CBX vs CBDX: what are the differences between the two?

Today, we're taking a look at the difference between CBX and CBDX (or CBD-X). One is the acronym for cannabioxepan, a cannabinoid with curious properties discovered in 2011, the other is the acronym for Cannabinoid Xtrem, a new mixture of cannabinoids, like the ones that have been increasingly available since the last ban in June 2024.

 

Without further ado, here is a precise definition of the two "molecules".

 

Discover our CBD Flowers 

What is CBX (Cannabioxepan)?

Origin and discovery

CBX is a relatively recent discovery, dating back to 2011. It was the subject of a scientific analysis published in 2015. This new minor cannabinoid is the result of research on Cannabis sativa which has already made it possible to isolate more than a hundred compounds.

 

The first identification of CBX occurred during a study conducted on Carmagnola, a variety of industrial hemp that naturally produces a relatively high CBD content (between 4 and 8% on average) and a low THC content (1%). Its name comes directly from a locality within the metropolitan city of Turin. It is one of the oldest Italian hemp varieties, closely related to the industrial hemp varieties “Bolognese,” “Toscana,” and “Ferrarese.”

Chemical structure

According to the study, CBX is a rare and structurally unique cannabinoid. It belongs to a family of biphenyl cannabinoids with a unique tetracyclic structure. This structure is partially aromatized and is based on two interconnected benzene rings, which makes it similar to a terpene or CBDV and very different from CBD and THC.

The effects of CBX

Although its structure may have piqued the curiosity of scientists, the same cannot be said for its effects. Indeed, the study concluded that CBX did not interact with CB1 and CB2 receptors, nor with TRPA1 receptors, which play a role in modulating pain and inflammation, and thatit exhibited no psychotropic activity.

 

This is rather bad news for this newcomer, because in the absence of effects, its pharmacological potential is limited. As you probably know, it is primarily its interactions with the endocannabinoid system and TRPs that are currently being studied and researched.

What is CBDX (Cannabinoid Xtrem)?

CBDX: a vague composition

Once again, as with HPE CBD , we would have great difficulty answering this question. It is a mixture of cannabinoids and terpenes , playing on the entourage effect, developed to replace older , now-prohibited derivatives such as THCP or HHCPO.

 

However, the sellers do not disclose anything about its composition; we do not know which terpenes or cannabinoids are used to make the product.

Hypothetical and incomplete effects

According to the websites that sell it, its supposed effects are:

 

• Relaxants: The cannabinoid blend is said to have positive effects on anxiety and stress. It may be beneficial for cases of anxiety discheckouts, post-traumatic stress discheckout, or depression.
• Pain relievers : CBDx is said to have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects similar to CBD.
• Beneficial for sleep : some users have reported a reduction in nighttime awakenings and an improvement in sleep quality.

 

However, we remind you that no information is provided about the exact composition of the mixture, so these effects appear highly speculative, entirely hypothetical and of course have no real scientific basis.

 

Furthermore, we find it quite interesting that this molecule is being proposed as an extra one for THCP and that nothing is being said about any psychoactivity. We would like to remind you that THCP is a minor cannabinoid quite similar to THC and that its psychoactive properties were indeed real.

 

 

CBX vs CBDX: Scientific interest versus economic interest

CBX: a cannabinoid destined for oblivion?

Although scientifically interesting due to its unique structure, CBX receives little scientific attention. Its lack of binding to CB1 and CB2 receptors, as well as to TRPA1, excludes it from current scientific research, which focuses on cannabinoids that have shown pharmacological or recreational interest.

 

In any case, unless an unexpected discovery emerges, it is very unlikely that CBX-based products will be commercialized in the coming years.

Market interest in active molecules

As you know, research is expensive; without money, there is no research. On the other hand, people are showing a growing interest in the naturally beneficial and recreational potential of cannabinoids.

 

This is why the range of products derived from mixtures of cannabinoids and terpenes, or from artificially generated cannabinoids, continues to grow and renew itself with each ban.

 

While it's unlikely you'll find CBX in CBD shops, CBDx is available in a wide range of products. These include flowers, resins, gummies, vapes, and e-liquids…

CBX and CBDX: future and legality

In summary, CBX is a scientifically intriguing cannabinoid with no immediate applications, while CBDX represents an opportunistic market response to evolving regulations. Both are currently completely legal despite the limited research conducted on them. And this is for a specific reason.

 

In France, as in most of Europe, CBD and its derivatives are classified as food supplements, and as such they join the long list of products, sometimes sold in pharmacies, whose usefulness and real benefits are often questioned by scientists, like vitamin mixtures which have proven to be useless or even dangerous.[1;2]

 

However, as the Minister of Health reminded listeners on France Inter radio during the ban on HHC, this type of product "fills a gap in the market " [3]. A gap left by a banned but known product, some of whose beneficial effects are proven, in favor of products whose effects are as obscure as they are potentially dangerous.