CBDV (cannabidivarin) is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in hemp and other cannabis plants, the "varin" version of CBD with a three-carbon side chain instead of five. Most hemp contains only small amounts. CBDV has been studied for epilepsy and autism, but human research is limited to a few small trials.
Key facts
- What it is
- A phytocannabinoid with the formula C₁₉H₂₆O₂, the propyl (three-carbon) homologue of CBD
- First described
- 1969, by a German research group (Vollner, Bieniek and Korte)
- Intoxicating?
- No. It binds the CB1 receptor only very weakly
- Where it is highest
- Reported mainly in drug landraces of the indica gene pool, from southern Asia and Africa
- Human research (as of October 2026)
- Small trials only: one open-label trial in five children and single-dose brain-imaging studies in adults
- In Formula Swiss oils (certificates of April 2026)
- 0.05% in Zermatt Balance and St. Moritz Restore; not detected in our other oils
What is CBDV (cannabidivarin)?
CBDV is one of the "varin" cannabinoids, which have a propyl side chain of three carbon atoms where the better-known cannabinoids have a pentyl chain of five. Its structure is otherwise the same as CBD's, so its formula is C₁₉H₂₆O₂ instead of CBD's C₂₁H₃₀O₂ (PubChem). German chemists first described it in 1969 (Vollner et al., 1969).
In the plant, the varins start from divarinolic acid instead of olivetolic acid. Joined to geranyl pyrophosphate, it forms cannabigerovarinic acid (CBGVA), the varin counterpart of CBGA (Shaw et al., 2022). Like CBD, CBDV is made as an acid, cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA), first isolated from Thai cannabis (Shoyama et al., 1977). Heat removes the acid group and turns it into CBDV. Its closest relatives are CBGV and THCV.
CBDV vs CBD vs THCV: what's the difference?
| CBDV | CBD | THCV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side chain | Propyl (3 carbons) | Pentyl (5 carbons) | Propyl (3 carbons) |
| Formula | C₁₉H₂₆O₂ | C₂₁H₃₀O₂ | C₁₉H₂₆O₂ |
| Intoxicating? | No | No | Low doses were like placebo in small trials; higher doses barely studied (see our THCV guide) |
| CB1 and CB2 receptors | Very weak binding | Weak binding; blocks other agonists in lab tests | Blocks CB1 in some tests; partial activator of CB2 |
| Amount in typical hemp | Trace to small | The main cannabinoid | Trace to small |
| Studied in people | A few small trials | Many trials | A few small trials |
The receptor data come from lab studies: CBDV's binding constant at human CB1 was 14,711 nM, the weakest of seven cannabinoids tested, and 574 nM at CB2 (Rosenthaler et al., 2014). THCV's profile is from Pertwee (2008). For CBD itself, see what is CBD?
Does CBDV get you high?
No. CBDV is described as non-intoxicating in the clinical studies that have tested it (Pretzsch et al., 2019), and it binds the CB1 receptor, which THC uses to cause a high, only very weakly (Rosenthaler et al., 2014). For the cannabinoids that do intoxicate, see which cannabinoids are psychoactive.
What are CBDV's effects, and what has it been studied for?
Searches for "CBDV benefits" or "CBDV effects" usually lead to long lists. The table shows what has actually been studied and in what kind of study. None of it shows that a CBDV product prevents or treats a condition.
| Area | Type of study | What was reported |
|---|---|---|
| Seizures | Animal: four seizure models in mice and rats | Anticonvulsant effects in three models, with no effect on motor function (Hill et al., 2012) |
| Epilepsy in Rett syndrome | Human: open-label phase 1 trial, five girls, no placebo group | Fewer seizures in all five (median 79%); sleepiness and drooling were judged related to CBDV (Hurley et al., 2022) |
| Brain chemistry in autism | Human: single 600 mg dose vs placebo, 34 men with and without autism | Changed glutamate levels in one brain region, not in another; no behaviour measured (Pretzsch et al., 2019) |
| Brain connectivity in autism | Human: single dose vs placebo, 28 men | Shifted connectivity of the striatum in autistic men; whether this affects symptoms is unknown (Pretzsch et al., 2021) |
| Skin oil production | Lab: human sebocytes | Minor effect on normal lipid production; reduced lipid production triggered in an acne-like model (Oláh et al., 2016) |
A 2021 review of the animal and human data on epilepsy and autism concluded that CBDV has attracted interest, but the evidence is still early (Zamberletti et al., 2021). The human studies tested CBDV as an experimental medicine in clinical settings. Our oils are cosmetics for use on the skin, so these results don't apply to them.
Is CBDV safe?
There are too few human data to say much. In the Rett syndrome trial, 91% of side effects were mild or moderate, none led to stopping the treatment, and no serious adverse event was related to CBDV (Hurley et al., 2022). That was five children over a limited period, and we are not aware of long-term human safety data. Our guide to CBD side effects covers the much better-studied CBD.
Which cannabis strains contain more CBDV?
In a study of 157 cannabis accessions, plants with relatively high levels of THCV or CBDV were common only in the group the authors classed as C. indica (Hillig and Mahlberg, 2004). In the same collection, that gene pool included drug landraces from southern Asia and Africa (Hillig, 2005). Breeders can select for varins, but named "high-CBDV" strains are rarely backed by published lab data. Only a certificate of analysis shows how much a product actually contains; our guide on how to read a certificate of analysis explains what to look for.
CBDV oil and products: which of our oils contain CBDV?
We don't sell a CBDV oil. Our certificates of analysis include a CBDV measurement, and the April 2026 certificates (report 260410_A01, analysed 8 April 2026) found it in two full-spectrum oils:
| Oil | CBDV | CBD |
|---|---|---|
| Zermatt Balance | 0.05% | 15.83% |
| St. Moritz Restore | 0.05% | 25.13% |
| Lucerne Calm | Not detected | 20.50% |
| Lugano Clarity | Not detected | 10.47% |
CBDV was also not detected in our Pet Routine oils for dogs, cats and horses. The certificates are on our test results page, and all our oils are in the CBD oil collection. For why a full-spectrum oil carries minor cannabinoids such as CBDV, see full spectrum vs broad spectrum vs isolate.
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 CBDV (cannabidivarin)?
CBDV, or cannabidivarin, is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid from hemp and other cannabis plants. It has the same structure as CBD except for a shorter, three-carbon side chain.
What does CBDV do?
In animal studies it reduced seizures in several models, and small human studies have looked at epilepsy in Rett syndrome and brain chemistry in autism. These were early studies, and none shows that a CBDV product treats a condition.
Does CBDV get you high?
No. CBDV binds the CB1 receptor, through which THC causes a high, only very weakly, and the clinical studies describe it as non-intoxicating.
What is the difference between CBDV and THCV?
Both have a three-carbon side chain and the same formula, but CBDV has CBD's open ring structure and THCV has THC's closed one. THCV can block CB1 in lab tests and activate CB2, while CBDV binds both receptors only weakly.
Is there CBDV in Formula Swiss oils?
Yes, in small amounts in two oils: the April 2026 certificates measured 0.05% CBDV in Zermatt Balance and St. Moritz Restore. It was not detected in our other oils.
Which cannabis strains are high in CBDV?
Higher CBDV levels have mainly been reported in landrace cannabis of the indica gene pool, which includes drug landraces from southern Asia and Africa. Claims about named strains are rarely backed by published lab data, so check the certificate of analysis.
This article summarises published research. It is not medical advice. Formula Swiss oils are cosmetics for use on the skin, and our pet oils are for external use. See our full disclaimer.
Last reviewed:
Sources
- Vollner L, Bieniek D, Korte F. Haschisch XX: Cannabidivarin, ein neuer Haschisch-Inhaltsstoff. Tetrahedron Lett 1969;10(3):145–147. doi:10.1016/S0040-4039(01)87494-3
- Shoyama Y, Hirano H, Makino H et al. Cannabis. X. The isolation and structures of four new propyl cannabinoid acids … from Thai cannabis, 'Meao variant'. Chem Pharm Bull 1977;25(9):2306–2311. doi:10.1248/cpb.25.2306
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- Hurley EN, Ellaway CJ, Johnson AM et al. Efficacy and safety of cannabidivarin treatment of epilepsy in girls with Rett syndrome: a phase 1 clinical trial. Epilepsia 2022;63(7):1736–1747. doi:10.1111/epi.17247
- Pretzsch CM, Voinescu B, Lythgoe D et al. Effects of cannabidivarin (CBDV) on brain excitation and inhibition systems in adults with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD): a single dose trial during magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Transl Psychiatry 2019;9:313. doi:10.1038/s41398-019-0654-8
- Pretzsch CM, Floris DL, Voinescu B et al. Modulation of striatal functional connectivity differences in adults with and without autism spectrum disorder in a single-dose randomized trial of cannabidivarin. Mol Autism 2021;12:49. doi:10.1186/s13229-021-00454-6
- Oláh A, Markovics A, Szabó-Papp J et al. Differential effectiveness of selected non-psychotropic phytocannabinoids on human sebocyte functions. Exp Dermatol 2016;25(9):701–707. doi:10.1111/exd.13042
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- Formula Swiss. Certificates of analysis, report 260410_A01 (analysed 8 April 2026).
