CBDA is a compound that eventually converts to CBD. While CBD comes from cultivated and cured cannabis plants, CBDa is found in plants that are still growing. CBDA is what is known as an acid precursor to CBD and is only produced when raw cannabis containing CBDA is heated, causing what is known as decarboxylation. In other words, when CBDa heats up, it becomes CBD.
In its original form, CBDa remains as is. Since CBDa has a close relationship with CBD, does one cannabinoid have more benefits than the other? Some research on CBDa indicates that it does. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a known component of hemp with several health benefits. Many are surprised to learn that the hemp plant doesn't produce CBD directly.
In fact, the plant produces cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) that converts to CBD slowly at room temperature or quickly when exposed to high temperatures. When CBDa is heated to approximately 270°F, a process known as decarboxylation occurs. Decarboxylation converts both CBDa and THCA to CBD and THC, respectively. So when you smoke a joint or bake an edible infused dough, you're essentially creating new compounds.
CBDA is the chemical precursor to CBD. In a process called thermal decarboxylation, CBDA is converted to CBD when the CBDA molecule heats up and loses its acidic carboxyl group. This decarboxylation process can occur instantly, such as when cannabis material is ignited and smoked or vaporized, or by slow degradation over time if the plant material is allowed to stand at room temperature. Research at Oregon State University found that crude cannabinoids, specifically CBDa and CBGa, have the potential to bind to the coronavirus spike protein, blocking viral entry and replication cycle.
Recent studies in Japan and the United States have shown that cannabidiolic acid (CBDa) can positively affect cancer cells. However, interest in CBDa is growing more now, and we can expect to see more products containing this compound on the market. The difference between CBD and CBDA is that the latter is an acid that acts as the chemical precursor to CBD. If other studies confirm these findings, CBDa may be used as part of a treatment plan to prevent the spread of cancer.
Many people successfully use CBD and CBDA before bed and in the middle of the night, while others report that their use during the day helps them relax and sleep more at night. While most research on cannabinoids has focused heavily on THC and CBD, there is some preliminary evidence to suggest that CBDa has its unique advantages, so we are seeing an upward trend in minimally processed hemp extracts. Despite the fact that GW Pharma has an FDA-approved CBD-based drug Epidiolex, there is reason to believe that much lower amounts of CBDa than CBD are needed for beneficial effects. However, the most recent research shows that CBDA uses alternative mechanisms to trigger potential health benefits for the human body.
That's why many people combine CBDA with THC to increase their benefits and use CBD to lower the effect of THC if they drink too much or have side effects associated with THC, such as lightheadedness, irritability, and fatigue. There is currently not enough evidence on the benefits of CBDa in human clinical trials to definitively state that one is better than the other. But there is another lesser-known cannabinoid called CBDA that is attracting the attention of consumers and the scientific community, as early discoveries show that even small amounts of CBDA can have significant beneficial physiological effects. CBDA is a cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant, and it's important because to get CBD, you first need to have CBDA.
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