CBDa vs. CBD: What is CBDa and can it get you high?
- What is CBDa?
- How to get CBDa?
- Structure of CBDa
- Effects: will CBDa get you high?
- Table: CBDa vs. CBD
- Conclusion: where to buy CBDa?
What is CBDa?
CBDa is short for cannabidiol acid, a molecule that is abundant in cannabis plants and is the precursor to cannabidiol (CBD). In unprocessed industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), CBDa is the most abundant cannabinoid.
The "parent" molecule in the cannabis plant is CBGa - cannabigerol acid. CBGa is the precursor of CBDa and also of many well-known cannabinoids such as CBD, THC and CBC, but also of minor ones such as CBG, CBDV and THCV.
As the cannabis plant matures, it begins to produce a natural enzyme that helps convert CBGa into CBDa. CBDa is converted to CBD by decarboxylation (heat), which removes the carboxyl group. CBDa can also be converted to CBD when exposed to UV light or other sources of oxidation.
All cannabinoids first exist in acidic form, they are so-called acidic precursors. It is only after decarboxylation of the THCa and CBDa molecules that the cannabinoids THC and CBD are formed.
How to get CBDa?
CBDa is typically obtained either by direct extraction from hemp flowers prior to the decarboxylation process or enzymatically converted from CBGa. What is meant by "enzymatically converted"? It is a process in which enzymes (natural proteins) in the plant accelerate (catalyse) specific chemical reactions.
As the cannabis plant matures, enzymes react with chemicals in the plant to produce new compounds with different properties and effects.
In this case, enzymes in the plant convert CBGa into CBDa.
CBDa does not need to be produced by chemical synthesis as it is abundant in all forms of CBD-rich cannabis. CBDa is a chemically unstable substance and extraction can therefore be challenging. Scientists must not expose the compound to high temperatures to avoid conversion to CBD. Extraction is possible using either water or solvents, for which expertise is required.
Structure of CBDa
The molecular formula is C22H30O4, so CBDa contains 22 carbon atoms, 30 hydrogen atoms and 4 oxygen atoms. The structure of CBDa is similar to other cannabinoids that have a carboxyl group (-COOH) attached to their molecule. Heat removes the carboxylic acid group from CBDa, leaving only CBD.
Scientists have observed that CBDa has a molecular structure similar to common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin, which has brought the compound to the attention of the scientific community.
The effects of CBDa: will it get you high?
Scientists have already figured out that most of the effects of cannabinoids are related to how they interact with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the body. This complex, intricate network is a group of receptors and endocannabinoids (ligands) that extend throughout the body. The ECS has different functions in different tissues, but the main goal - to maintain the homeostasis (balance) of the body - remains the same. The ECS regulates various activities of the body, including pain perception, immune response, mood, and metabolism.
Unlike THC, the cannabinoids CBD and CBDa do not have a high affinity for the CB1 or CB2 receptors in the ECS.
Inflammatory processes in the human body are largely regulated by a group of TRP receptors, i.e. the COX-2 enzyme and the PPAR gamma receptor. CBDa has been found to decrease the level of the COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) molecule while increasing the level of the neuroprotective PPAR gamma molecule.
CBDa has also been shown to interact with serotonin 5-HT1A receptors. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that has effects such as mood regulation, appetite, sleep and nausea management.
At the moment, there is not enough research to support the benefits of cannabidiol, especially compared to cannabidiol. However, we do know something.
Research from 2021 suggests that CBDa has shown several promising therapeutic effects in animal studies. It appears to have significant antiemetic (anti-nausea) and anti-inflammatory properties. In rat studies, CBDa appeared to be effective in reducing inflammation and controlling nausea, especially when researchers augmented it with other treatments targeting the 5-HT3 receptor.
Research in mice suggests that CBDa could help treat seizures, as it performed similarly to CBD as an anticonvulsant when tested in vivo. Terpenes and minor cannabinoids increased efficacy. When individual cannabinoids and other active substances complement each other, their effect can be enhanced, which can lead to the so-called 'entourage effect'. This phenomenon can be encountered with full-spectrum and broad-spectrum products.
It appears that CBDa may also have neuroprotective and anti-anxiety properties, which could help alleviate memory loss in people with degenerative neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's.
It should be added that clinical studies have until now focused mainly on animal models. Further research is needed to investigate how CBDa works and how it affects human health.
Want to know if CBDa will get you high? The answer is: No, because CBDa, like CBD, is not psychotropic.
Table: CBDa vs. CBD
Both cannabinoid compounds CBDa and CBD are extracted from the resin glands of the Cannabis sativa plant. The following table compares CBDa and CBD.
|
CBDa (Cannabidiol Acid) |
CBD (cannabidiol) |
|
|
Molecular formula |
C22H30O4 |
C21H30O2 |
|
Specifications |
Abundant in cannabis plants, it is a precursor to CBD. |
The second most abundant cannabinoid in the cannabis plant after THC. |
|
How to obtain |
It is usually obtained either by direct extraction from cannabis flowers before the decarboxylation process or enzymatically converted from CBGa. |
Extraction from cannabis is carried out using extraction methods:
|
|
Psychoactive properties |
No |
No |
|
Cooperation with receptors in (ECS) |
Low affinity, inhibits COX-2 enzymes and interacts with serotonin 5-HT1A receptors. |
Low affinity, acts as a modulator of CB1 and CB2 receptors. It also acts on adenosine, serotonin and vanilloid receptors. |
|
Therapeutic potential |
|
|
|
Possible side effects |
Side effects are usually mild, may occur:
|
Side effects are especially likely if a large dose is taken, possible side effects include:
|
|
Product offer |
CBDa products are only available in a few forms:
|
The most affordable cannabinoid on the market.
|
|
Legal status |
Legal in most countries. |
Legal in most countries, it is an illegal substance in Norway and Finland. |
Conclusion: where to buy CBDa?
CBDa can be purchased online (in e-shops) or in cannabis stores, in products such as tinctures, topicals, gummies, capsules, oils and vapes. The purest form is CBDa isolate (crystals), from which you can make pretty much any type of product.
Because CBDa is unstable and changes to CBD when heated, it is only used in product types that are not exposed to temperatures higher than about 93 °C (200 °F) during preparation or use, so you won't normally find CBDa teas or pre-rolls on the market.
If you want to buy CBDa, try for example full spectrum or broad spectrum oils, a great choice are products labeled "raw CBD(a)", for example Nature Cure Full Spectrum Raw CBD oil - 5% or in 10% or 20% concentration, which has a CBD:CBDa ratio of about 3:2.
Full-spectrum products contain CBDa and other cannabinoids (CBD, CBG, CBN) terpenes, flavonoids and other ingredients, including minimal amounts of THC. Broad-spectrum products do not contain THC but do contain other cannabinoids such as CBC, CBN, CBG. Phytonutrients vary by manufacturer. An isolate is also available that contains only CBDa.
Usually CBDa is used in the same way as CBD. Dosage is always an individual matter, always start with the smallest dose possible and observe how it affects you.
Author: Patricie Mikolášová
Photo: AI
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