CBDA

What is CBDA?

CBDA, or cannabidiolic acid, is one of the many compounds found in the cannabis plant. CBDA acts as a precursor to the much better-known cannabinoid CBD. Essentially, CBDA is the raw form of CBD.

When exposed to heat, CBDA converts to CBD over time. This process is known as decarboxylation. The amount of time this process takes is dependent on the cultivar, the temperature, and the type of heat used.

CBDA is plentiful in high-CBD cultivars and hemp. We can find this compound in products such as capsules, topicals, and tinctures. Juicing raw cannabis leaves is also a popular consumption method for ingesting CBDA and CBD.

Effects of CBDA

Like its close relative CBD, CBDA is thought to be relatively non-psychoactive. Unlike THC, CBDA will not make most consumers feel high. However, some beginner consumers of CBD and CBDA products may feel a profound sense of relief, unlike anything they’ve ever experienced. This can result in relaxation and euphoria.

Potential Benefits of CBDA

Much like its close relative CBD, many scientific studies have been conducted on CBDA. The vast majority of these students were done on rodents in a laboratory setting. Researchers have been observing the reactions lab mice have to CBDA since 2007.

Of the most widely discussed studies is the one that resulted in a conclusion that CBDA activates serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a natural chemical produced by nerve cells. These nerve cells are responsible for signaling between cells and the overall homeostasis of the bodies of mammals.

The levels of serotonin in our brains play a crucial role in our overall health, including functions like adequate sleep, digestion and appetite, and motor skills. Perhaps serotonin's biggest impact on our overall health is on our emotions.

One study concludes that CBDA interacts with our brain’s 5-HT receptors similarly to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant medication. This suggests that CBDA could help fight clinical depression, and maybe even replace psychiatric medication, should a patient wish to do so.

Because of CBDA's impact on brain chemistry and blood flow, the cannabinoid may be of use as both a treatment for Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea as well as an anti-inflammatory. According to many patients, one of the worst aspects of cancer treatments is the seemingly constant nausea, which often leads to a lack of appetite. Cannabinoids like CBDA, its sibling CBD, and their relative THC have all been proven to help stimulate appetite.

The company GW Pharma holds one of the only FDA-approved cannabis medicines, a drug called epidiolex, that has been used for seizures. Additionally, GW has filed two medical-use patents for CBDA: one that may help treat inflammatory skin conditions like Eczema and another as a possible cancer treatment.

To date, cancer studies on CBDA have been isolated, meaning the compound has been injected into individual cancer cells. However, promising results have been seen, perhaps the most notable being that CBDA may slow down or even halt the migration of an aggressive type of breast cancer referred to as MDA-MB-231.

To date, the vast majority of lab studies on CBDA are preclinical and have been conducted on rodents. This means such research does not necessarily apply to humans.

More unbiased research on specific cannabis compounds such as CBDA research must be done to prove its long-term efficacy as a treatment for the above-stated conditions. With cannabis prohibition slowly ending and more states funding research, we will continue to learn more about this incredible plant medicine.

What We Learned: CBDA

CBDA is just one of the many cannabinoids and other potentially beneficial compounds in whole-plant cannabis medicine. Here’s what else we learned about CBDA:

• CBDA, or cannabidiolic acid, is the raw form of CBD.
• When exposed to heat, CBDA converts to CBD over time. This process is known as decarboxylation.
• CBDA is plentiful in high-CBD cultivars and hemp.
• Like its close relative CBD, CBDA is thought to be relatively non-psychoactive. Unlike THC, CBDA will not make most consumers feel high.
• Beginner consumers of CBD and CBDA products may feel a profound sense of relief, unlike anything they’ve ever experienced. This can result in relaxation and euphoria.
• Researchers have been observing the reactions lab mice have to CBDA since 2007.
• CBDA interacts with our brain’s 5-HT receptors in a similar way that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant medication does, meaning it could replace these pharmaceuticals in the future.
• CBDA may slow down or even halt the migration of an aggressive type of breast cancer that is referred to as MDA-MB-231.

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