CBCA (cannabichromenic acid) is the acid form of CBC that cannabis makes from CBGA with its own enzyme, CBCA synthase. Heat turns CBCA into CBC (cannabichromene). CBCA is one of the three main cannabinoid acids alongside THCA and CBDA, but it is far less studied: research so far is limited to the laboratory.
Key facts
- Full name
- Cannabichromenic acid, abbreviated CBCA
- Formula
- C22H30O4, the same formula as THCA and CBDA, with a different structure
- How it forms
- CBCA synthase converts cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) into CBCA in the plant
- Becomes
- CBC (cannabichromene) when heated or stored
- In fresh plants
- About 95% of the THC, CBD and CBC in fresh biomass exists as THCA, CBDA and CBCA
- Research stage (as of October 2026)
- Laboratory studies only, mainly on bacteria and cell transport; no studies in people
What is CBCA?
CBCA is cannabichromenic acid, the acid form of CBC (cannabichromene). The plant makes it from CBGA, the same precursor it uses for THCA and CBDA. Researchers who purified the enzyme responsible, CBCA synthase, found that it turns CBGA into CBCA by direct dehydrogenation, and concluded that CBCA "is predominantly formed from cannabigerolic acid" (Morimoto et al., 1998).
In fresh plant material, cannabinoids are stored mostly as acids. A 2021 review notes that in fresh biomass, "95% of the THC, CBD, and CBC exist as their acidic parents" THCA, CBDA and CBCA (Tahir et al., 2021).
How is CBCA different from CBC, THCA and CBDA?
| CBCA | THCA | CBDA | CBC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Made from | CBGA (CBCA synthase) | CBGA (THCA synthase) | CBGA (CBDA synthase) | CBCA, by heat or time |
| Formula | C22H30O4 | C22H30O4 | C22H30O4 | C21H30O2 |
| Becomes when heated | CBC | THC | CBD | (already neutral) |
| Research | Laboratory only | Cell and animal studies | Cell, animal and absorption studies | Cell and animal studies |
For the neighbouring acids, read what is THCA? and what is CBDA?
How does CBCA turn into CBC?
Like the other cannabinoid acids, CBCA loses its carboxyl group as carbon dioxide when heated or stored, and becomes CBC. The cannabinoid acids "decarboxylate to the more familiar forms during storage, upon heating, or under alkaline conditions" (Tahir et al., 2021). CBC and CBCA also exist as mirror-image forms (enantiomers), and analytical chemists have developed methods to separate them and study how they convert into each other (Russo et al., 2024). See how heat affects cannabinoids. Light can then turn CBC into CBL (cannabicyclol).
What does research say about CBCA?
All research on CBCA so far is in the laboratory:
- Bacteria: in a 2020 laboratory study, CBCA killed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) faster than vancomycin in test-tube assays, while mammalian cells stayed viable (Galletta et al., 2020). A 2024 study found that CBCA and five other cannabinoids inhibited MRSA growth in plate assays (Jackson et al., 2024).
- Cell transport: in cell assays, CBCA was carried by the ABCB1 transporter, a protein that pumps substances back out of gut and brain cells. The authors suggest this "might contribute to its poor absorption" (Etchart et al., 2022).
Test-tube results on bacteria do not show that CBCA works as an antibiotic in people or animals, and no such studies exist yet. For context, see what are minor cannabinoids?
Is CBCA in CBD oil?
Usually only in traces. Most CBD oils are made from decarboxylated extract, in which acids such as CBCA have largely turned into their neutral forms. Certificates made by gas chromatography report CBCA as CBC, because the test heats the sample. Our test results show the cannabinoids measured in each batch, and our guide to reading a certificate of analysis explains the method.
From our production
We test every batch in Switzerland, and we have never had a failed test since 2013. I sign every certificate of analysis myself.
— Robin Roy Krigslund-Hansen, co-founder and CEO
Frequently asked questions
What is CBCA?
CBCA (cannabichromenic acid) is the acid form of CBC. The cannabis plant makes it from CBGA with the enzyme CBCA synthase, and heat turns it into CBC.
What is the difference between CBCA and CBC?
CBCA carries an extra carboxyl (acid) group. When heated or stored, it loses that group as carbon dioxide and becomes CBC.
Does CBCA get you high?
There are no studies of CBCA's effects in people. It is an acid like CBDA, and it turns into CBC, not THC, when heated.
Is CBCA an antibiotic?
No. In laboratory tests, CBCA killed MRSA bacteria in test tubes. As of October 2026, there are no studies in animals or people, so it is not an antibiotic.
Where does CBCA come from?
From CBGA, the plant's first cannabinoid acid. CBCA synthase converts CBGA into CBCA, just as other enzymes convert it into THCA and CBDA.
This article is general information about cannabis science. It makes no claims about the effects of Formula Swiss products, which are sold as cosmetics for use on the skin, and it is not medical advice. Read our full disclaimer.
Last reviewed:
Sources
- Morimoto S, et al. Purification and characterization of cannabichromenic acid synthase from Cannabis sativa. Phytochemistry 1998. doi:10.1016/s0031-9422(98)00278-7
- Tahir MN, et al. The biosynthesis of the cannabinoids. Journal of Cannabis Research 2021. doi:10.1186/s42238-021-00062-4
- Russo F, et al. Bidimensional heart-cut achiral-chiral liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry for the separation of the main chiral phytocannabinoids and enantiomerization studies of cannabichromene and cannabichromenic acid. Talanta 2024. doi:10.1016/j.talanta.2023.125161
- Galletta M, et al. Rapid antibacterial activity of cannabichromenic acid against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Antibiotics 2020. doi:10.3390/antibiotics9080523
- Jackson J, et al. Combinations of cannabinoids with silver salts or silver nanoparticles for synergistic antibiotic effects against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Antibiotics 2024. doi:10.3390/antibiotics13060473
- Etchart MG, et al. In vitro evaluation of the interaction of the cannabis constituents cannabichromene and cannabichromenic acid with ABCG2 and ABCB1 transporters. European Journal of Pharmacology 2022. doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.174836
- PubChem. Cannabichromenic acid (CID 3084339). National Library of Medicine.
