What Is CBDM (Cannabinoid)?
Just when you think you’ve reached the end of the new cannabinoids that keep popping up all the time, another appears. Yes, there’s now a CBDM to go alongside CBDV, CBDA, and the rest of the crew. CBDM may be rare, but it’s starting to become available online, so it’s important to learn what this cannabinoid is, what it does, and what makes it different from CBD.
Is there a cannabinoid called CBDM?
Yes, CBDM certainly exists. This acronym is short for “cannabidiol monomethylether,” which refers to this cannabinoid’s uniquely methylated structure. CBDM is an alternative form of CBD that is believed to be naturally occurring, but studies confirming its existence in Cannabis sativa have not yet been properly corroborated.
How is CBDM made?
Structurally, CBDM consists of a normal CBD molecule with a monomethyl group attached. Since research into this cannabinoid is scant, however, it’s not clear how the exact process of producing CBDM occurs in a lab. Assumedly, CBDM producers begin with a normal CBD molecule and combine it with methyl groups using a centrifuge or a similar device.
When was CBDM discovered?
CBDM appears to have been discovered in 1972. The first published mention of this cannabinoid can be found in a 1972 Japanese study into cannabinoid pharmacology. CBDM received hardly any attention at all after this point until quite recently.
What does CBDM do?
The effects of CBDM remain a major unknown. This cannabinoid has only been investigated in a handful of studies, and the majority of this research did not regard the effects of CBDM but rather its origins and structure.
One 2009 study, however, provides evidence that CBDM may serve as a lipoxygenase inhibitor, which means it might help reduce production of inflammatory leukotrienes. These inflammatory substances are known to play a role in inflammatory and allergic conditions, indicating that CBDM should be researched further as a potential anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy therapy.
How is CBDM different from CBD?
Compared to normal CBD, CBDM has been methylated, a process that involves adding methyl groups to CBD molecules. There are actually two forms of CBDM, CBD-2′-monomethyl ether and CBD-2′,6′-dimethyl ether, and each form behaves slightly differently in the body. We don’t know exactly how the effects of CBDM are different from those offered by CBD yet, but the structures of these two cannabinoids are disparate enough that they’re highly likely to offer widely dissimilar effects.
Is CBDM better than CBD?
At this point, there’s no reason to believe that CBDM provides any benefits above and beyond those of normal CBD. Initial research indicates that CBDM might have anti-inflammatory properties, but the same can be said for practically every cannabinoid ever discovered.
The lone way in which CBDM is showing unique promise at present is as an anti-allergy substance, but these properties have only been hinted at by one uncorroborated study. CBD is certainly good enough for now, and it’d be best to learn more about CBDM before you put too much faith in it.
Is CBDM synthetic?
So far, any CBDM you come across on the internet is guaranteed to be synthetic. In the world of cannabis, there are three categories of cannabinoids: Strictly synthetic, naturally occurring, and potentially naturally occurring.
CBDM belongs to the lattermost category, meaning scientists haven’t yet even fully established whether it's naturally occurring in cannabis. It most likely is, but additional studies will need to confirm initial findings to that effect.
Is CBDM safe?
The safety of CBDM remains a big unknown. To our knowledge, none of the paucity of studies so-far conducted into CBDM have covered this ultra-rare cannabinoid’s safety. If it’s true that CBDM is naturally occurring, though, it’s also highly likely to be at least relatively safe since even the side effects of psychoactive cannabinoids like THC are generally considered to be mild.
Is CBDM legal?
Yes, CBDM certainly appears to be just as legal as CBD. Under the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp and cannabis products are to be considered “industrial hemp” as long as they contain less than 0.3% THC. The DEA has repeatedly clarified that this position only applies to delta 9 THC and that even modified cannabinoids aren’t considered “marijuana.” As a result, there do not appear to be any particular legal restrictions that could interfere with the sale or ownership of CBDM.
Can you buy CBDM online?
While we aren’t aware of any specific CBDM products for sale online, we do know that it’s possible to synthesize this cannabinoid, and certain chemical manufacturers appear to at least be making preparations for its production. Keep checking this space for more information on CBDM’s availability.
What kinds of CBDM products are there?
We aren’t aware of any CBDM products currently available on the internet, but once this cannabinoid becomes available, the first two types of products you should expect to see are vapes and grams of distillate. These are the easiest types of products to make using converted cannabinoids, and until a new cannabinoid reaches a certain level of popularity, producers won’t produce it in anything aside from vapes and dabs.
The bottom line: Is CBDM worth trying?
Once it becomes available online, CBDM might be worth a shot. Especially for those who suffer from allergies or digestive intolerances, it’s a good idea to stay up to date with research that’s being conducted into this cannabinoid’s potential anti-allergy properties.
As with any cannabinoid, however, be careful with the product you choose and the brand that makes it. Especially with brand-new cannabinoids like CBDM, product quality and pricing can be an issue, so don’t be afraid to wait a little while until a wider variety of products become available.
If you decide to use CBDM, choose a reliable producer, check for customer reviews, and make sure the product is accompanied by batch-specific lab reports. Once that’s out of the way, all that’s left is to leave your mind open to the unique effects CBDM might deliver.
CBDM FAQ
There may not be much to know about CBDM yet, but we’ve made a point to know it all. Learn more about CBDM in the FAQ section below:
1. What is cannabidiol monomethylether?
If you come across the term “cannabidiol monomethylether,” that’s just the scientific name for CBDM, a new form of CBD that’s beginning to become popular on the internet. Also keep an eye out for cannabidiol dimethylether, which is also sometimes called CBDM but also goes by the name CBDD.
2. Is CBDM the same thing as CBD?
No, while CBDM is very similar to CBD, they are not the same exact cannabinoid. Compared to CBD, CBDM has an additional methyl group attached, which changes both its chemical structure and constitution.
Furthermore, what little we know about CBDM appears to indicate that it has a widely different range of uses compared to CBD. That’s another difference between the two cannabinoids: We already know a lot about CBD, but the same can’t be said for CBDM.
3. Is CBDM safe?
The safety of the cannabinoid CBDM is currently unknown. If it’s anything like normal CBD, it’s likely that CBDM will be ruled as generally safe with a few caveats.
So far, this seems to be the case inasmuch as CBD and CBDM are both natural cannabinoids, but future research could prove that CBDM can only be synthesized. The only way to know more about CBDM than we currently do is to perform more research.
4. How do you make CBDM from CBD?
In theory, converting CBD to CBDM should be simple — just add a monomethyl group, and you’re essentially done. The only issue is how to do so, and that’s a question that only a handful of people in the world could answer right now (if even they have the answer). The process of making CBD into CBDM will surely be the target of future research into the cannabinoid, though.
5. Does CBDM get you high?
No, CBDM is not known to have any psychoactive effects. While CBDM might differ from conventional CBD in its structure, there doesn’t appear to be any considerable difference between the effects of these two cannabinoids. As a result, those using CBDM should expect a typical CBD experience — albeit with its own unique flavor.
6. Will CBDM make you fail a drug test?
There is a small chance that using a product containing CBDM will make you fail a drug test, but only if the CBDM product you used contains trace amounts of THC. Thankfully, the majority of CBDM products will not contain THC, being synthetically produced. And, the cannabinoid CBDM itself is incapable of making you fail a drug test since it is neither illegal nor tested for.
7. Where can I find a full minor cannabinoid list?
If you’re trying to keep track of all the minor cannabinoids that have recently appeared, we’re doing our best to keep a dossier of them all here at Secret Nature. Examples of rare cannabinoids we’ve covered include:
Check the Shared Secrets blog for additional entries.
