CBDVA (cannabidivarinic acid) is the acid form of CBDV that the living hemp plant makes; heat turns it into CBDV. It is a "varin" cannabinoid: its side chain has three carbon atoms instead of the five in CBDA. Fresh hemp contains only small amounts, and research on it is limited to lab and animal studies.
Key facts
- Formula
- C20H26O4 (CBDA is C22H30O4)
- Related to
- The varin version of CBDA; becomes CBDV when heated (decarboxylation)
- Amount in hemp
- Small; 0.6% of the acidic cannabinoids in one CBD-rich hemp variety
- Intoxicating?
- No evidence that it is; it has not been tested in people
- Research
- Cell and mouse studies only (as of October 2026)
Prefer watching? This video covers the main points.
What is CBDVA?
Hemp makes its cannabinoids as acids. The best known is CBDA, the acid form of CBD. CBDVA is its close relative: same basic structure, but with a propyl side chain (three carbons) instead of a pentyl chain (five carbons). Cannabinoids with the shorter chain are called varins, which is where the "V" in the name comes from.
The shorter chain shows in the formula. CBDVA is C20H26O4, while CBDA is C22H30O4 (PubChem). A 2016 review of all known phytocannabinoids explains that the plant's cannabinoids differ mainly in this side chain and in how their rings are built (Hanuš et al., 2016).
How does CBDVA turn into CBDV?
Like other cannabinoid acids, CBDVA loses a carboxyl group when it is heated. This step, called decarboxylation, turns it into CBDV (cannabidivarin). Drying and storage start the process too.
A 2024 study showed how quickly this begins. In resin taken straight from the glands of a CBD-rich hemp variety, CBDVA made up 0.6% of the acidic cannabinoids. After 15 days of air-drying in the dark, CBDVA was no longer detected in the flower extract (Kim et al., 2024). Read more about how heat affects cannabinoids.
CBDVA vs CBDA vs CBDV: what is the difference?
| Feature | CBDVA | CBDA | CBDV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form | Acid (raw) | Acid (raw) | Neutral (after heating) |
| Side chain | 3 carbons (varin) | 5 carbons | 3 carbons (varin) |
| Formula | C20H26O4 | C22H30O4 | C19H26O2 |
| Amount in hemp | Small | Usually the main cannabinoid in CBD hemp | Small |
Sources for the table: PubChem; Kim et al., 2024. See also What is CBDA?
What does research on CBDVA show?
Only laboratory and animal work exists so far:
- In a screen of cannabis compounds in a mouse model of a rare childhood epilepsy, CBDVA was one of three acids that showed anticonvulsant properties against heat-induced seizures (Anderson et al., 2021).
- In human cells grown in the lab, CBDVA blocked T-type calcium channels and the GPR55 receptor (Udoh et al., 2022).
- In the plant itself, CBDVA seems to play a defensive role. Aphids multiplied far less on a high-CBDVA hemp line, and adding CBDVA to their feed reduced their offspring (MacWilliams et al., 2025).
None of this shows an effect in people. Several authors of the first two studies hold patents on cannabinoid therapies, which the papers declare.
Is CBDVA in CBD products?
Sometimes, in small amounts. Because heat converts it, CBDVA mainly survives in raw or gently processed extracts. A US analysis of 80 over-the-counter CBD oils tested for CBDVA among 15 minor cannabinoids. It found that minor cannabinoid levels varied widely and were mostly missing from the labels (Johnson et al., 2025). To see what a specific batch contains, check its certificate. Our guide on how to read a certificate of analysis explains the columns.
Frequently asked questions
What is CBDVA?
CBDVA (cannabidivarinic acid) is a cannabinoid acid made by the hemp plant. It is the varin version of CBDA, with a three-carbon side chain, and it turns into CBDV when heated.
What is the difference between CBDVA and CBDA?
Both are raw cannabinoid acids. CBDA has a five-carbon side chain and becomes CBD when heated. CBDVA has a three-carbon side chain and becomes CBDV.
Does CBDVA get you high?
There is no evidence that it does, but it has never been tested in people, so the question is open.
What are the effects of CBDVA?
No effects in people have been studied. Lab and mouse studies looked at its action on calcium channels and in a seizure model, and plant studies suggest it helps hemp defend itself against aphids.
How much CBDVA is in hemp?
Very little. In one CBD-rich hemp variety, CBDVA made up 0.6% of the acidic cannabinoids in fresh resin and was no longer detected after 15 days of drying.
Related guides
This article summarises published research. It is not medical advice. Formula Swiss CBD oils are sold as cosmetics for use on the skin. They are not food supplements or medicines and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Last reviewed:
Sources
- Kim ES, Park SH, Kinney CA, Olejar KJ, Corredor-Perilla IC. Comparison of decarboxylation rates of acidic cannabinoids between secretory cavity contents and air-dried inflorescence extracts in Cannabis sativa cv. 'Cherry Wine'. Sci Rep 2024;14(1):16411. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-66420-3
- Hanuš LO, Meyer SM, Muñoz E, Taglialatela-Scafati O, Appendino G. Phytocannabinoids: a unified critical inventory. Nat Prod Rep 2016;33(12):1357–1392. doi:10.1039/c6np00074f
- Anderson LL, Heblinski M, Absalom NL, et al. Cannabigerolic acid, a major biosynthetic precursor molecule in cannabis, exhibits divergent effects on seizures in mouse models of epilepsy. Br J Pharmacol 2021;178(24):4826–4841. doi:10.1111/bph.15661
- Udoh M, Bladen C, Heblinski M, et al. The anticonvulsant phytocannabinoids CBGVA and CBDVA inhibit recombinant T-type channels. Front Pharmacol 2022;13:1048259. doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.1048259
- MacWilliams J, Padimi V, Carter O, et al. Assessing the adaptive role of cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA) in aphid defense in Cannabis sativa. J Cannabis Res 2025;7(1):34. doi:10.1186/s42238-025-00291-x
- Johnson E, Kilgore M, Nuzzo P, Babalonis S. Minor cannabinoid profile of unregulated cannabidiol products. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2025;10(2):220–227. doi:10.1089/can.2024.0058
- PubChem. Cannabidivarinic acid (CID 59444387); Cannabidiolic acid (CID 160570); Cannabidivarin (CID 11601669). National Library of Medicine
