WHAT ARE CBD TINCTURES

 CBD is all the rage today, but there are over a hundred other cannabinoids in hemp and cannabis plants which you might not know as much about. Some of these, such as CBG and CBN, can often be found in oils and other products using whole plant extracts. However, another important cannabinoid is CBDa. So what is CBDa?

 CBDa is actually the original chemical which CBD stems from. It stands for cannabidiolic acid and it isn’t until the plants are dried and heated that CBDa converts into CBD, the cannabinoid we all know and love. With that said, many people also use CBDa itself and there are many CBDa products available. Here’s a guide to what exactly CBDa is and what you should know about it.

What is CBDa?

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Cannabis and hemp plants contain around 113 chemical compounds known as cannabinoids. Most people are already aware of cannabinoids such as THC and CBD due to their widespread usage. However, CBDa is actually one of the most prominent cannabinoids found in these plants. In fact, it isn’t until CBDa is converted into CBD that cannabidiol is extracted for use in products.

Much like CBD, CBDa is also non-psychoactive and safe for human consumption. It can be extracted and infused into products such as oils and tinctures for consumers to use. You can even consume CBDa by simply blending raw hemp flower into a smoothie or juice. However, while CBDa may have its uses, most research suggests that it is largely inactive, hence why it’s converted into CBD instead.

How Does CBDa Turn Into CBD?

CBD products are much more popular than CBDa products, but they have to be converted from CBDa first before extraction. CBDa is converted into CBD via a process known as decarboxylation. In simple terms, this simply means that CBDa must be heated to a certain level in order to turn into the more bioactive compound, cannabidiol.How Does CBDa Turn Into CBD

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The same process can be seen in the case of THCa and THC. While THC is the psychoactive cannabinoid known for delivering the effects of marijuana, plant products must be decarboxylated in order to convert the THCa into THC and activate its effects. Much like you’d burn or vape weed in order to consume THC, you’d need to burn or vape hemp flower in order to consume CBD.

Generally, producers of hemp products decarboxylate hemp before extracting the CBD for use in products such as oils, tinctures, and edibles. 

What’s the Difference Between CBD and CBDa?

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Since both of these chemicals are safe and non-psychoactive, consumers may wonder why CBDa is commonly turned into CBD instead of simply being extracted for use.

Although there is some research to suggest CBDa may have benefits for your body, these studies are largely preliminary whereas there have been many more successful clinical trials for CBD. CBD is a more bioactive version of CBDa and therefore is more likely to interact with the body positively.

Most importantly, CBD has been shown to interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system whereas CBDa doesn’t. The endocannabinoid system plays an important role in many processes for the body, hence why people consume CBD.  

How do You Use CBDa?

Like with CBD, CBDa is versatile in the ways it can be used and how it can be infused into products. Since CBDa is present in growing cannabis and hemp plants, you can use CBDa simply by blending raw cannabis or hemp flower into juices, smoothies or other recipes and consuming it orally.

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How do You Use CBDa

CBDa can also be extracted for use in various products, much like CBD. For instance, you can get CBDa Oil or Tincture which you can absorb sublingually under the tongue. CBD products which use whole plant extracts may also contain some CBDa.

In most cases, CBDa is turned into CBD and, as such, CBDa products are much less common and harder to find. However, you can find some CBDa products online. Those who grow their own plants can also consume CBDa from the raw flower without having to dry and cure it. However, you may not have much reason to.

Is CBDa Safe to Use?

CBDa shares many of the same traits as CBD. You can use it safely without any harmful side effects or risk of addiction. Unlike THC, CBDa is non-psychoactive and has no intoxicating effects when consumed. As such, you can use it without worrying about getting high or failing a drug test.

CBDa is also non-addictive. You won’t develop a physical dependence to CBDa and won’t experience any withdrawal symptoms when you stop using it. There’s also no risk of an overdose from using CBDa, so you can use it as much as you want.

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While CBDa can be found in marijuana, it’s found in much higher quantities in hemp. What’s more, products such as CBDa Oils generally use hemp extracts. That means that these products are legal all over the United States for people of all ages. You don’t need a medical prescription to use hemp products and there are no legal risks.

Should You Use CBDa Instead of CBD?

Both of these cannabinoids are safe and easy to use, but should you use CBDa instead of CBD? There isn’t a lot to suggest that you should. Although there are some scientific studies which highlight that CBDa may benefit the body, many of these are preliminary and there is a much greater body of successful research when it comes to CBD.

Is CBDa Safe to Use

Since CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system whereas CBDa doesn’t, it’s likely that any possible benefits you could obtain from CBDa would be better with CBD. What’s more, with all kinds of high-quality CBD products on the market today, there isn’t much of a reason to turn to CBDa products instead.

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Conclusion

Cannabidiolic acid is another one of the many interesting cannabinoids found in hemp and cannabis plants. It’s the component that converts into CBD when decarboxylated, although the two substances contrast a fair bit. For the most part, CBDa is fairly redundant as many users prefer to use CBD. Not only is CBD more bioactive, but it’s also easier to buy CBD products online for delivery all over the United States.

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