What Is CBDV, and What Effects Does It Have?
At this point, you’re used to learning about new forms of hemp and cannabis that you didn’t even know existed five minutes ago. This uppercase “V” at the end of the familiar acronym “CBD” shouldn’t be much of a shock, then, but that doesn’t mean you can’t know more about CBDV, what it does, and how it differs from CBD.
CBDV — an overview
Cannabidivarin, or “CBDV” for short, is a variant of cannabidiol (CBD) that’s naturally occurring in many varieties of Cannabis sativa. Categorized loosely as “varin cannabinoids,” cannabis compounds such as THCV, CBGV, and CBDV have recently started getting more attention. They’re very similar to normal cannabinoids but with key differences that could be critical.
What is a “varin” cannabinoid?
When you look at a cannabinoid molecule up close, it has a string of carbon atoms at the end that looks like a tail. Varin cannabinoids like CBDV have carbon tails that are slightly shorter.
We don’t yet know enough about cannabis and its many compounds to be sure how this shortened carbon side group affects the bioactivity of varin cannabinoids. All we are certain of at this point is that cannabinoids like CBDV are chemically distinct enough from their conventional counterparts to merit extensive individual research.
Is CBDV different from CBD?
Yes, CBDV and CBD are clearly distinct compounds. They look different under a microscope, and they have different effects in the human body.
Is CBDV very different from CBD? The answer to that question will have to be “no.” While fully chemically distinct from each other, these two compounds share far more similarities than differences.
The differences between CBD and CBDV matter because these two cousin cannabinoids might be able to cover for each other’s weaknesses. CBDV, for instance, is currently a major target of epilepsy research partially in the hope that it might improve the utility of CBD-based anti-seizure drugs like Epidiolex.
What does CBDV do?
Based on what we know so far, CBDV appears to operate in the body in a very similar way to CBD. The differences between the bioactivity of these two compounds are so small, in fact, that CBDV research lags behind more than it should.
Like CBD, CBDV appears to be largely non-psychoactive, and it’s entirely non-intoxicating. These sister cannabinoids are further alike in that they have not been observed to exert any significant side effects, and both CBD and CBDV appear to be immensely beneficial in a wide variety of medicinal applications.
What are the effects of CBDV?
Like CBD, CBDV is:
- Non-intoxicating,
- Mild,
- And relaxing.
It will not:
- Get you high,
- Make you paranoid,
- Or cause anxiety.
People commonly use CBDV for:
- Autism
- Sleep
- Anxiety
- Pain
CBDV has primarily been researched for:
CBDV does not appear to have any major:
- Side effects
- Profound differences from CBD
What is CBDV isolate?
Right now, the vast majority of CBDV products are offered in isolate form. That’s because CBDV, like many other cannabinoids, is relatively easy to convert from CBD or CBG, and labs around the world are currently racing to supply the purest and cheapest CBDV isolate possible.
No matter the cannabinoid, though, you’ll always find isolate extracts to be disappointing for anything other than mixing finished products. Natural hemp extracts that are as close to raw as possible are best, and if you can, get all the way back to nature with cryogenically cured CBDV flower.
Are there CBDV hemp flower strains?
Yes, hemp flower strains that are high in CBDV are now available. In May of 2021, Secret Nature acquired access to the world’s first-ever high-CBDV hemp genetics, and through an extensive process of pheno-hunting and optimization, we have just recently delivered the first crops of Pine Walker and Forbidden V, CBDV-rich additions to the all-star Secret Nature hemp flower lineup.
Each of these strains contains CBDV in concentrations previously thought impossible. As a new cannabinoid, it will be a while until CBDV reaches the same potency as CBD in hemp, but our insistence on the best indoor cultivation environments ensures the highest yields possible regardless of inherent genetic limitations.
With the addition of CBDV to the Secret Nature lineup, our customers have a brand-new way to experience hemp. In the end, we think you’ll realize there’s nothing that mind-blowing about each new cannabinoid as it comes out.
What’s truly amazing is how cannabinoids interact with each other and combine into a powerful whole. Over the next decade or so, we’ll continue enhancing and understanding individual components of the hemp plant via selective breeding as we learn how to write a symphony of cannabinoids that stirs every recess of the human body, mind, and soul.
What is CBDV FAQ
You’re now a certified expert in the basics of CBDV. There’s always more to know with any subject, though, so let’s answer a few more commonly asked questions:
1. What is the difference between CBD and CBDV?
While CBDV and CBD are largely the same, there are a few key differences between these cannabinoids that are worth noting. First, the chemical structure of CBDV is slightly different from that of CBD — all “varin” cannabinoids contain two fewer carbon atoms in their carboxyl side groups.
Also CBDV and CBD have somewhat different effects. To the average hemp consumer, these differences might not be noticeable, but they’re significant from a clinical perspective. CBD and CBDV are researched for different things, and scientists believe these two similar cannabinoids might one day be used in very dissimilar applications.
Lastly, CBD and CBDV are undeniably different from an economic perspective. While CBD is widely available in thousands of different product forms, the CBDV industry is still in its infancy, and high-quality CBDV products are still few and far between.
2. Does CBDV get you high?
No, CBDV will not get you high. Like CBD, this cannabinoid is non-intoxicating, which means it doesn’t have any of the properties commonly associated with a cannabis high.
Instead, the effects of CBDV are much like those of CBD — relaxing and mild. The CBDV experience varies from person to person, but most customers report that this cannabinoid feels pretty similar to CBD even though it might be significantly different under the hood.
3. What does CBDV stand for?
The acronym “CBDV” stands for cannabidivarin. This seemingly long, confusing scientific name is actually pretty simple to puzzle out: The “canna” refers to compounds exclusive to the Cannabis sativa plant, the “bidi” refers to cannabis compounds in the cannabidiol family, and the “varin” denotes that this cannabinoid has a shorter carboxyl group than normal cannabinoids.
4. What is CBDV good for?
Federal regulators haven’t determined the potential uses of CBDV. As a hemp constituent, CBDV is protected under the 2018 Farm Bill, but no approvals of CBDV-based drugs or medications have been released, and research into this cannabinoid is still inconclusive.
With that said, people who use CBDV commonly turn to this cannabinoid for help with autism, anxiety, pain, intestinal inflammation, and epilepsy. The majority of CBDV research has centered around these and similar conditions, leading to hope that this cannabinoid may join CBD as an alternative or augmentor.
5. Is CBDV good for autism?
Regardless of our opinion on the matter, the internet appears to have concluded the potential benefits of CBDV for autism are significant enough to merit further inquiry. In some cases, parents of autistic children have gone to immense lengths to secure CBDV-rich products — the hemp industry always evolves too slowly for those in need.
Anyone in search of high-quality, clean CBDV products can now breathe a sigh of relief. As the nation’s most trusted hemp brand, Secret Nature puts the CBDV revolution in safe hands.
6. What is CBDVA?
Cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA) is the chemical precursor to CBDV, which means it’s the substance that CBDV came from. All cannabinoids, in fact, come from chemical precursors called carboxylic acids. The only difference between a carboxylic acid and a cannabinoid is a carboxyl side chain, which is shed via oxidation.
So far, CBDVA isn’t a significant target of research in itself. Scientists are more interested in what CBDV can do and the way this cannabinoid relates to CBD.
Carboxylic acid cannabinoid precursors in general, though, are getting a lot more attention recently. CBGA, the precursor to CBG, is also the precursor to a lot of other cannabinoids, and as CBGA gets more attention, CBDVA will get its moment in the sun as well.
7. What are the best CBDV strains?
Right now, the world of CBDV-rich hemp flower strains is still very limited. We were extremely lucky to secure the CBDV genetics that we did, and we’re proud to welcome Pine Walker and Forbidden V to the Secret Nature hemp flower lineup.]
It’s our belief that these two strains represent the absolute pinnacle of current CBDV breeding. As the industry progresses, we’ll continue evolving our CBDV flower lineup to match.
