly what CBC will do for you, they’re getting ahead of the science. When people talk about how a CBC product feels, they’re mostly describing the whole product, and the THC and terpenes in it do a lot of the work.
CBC vs CBD vs CBG: what’s the difference?
CBC, CBD and CBG all trace back to CBGA, and none of them will get you high alone. They differ in how common they are and how they’re sold.
| Cannabinoid | Gets you high on its own? | Where it comes from | How you’ll usually find it in NY | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CBC (cannabichromene) | No | CBGA, by way of CBCA | Gummies and vapes mixed with THC | You’re reading it |
| CBD (cannabidiol) | No | CBGA, by way of CBDA | Ratio gummies, tinctures, flower | THC vs CBD |
| CBG (cannabigerol) | No | CBGA itself, the starting point | Ratio gummies and tinctures | CBG guide |
| CBN (cannabinol) | Mildly | Forms as THC ages | Nighttime-labeled gummies | CBN guide |
| THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin) | Not at low doses; briefly at high doses | A related cannabinoid found in higher amounts in some African landrace strains | Vapes and gummies | THCV guide |
CBC vs CBD: CBC and CBD are both cannabinoids that won’t get you high, and both are made from CBGA, but they’re different compounds. CBD is everywhere, it’s been studied a lot more, and you can buy it on its own. CBC is rarer, and at New York dispensaries it usually comes mixed with THC in gummies and vapes.
CBC vs CBG: CBG and CBC both won’t get you high, but CBG comes first. Its raw form, CBGA, is what the plant turns into CBCA, which becomes CBC. So CBG is the parent and CBC is one of the kids. Brands like putting them together, too: Ayrloom makes a 1:1:1 THC:CBG:CBC gummy with all three in every piece.
What CBC gummies and vapes can you buy in New York?
At NugHub, CBC shows up in Ayrloom’s Mood Bliss vape and in ratio gummies from Ayrloom, Eaton Botanicals and MyHi, all paired with THC.
These are the products on our menu with CBC called out on the label, as of October 2026. The ratios come straight from the product names. Menus move fast, so check the live listing before you order.
| Product | Format | Ratio on the label | Why it’s on the list |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayrloom Mood Bliss AIO | 1g all-in-one vape | THC:CBC | A vape built around CBC |
| Ayrloom UP Sunny Days Lemonade | Gummies, 10 pack, 100mg | 2:1 THC:CBC | An easy first CBC gummy |
| Ayrloom Sour Raspberry Lemonade | Gummies, 10 pack, 100mg | 1:1:1 THC:CBG:CBC | CBG and CBC in one piece |
| Eaton Botanicals Cool Down | Gummies, 20 pack | 1:2:2 THC:CBD:CBC | Less THC, more of the minor cannabinoids |
| MyHi Super Sativa Tangerine | Live rosin gummies, 10 pack, 100mg | 2:1 THC:CBD plus THCV and CBC | Four cannabinoids on one label |
| MyHi Sour Diesel Sativa | 1g rosin all-in-one vape | 3:1 THC:CBD plus THCV and CBC | For Sour D fans who want the minor cannabinoids too |
New to edibles? Start with one piece and give it time, because edibles can take a while to kick in. Ayrloom is a New York farm brand, and we covered their whole lineup in our Ayrloom spotlight.
Every product here is licensed for adult use. New York’s adult-use market is for adults 21 and over, per the NY Office of Cannabis Management, so bring a valid ID to the store or have it ready at the door for delivery.
How do you spot CBC on a label?
Check the product name for a ratio like 2:1 THC:CBC, then open the certificate of analysis and look for CBC, often listed as cannabichromene.
Most packages only show THC and CBD up front, so CBC tends to hide in the lab results. On our menu, that’s the cannabinoid breakdown on each product page. On the package, it’s the certificate of analysis, or COA.
What to look for:
- The ratio in the name. “2:1 THC:CBC” means twice as much THC as CBC.
- The CBC line on the COA. It might say CBC, cannabichromene or CBCA.
- Percent or milligrams. Vapes and flower use percent. Edibles use milligrams per serving or per gram.
Never read a COA before? Our guide on how to read a cannabis COA walks you through one line by line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CBC the same as CBD?
No. CBC and CBD both won’t get you high and both come from CBGA, but they’re different compounds that act on different receptors. CBD is a lot more common and a lot more studied.
Does CBC get you high?
Not on its own. In most studies CBC doesn’t switch on CB1, the receptor THC uses. Most CBC products in New York also have THC in them, though, so go by the THC amount.
What is CBC good for?
Nobody knows yet. Most of the research is lab and animal work, and a 2024 scientific review says it needs to be studied more in people.
Can you buy pure CBC in New York?
Not from us. We don’t carry a CBC-only product. At NugHub, CBC comes mixed with THC, sometimes with CBD, CBG or THCV in there too.
Is CBC good for sleep?
There’s no evidence that CBC helps with sleep, and we don’t make sleep or health claims about any cannabinoid. If you’re curious how CBN is different, our CBN guide covers what it is and how it forms.
Where can I buy CBC products in NYC?
NugHub carries CBC vapes and gummies from Ayrloom, Eaton Botanicals and MyHi at our Staten Island store, with delivery across Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and western Nassau.
Want to keep going? Our CBG, CBN and THCV guides pick up where this one leaves off, or scroll back up and browse the CBC products.
