CBX, THX, THV, NX5… What exactly are these new “cannabinoids”?

After the HHC, HHC-P, or 10-OH-HHC—these «well-known» semisynthetic compounds—new names have started appearing in tobacco shops, CBD stores, and online: CBX, THX, THV, NX5… Marketed as new cannabinoids or new alternatives to THC, these products create significant confusion: a name that sounds scientific does not necessarily correspond to a clearly identified molecule.

And without laboratory analysis, it is often impossible to know exactly what the consumer is buying.

What is CBX?

The case of the CBX perfectly illustrates the problem. The CBX does indeed exist in the scientific literature. The cannabioxepane, abbreviated as CBX, is a cannabinoid discovered in an Italian variety of Cannabis sativa and described in 2011 in the journal Tetrahedron. The researchers describe this tetracyclic compound with an unusual structure as having no cannabinoid activity.

But that does not in any way mean that a product sold today under the name «CBX» contains cannabioxepane.

The acronym serves solely as a brand name for a formulation whose composition is completely different… and unknown. In other words, knowing that a product contains CBX does not reveal the composition of a flower, resin, or vape sold under that name.

The same reasoning applies to the CBC, or cannabichromene, which is indeed a phytocannabinoid that occurs naturally in cannabis. And while some CBD products do contain «real» CBC, which can be a very interesting activity, a "CBC-enhanced" flower is merely misusing the name.

THX, THV, NX5: Are These Real Molecules?

For appellations such as THX, THV, or NX5, asking «What is this molecule?» can even lead you down the wrong path.

Unlike THC, CBD, or CBC, these acronyms can primarily refer to trade names referring to a formulation or mixture, rather than a specific molecule whose structure and properties are documented in the scientific literature.

A single name can therefore potentially refer to multiple substances, multiple concentrations, or formulations that change over time.

This phenomenon is occurring in a market that is changing extremely rapidly. According to the European Union Drug Agency (EUDA), 40 semi-synthetic cannabinoids had already been identified on the European market by the end of 2025, compared with 24 at the end of 2024.

So, what do these «neo» things actually contain?

That is precisely where the main problem lies: Without analyzing the product, we can't know for sure..

These products may contain one or more natural cannabinoids, semi-synthetic cannabinoids obtained through chemical processing, or fully synthetic cannabinoids. Their nature and concentration may also vary from one product or batch to another.

European analyses have indeed shown significant variations in the composition and concentrations of products containing semisynthetic cannabinoids. Some of these products contain, in particular, delta-8-THC, from delta-9-THC (the «real» THC) or new, unknown molecules.

Even more concerning is that synthetic cannabinoids can be used to adulterate cannabis or products marketed as containing semisynthetic cannabinoids, sometimes without the consumer's knowledge. The EUDA believes that this practice increases the risk of poisoning.

Molecules from the family of PINACA, which are synthetic cannabinoids, have been circulating in Europe in particular. Pharmacologically, they are very different from the CBD that consumers might think they are buying.

Illnesses, emergencies, and addiction: Testimonies are pouring in

This reality is also becoming particularly evident in the French CBD ecosystem. On Instagram and other social media platforms, influencers, producers, and CBD professionals are sharing consumer testimonials claiming to have experienced fainting spells, seizures, or ended up in the emergency room after consuming some of these «neo .» Others describe how it has become difficult to quit and, in some cases, have required treatment at addiction clinics.

These accounts should be taken for what they are: they do not allow us to determine which substance caused the symptoms, nor can we generalize about all products bearing the same name. Without a toxicological analysis of the product consumed, it is impossible to know precisely what it contained.

Nevertheless, they are registering amid the current public health situation and regular alerts to drug dependence and addiction surveillance centers. The EUDA reports that adverse effects associated with semisynthetic cannabinoids can range from mild intoxication to severe intoxication requiring hospitalization, while their potential for dependence remains a cause for concern.

The name on the bag is not an ingredient list

Ultimately, that's the main thing to remember when a product is released under a new name, such as CBX, THX, THV, or NX5.

Some acronyms may refer to actual cannabinoids. Others are brand names. And even when a name does correspond to a known molecule, there is no guarantee that the product sold under that name contains only that molecule—or even that it contains it at all.

An independent analysis listing the molecules present and their concentrations therefore provides infinitely more information than the name printed on the package.

Given the proliferation of «new cannabinoids,» the right question is therefore no longer simply «What are CBX, THX, and THV?»

Above all, it is: What is actually in the product sold under that name?