Now that hemp-derived cannabinoids are legal in the US, retailers are taking advantage of products with chemical compounds outside of CBD. Many other cannabinoids products are gaining popularity in the market, including CBN oil and CBDA extracts.
Today we are going to discuss the difference between CBD oil and its close counterpart CBDA. The differences are subtle from a chemical composition standpoint, but each type of extract can have dramatically different effects. Therefore, it’s essential to fully understand these two cannabinoids before making a purchase.
What is CBDA Oil?
CBDA or Cannabidiolic acid is the acidic form of the cannabinoid CBD. All cannabinoids form during the hemp plant’s life cycle starting from the precursor molecule CBGA. The majority of cannabinoids are converted to CBDA or THCa, depending on the type of cannabis plant.
Raw flour contains only CBDA. To produce CBD, the manufacturer has to decarboxylate the cannabinoid, synthesizing from CBDA to CBD.
When raw flower is smoked, the decarboxylation process is done by lighting the plant matter on fire. For extracts, the activation process is done with heat and pressure during extraction.
CBDA oil is an extract that contains non-active CBD molecules. While the cannabinoid won’t have the same effects on the body as CBD, some exciting research is being done that suggests CBDA can have incredible benefits without going through the decarboxylation process.
CBD vs. CBDA Oil
While the two compounds are considered different cannabinoids, they have identical chemical make-up and weight. The difference is in how they are structured, making a separate interaction with our endocannabinoid system.
Our understanding of the effects of CBDA is still preliminary. Unfortunately, there isn’t much scientific research to go off at this point. However, many advocates, both users, and researchers believe that CBDA could be one of the next cannabinoids to substantially impact the industry.
At this point, researchers are interested in CBDA in its role in mitigating pain. There isn’t any hard evidence to back these claims concerning expansive clinical trials using a control, but the mechanism that CBDA has when it’s introduced to the ECS shows incredible promise.
The Benefits of CBDA Oil
The reason why we don’t have adequate studies in the cannabis industry directly relates to prohibition. Even today, the majority of research is done to observe the negative side effects of cannabinoids rather than looking at the potential benefits.
Scientists are interested in CBDA because it has the same mechanism as over-the-counter NSAIDs. CBDA is believed to be a COX-2 inhibitor; this is the same receptor that ibuprofen and aspirin target to provide relief.
While CBDA functions similarly to NSAIDs, there aren’t any severe side effects known today. Advocates of hemp-derived cannabinoids for medical use believe that compounds like CBDA can provide solutions without dangerous consequences, but there isn’t enough data to be definite.
CBDA’s relationship with COX-2 receptors has created an incredible amount of interest in the scientific community. There are currently multiple studies being conducted to see how we can use CBDA in the future. For now, we must be sure to purchase any cannabinoid products from a reputable retailer and monitor our dosage.
Purchasing Raw CBDA Oil
CBDA oil is available online and in retail stores from reputable cannabinoid hemp providers. While the product is not as widely available as CBD or CBN, other compounds derived from hemp are gaining popularity. As more people become aware of the different aspects of cannabis, outside of CBD and THC, the market for minor compounds will expand.
