CBDA: What It Is, Effects and Safety | PatientsCann UK

CBDA

CBDA, CBD-acid

pronounced: kan-uh-bih-dy-OL-ik AS-id

The raw, unheated form of CBD. Studied for nausea and inflammation.

Acidic (raw) cannabinoidFormula: C22H30O4Intoxicating: No
Type
Acidic (raw)
Formula
C22H30O4
Intoxicating
No
Key focus
Nausea

Cannabidiolic acid · 358.5 g/mol

The molecule

Chemical structure

This is the accurate skeletal structure of CBDA, drawn from PubChem data. Each corner and line-end is a carbon atom, and the red O marks oxygen. Its formula is C22H30O4 and it weighs 358.5 g/mol.

Anti-sicknessAnti-inflammatoryCalmingRaw / unheated

About

What is CBDA?

Cannabidiolic acid, or CBDA, is the raw form of CBD found in the fresh plant. Like CBD, it does not make you high. It was one of the first cannabinoids ever isolated, back in the 1950s.

CBDA carries an extra acid group compared with CBD, which changes how it behaves in the body.

In the body

How CBDA Works

CBDA has a couple of interesting actions. It blocks an enzyme called COX-2, which is the same target as some anti-inflammatory painkillers, and it strongly activates the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor, which is closely involved in feeling sick.

Because of this, the strongest early research on CBDA is for nausea and vomiting, where animal studies suggest it may be even more powerful than CBD itself. It is also being explored for inflammation and anxiety.

Receptor snapshot

Where CBDA Acts

The endocannabinoid system has two main receptors. Here is how strongly CBDA acts on each.

CB1Brain & nervous system
None

Does not fit CB1, so no high.

CB2Immune system & body
None

Little action at CB2.

Beyond CB1 and CB2: Blocks COX-2 (like some anti-inflammatory medicines) and acts strongly on 5-HT1A serotonin receptors, which are linked to nausea.

In the plant

How CBDA is Made

CBDA is made from the mother acid CBGA by an enzyme called CBDA synthase. It is the main cannabinoid in fresh CBD-rich plants before heating.

Heat removes a carbon dioxide group and turns CBDA into CBD. This happens slowly even at room temperature, which is why fresh plants are richer in the acid.

PathwayCBDAadd heat →CBD

Good to know

Safety and Side Effects

CBDA appears well tolerated in the limited research available. As it is not intoxicating, it does not carry the "high"-related risks of THC. Its long-term safety in people is not yet well established.

CBDA is less stable than CBD and slowly turns into it with heat and time. Tell your prescriber before using a raw or high-CBDA product.

Questions

CBDA: Common Questions

What is CBDA good for?
Early research suggests CBDA may help with nausea and inflammation, partly by acting on serotonin (5-HT1A) receptors. It is still experimental and not a licensed medicine.
How is CBDA different from CBD?
CBDA is the raw, acidic form found in the living plant. Heat removes its acid group and turns it into CBD, the form most people are familiar with.
Back to full Cannabinoids Guide
Important: This page is for education only. It is not medical advice. Cannabinoid research is still developing, and many studies have been done in cells or animals rather than people. Always speak to your prescriber before changing your treatment. PatientsCann UK does not recommend any specific cannabis product.

References

  1. Bolognini, D. et al. (2013) 'Cannabidiolic acid prevents vomiting in Suncus murinus and nausea-induced behaviour in rats by enhancing 5-HT1A receptor activation', British Journal of Pharmacology, 168(6), pp. 1456-1470. doi: 10.1111/bph.12043.
  2. Izzo, A.A., Borrelli, F., Capasso, R., Di Marzo, V. and Mechoulam, R. (2009) 'Non-psychotropic plant cannabinoids: new therapeutic opportunities from an ancient herb', Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 30(10), pp. 515-527. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2009.07.006.
  3. National Center for Biotechnology Information (2025) PubChem Compound Database. Bethesda: U.S. National Library of Medicine. Available at: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (Accessed: 29 July 2026).
  4. Morales, P., Hurst, D.P. and Reggio, P.H. (2017) 'Molecular targets of the phytocannabinoids: a complex picture', Progress in the Chemistry of Organic Natural Products, 103, pp. 103-131. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-45541-9_4.