CBDA: Cannabidiol acid
CBDA, or Cannabidiol acid, is a cannabinoid found in cannabis plants. When CBDA is heated, it turns into CBD.
Cannabidiol acid is a precursor compound, which means it can produce other compounds. CBDA originates from CBGA and can convert into CBD through decarboxylation.
What is the difference between CBDA and CBD?
Before being heated, the cannabis plant produces CBDA, which is the acidic form of CBD. Once exposed to heat, CBDA is converted into CBD through a process called decarboxylation.
What is decarboxylation?
Decarboxylation is the process of heating cannabis to activate its compounds. This process converts inactive compounds (such as CBDA) into their active forms (such as CBD). When cannabis is heated, the acidic forms of cannabinoids lose a carboxyl group, resulting in their non-acidic counterparts.
Do I need to decarboxylate my medical cannabis products?
No, for the vast majority of medical cannabis products, the decarboxylation process has already been completed. Most medical cannabis products are heated during their production, which converts CBDA into its active form CBD.
However, if you have a dried cannabis flower prescription and you intend to cook or bake with it, you may need to decarboxylate your cannabis first. This is because the flower has not been heated during its production, so the CBDA is still in its inactive form.
To find out more about CBDA, click here
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