CBDa Guide
MA, BS, and MH Medical Anthropology and Chemistry
CBDa, cannabidiolic acid, is the precursor of CBD. Nonetheless, this rare compound is less well-known than its end-product, cannabidiol. In this guide, you’ll learn about CBDa, the special benefits it might offer, and how to choose the best CBDa products on the market
What is CBDa?
Scientists have identified CBDa as the substance in hemp that is decarboxylated into CBD. As such, CBDa is the carboxylic acid-bearing precursor of the non-intoxicating cannabinoid, CBD. Carboxylic acid is a highly oxidized chemical side-group that liberates CO2 upon further oxidation. All cannabinoids are created with carboxylic acid groups that oxidize to create their final forms. This process is known as decarboxylation.
CBDa isn’t at the beginning of the cannabinoid synthesis pathway, though. CBGa, cannabigerolic acid, is the parent molecule that precedes both CBDa and CBD. CBGa is sometimes called the “stem cell of cannabinoids” because it is the common precursor of both popular cannabinoids, like CBC, THC, and CBD, and minor cannabinoids. CBGa transforms into CBDa when it is exposed to a natural enzyme (CBDa synthase) that cannabis expresses as it matures.
Research into CBDa indicates that this cannabinoid precursor may have unique benefits that significantly boost its value.
What is CBDa made from?
CBDa is generally extracted directly from hemp flowers prior to decarboxylation or enzymatically converted from CBGa. CBDa is not regularly synthesized because it is abundant in all CBD-rich forms of hemp and is easy to convert from CBGa found in the flowers.
Extracting CBDa from hemp without triggering decarboxylation is a relatively tricky process that requires great expertise.
How is CBDa different from CBD?
CBDa and CBD are more similar than they are different. The chemical composition of these two molecules only differs by a single chemical modification. CBDa converts into CBD quite easily, especially when heated.
Nonetheless, the scientific community has found minor, yet significant, differences between CBD and CBDa. These differences may one day prove useful because an increasing number of CBD-related therapies are being investigated for specific medical conditions.
Does CBDa turn into CBD?
Yes, CBDa naturally decarboxylates into CBD under stress conditions, such as excessive heat or light. For example, when exposed to temperatures exceeding 245° F,¹, CBDa decarboxylates to form CBD. CBDa can also turn into CBD when exposed to UV light or other sources of oxidation. CBD, then, becomes more stable with a slightly altered chemical structure.
Is CBDa more effective than CBD?
Researchers believe CBDa could be more effective than CBD for specific conditions. There is insufficient conclusive evidence about either CBDa or CBD to make any assumptions, regarding the medical utility of either cannabinoid. At present, pharmaceutical companies have not produced any CBDa-based drugs.
Can you take CBDa and CBD together?
There is no evidence suggesting CBDa and CBD should not be consumed at the same time.
If you find a good way to ingest CBDa and CBD at the same time, you might trigger the entourage effect, a form of cannabinoid synergy scientists believe may enhance the potency of hemp compounds. One excellent way to consume CBD and CBDa at the same time is in the form of a capsule, allowing your body to absorb both unique hemp compounds at once.
What are the effects of CBDa?
There is not enough evidence to determine all the experienced effects of CBDa. Anecdotal evidence, produced by CBDa consumers online, seems to indicate that the effects of CBDa closely mirror those of CBD. CBDa is sometimes described as being more potent than CBD, but it is just as common to find the two cannabinoids described as offering similar levels of potency.
What are the benefits of CBDa?
We don’t know enough about the effects of CBDa to make any definitive conclusions. But that doesn’t mean scientists haven’t learned anything at all about this cannabinoid. Let’s recap some of the most interesting research that has been conducted into cannabidiolic acid so far:
Is CBDa good for pain?
If you haven’t heard anything else about CBDa, you might have come across rumors that this cannabinoid has up to 100 times the affinity for your 5-HT1A receptors than CBD. It all stems from a 2018 review article by Ethan Russo² that detailed the status of CBDa research at that time. Since your 5-HT1A receptors govern mood, blood pressure, hormonal secretion, memory, pain transmission, and nausea, expect CBDa to be included in future research on many important medical conditions.
Is CBDa anti-inflammatory?
In the human body, inflammation is largely regulated by the TRP family of receptors, COX-2, and PPAR gamma. Significant research has been conducted on the relationship between these critical mediators of inflammation and CBD. Research into the anti-inflammatory properties of CBDa³ is very promising. So far, we know that CBDa increases TRPA1 and TRPV1, and decreases TRPM8, leading to pain reduction. CBDa reduces levels of the pro-inflammatory molecule, COX-2, while increasing the levels of the neuroprotective molecule, PPAR gamma.
Is CBDa good for sleep?
Some preliminary research⁴ indicates that stabilized CBDa analogues can promote wakefulness without disturbing important aspects of regular sleep. While this does not suggest CBDa would make a great sleep aid, it may improve the wakefulness of those who’ve had too little sleep.
Is CBDa good for anxiety?
The brain’s 5-HT1A receptors play a significant role in anxiety⁵ Preliminary research demonstrates that CBDa shows promise for combating both stress-induced⁶ and trauma-induced⁷ anxiety.
Does CBDa get you high?
No, CBDa is like CBD in that it is not intoxicating. In general, the effects of cannabinoid precursors are very similar to the effects of their stable cannabinoid products.
Does CBDa have any side effects?
We don’t have enough data to determine whether the side effect profile of CBDa varies significantly from that of CBD. Anecdotal evidence indicates that the side effects of CBDa are likely mild and akin to the most common side effects of CBD (namely dry mouth, tiredness, and low blood pressure).
What does CBDa do to your body?
From what we understand so far, CBDa appears to operate very similarly to CBD in the human body. It appears to interact with roughly the same neuroreceptors as CBD, but CBDa may have more affinity for some receptors and less for others. Scientists are very intrigued, for instance, by CBDa’s enhanced activity at your 5-HT1A receptors.
How fast does CBDa work?
Preliminary research suggests that the bioavailability of CBDa may be higher than that of CBD, so you might experience the onset of effects more quickly with CBDa, regardless of how you take it. The activation time of any cannabinoid is dependent upon the method you use to ingest it.
Inhaled cannabinoids produce the fastest effects (30-60 seconds) and topicals also act quickly at the area of application (3-10 minutes). Orally ingested cannabinoids take considerably longer (30-45 minutes) to produce an effect.
Where can I buy CBDa near me?
CBDa products are now widely available online. This precursor to CBD is commonly sold in bulk. It is also formulated into finished products, like tinctures, topicals, and capsules. Less stable and harder to extract than CBD, CBDa extract is usually only available in isolate form. You can use CBDa isolate to make practically any type of product.
What kinds of wholesale CBDa products are there?
CBDa can be formulated into almost any conceivable type of finished product. Capsules, tinctures, and gummies are among the most popular, but CBDa topicals are gaining ground in the alternative skincare community. Since CBDa naturally converts to CBD when heated, inhalable CBDa products aren’t currently viable.
CBDa FAQ:
Widen your knowledge of CBDa in the FAQ section below:
1. How do you use CBDa?
In most cases, CBDa is used in the same way that CBD is used. These cannabinoids are, after all, very similar. CBD has already paved the way with product types as varied as tinctures, capsules, gummies, topicals, and vapes.
That’s where the similarities end. While CBD can be heated to high temperatures in products like vapes, heating CBDa would transform it into CBD, erasing any of its unique benefits. As a result, CBDa is only used in product types that do not involve the application of heat above 200°F.
2. How strong is CBDa?
Overall, the strength of CBDa vs. CBD has not been adequately assessed to provide a quantitative comparison. It does appear that CBDa may affect certain parts of the nervous system more strongly than CBD. CBDa might be less effective than CBD in other ways.
3. What is full-spectrum CBDa?
The term “full-spectrum CBDa” is used to refer to CBDa extracts that retain the full entourage of cannabinoids and terpenes naturally present in hemp concentrate. In contrast to broad-spectrum extract (where THC has been removed) and CBDa isolate (where everything aside from CBDa has been removed), full-spectrum CBDa is considered to be the more natural, entourage effect-enhanced option.
4. How does CBDa make you feel?
Most users indicate that CBDa makes them feel roughly the same as CBD. Some users indicate that they find CBDa to be more effective against neurological conditions and mood disorders. This is all based on anecdotal evidence that has yet to be verified in a clinical setting.
Sources
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2. Russo E. B. (2018). Cannabis Therapeutics and the Future of Neurology. Frontiers in integrative neuroscience, 12, 51. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2018.00051
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7. Assareh, N., Gururajan, A., Zhou, C., Luo, J. L., Kevin, R. C., & Arnold, J. C. (2020). Cannabidiol disrupts conditioned fear expression and cannabidiolic acid reduces trauma-induced anxiety-related behaviour in mice. Behavioural pharmacology, 31(6), 591–596. https://doi.org/10.1097/FBP.0000000000000565
