Total active cannabinoids, or TAC, provides important information to cannabis users about the effects their strain of marijuana will provide and allows them to fine-tune their cannabis usage.
TAC Is More Than Just THC and CBD
At this point, we have all heard of THC and CBD, the two most popular cannabinoids, although by understanding how each strain breaks down total active cannabinoids, users gain a much greater understanding of the effect a particular strain of cannabis will provide and how they might work together. With cannabis markets evolving across the country, well-established dispensaries and cannabis seed strains are doing a better job of indicating TAC content.
Marijuana that indicates a particular THC percentage, or CBD percentage, might provide a good indication of how those cannabinoids will affect you, although knowing TAC content gives you a better idea of how they work together which can very well produce different physiological effects. This is called the entourage effect and is important for medical users as well as recreational users to tailor their cannabis experience.
Various Cannabinoids Present in Weed
There are over 100 known cannabinoids in the cannabis plant and only a handful may be considered to be well understood. Most of these are not included in a TAC count indicated on the label and only those that are identified through testing will be displayed. The most common cannabinoids include THC, CBD, CBC, CBG, CBGA, and a few others.
THC, or Delta Nine, Tetrahydrocannabinol
This is the dominant cannabinoid that is typically identified and included in a TAC count and provides the high marijuana users know and love. THC interacts with the body’s own endocannabinoid system, specifically with CB1 receptors. THC is a stronger cannabinoid and is difficult for the body to break down, producing a high.
CBD, Cannabidiol 
CBD is the other most well-known cannabinoid and the second most abundant cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. CBD has gained increasing attention for providing highly beneficial effects for medical marijuana patients, such as relaxation and pain relief. CBD in itself does not produce the high associated with THC, although knowing the TAC is beneficial because many users prefer some THC with their CBD.
This goes back to the entourage effect where some marijuana users enjoy the pain relief associated with CBD but say that when combined with THC it helps them to ‘ride it out’ longer, providing a more enjoyable, holistic experience. CBD also interacts with human cannabinoid receptors although takes a more indirect route by inhibiting Fatty acid amide hydrolase or FAAH. FAAH is the enzyme that breaks down anandamide, this allows for an increase in the molecule that provides the bliss associated with CBD. Even though CBD does not produce the high like THC that many users associate with marijuana, it provides potentially powerful effects which is why it is one of the most popular and sought-after cannabinoids.
This goes back to the entourage effect where some marijuana users enjoy the pain relief associated with CBD but say that when combined with THC it helps them to ‘ride it out’ longer, providing a more enjoyable, holistic experience. CBD also interacts with human cannabinoid receptors although takes a more indirect route by inhibiting Fatty acid amide hydrolase or FAAH. FAAH is the enzyme that breaks down anandamide, this allows for an increase in the molecule that provides the bliss associated with CBD. Even though CBD does not produce the high like THC that many users associate with marijuana, it provides potentially powerful effects which is why it is one of the most popular and sought-after cannabinoids.
CBC, CannabichromeneÂ
CBC is a lesser-known cannabinoid that is not fully understood although it seems to have a stronger connection with CB2 receptors as opposed to CB1 receptors which bind more easily to THC. While complete effects of CBC alone are not yet very well-known, the presence of CBC in the TAC of weed has been shown to increase efficacy for a more holistic experience.
CBG and Cannabigerolic Acid, CBGA 
CBG and CBGA are starting to be better understood by researchers, although they appear to have unique interactions with the endocannabinoid system.
In addition to these cannabinoids, there are others as well as other compounds such as terpenes and fatty acids that play a role in the total effect a cannabis strain will provide. For those that take your cannabis experience seriously, it is better to know the TAC and overall concentration of cannabinoids present in your particular batch of weed or seed strain.
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