Cannabis and hemp are plants that never seem to stop surprising us. Beverages, edibles, smokable flower, concentrates and topicals are just some of the products created from these amazing plants, delivering wonderful benefits to our body and mind.
You are probably aware of what THC and CBD cannabinoids do in our bodies. These are the most known compounds for users all around the world. However, since research on this plant is starting to increase, you will find new names like CBDV appearing on your cannabis products’ labels. For this reason, we have created this article to help you learn about one of the new cannabinoids that is currently being studied to discover the benefits it can provide to our bodies.
What is CBDV?
Also known as cannabidivarin, CBDV is one of the over 100 cannabinoids found in cannabis. It is related to the famous CBD, which means they also share similar effects. This compound was discovered in 1969, but only now it started to gain the attention of researchers due to the growth of the cannabis market and the potential benefits it could have just like CBD and THC, which have been studied thoroughly over the years, despite the great amount of restriction regarding cannabis.
CBDV comes mostly from landrace strains from India, Pakistan and Mexico, often being of indica type. Landrace means that the hemp plant developed in its natural habitat and was not crossbred with other plants of the same species. This cannabinoid can be found in plants that have higher levels of CBD than THC in them.
CBDV Cannabinoid
Just like any other cannabinoids, CBDV interacts with the endocannabinoid system. However, the way it does is very different from THC or CBD. While these cannabinoids exert their effects by interacting with the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the endocannabinoid system, the effect of CBDV is activated via the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), a channel in the central and peripheral nervous system. This receptor plays a part in pain transmission and modulation. For this reason, CBDV is a great way to treat chronic pain.
CBDV Benefits
Unlike many other cannabinoids that are only beginning to be studied now, CBDV has undergo plenty of research, allowing scientists to discover the many benefits it provides to our health. As we already mentioned, it is related to CBD, which means it delivers similar properties. However, the true potential found in CBDV is its ability to strengthen the benefits of CBD in terms of health. We have listed some of the most relevant conditions that can be treated with CBDV here:
- Autism
- Epilepsy
- Rett syndrome
- Neuropathic pain
- Nausea
- Increased appetite
- Muscle deterioration
- Mood disorders
- Chronic dry skin
- Acne
As you can see, most of the benefits of CBDV are related to clinical conditions that CBD cannot effectively treat. For this reason, laboratories such as GW Pharmaceuticals have begun to perform different research on this cannabinoid. As a result, this laboratory developed a
CBDV-based drug to treat epilepsy.
Although there is a lot of ground to cover about this cannabinoid, it is possible to find more information about the specific properties it has to treat some of the conditions listed above:
CBDV and Autism
GW Pharma performed studies to identify the possible medical applications of the cannabinoid for autism spectrum disorder, specifically on children. According to the results, the administration CBDV as a complementary treatment has the potential to
treat cognitive and social issues, as well as to reduce repetitive behaviours. Ever since, a study is exploring the use of CBDV on
autistic children, who are being treated with doses of 10mg/kg/day in order to establish the safety of such cannabinoid for children.
CBDV and Epilepsy
CBDV showed powerful anticonvulsant effects on epileptic seizures performed in mice. Although there is human testing yet to come, CBDV was found to affect the neurochemical pathway of the receptors involved in the progression of epilepsy. In addition, it could also be used as a potential treatment for epileptic fits. In both cases, the cannabinoid didn’t affect motor function, which makes it a promising treatment for patients.
CBDV Effects
The effects produced by CBDV are relatively the same as CBD. It works as a great pain reliever due to its anti-inflammatory properties, has antioxidant agents and is a muscle relaxant as well.
Just like its counterpart CBD, CBDV doesn’t generate the “euphoria” associated with THC, making it a non-psychoactive cannabinoid. On the other hand, it may cause drowsiness, dry eyes and dry mouth. More effects produced by CBDV are yet to be discovered, but the recent studies have shown promising results, which make it a cannabinoid many hemp companies wish to incorporate to their products.
What is CBDV Flower?
After the wonderful news about CBDV benefits, many farmers and companies around the globe have begun to look for opportunities to grow high CBDV hemp plants. However, most of the products that are starting to be released are oils and isolates, since they are the best methods of consumption.
For this reason, finding CBDV flower on the market might be quite difficult for the time being. You will probably have a small percentage of this cannabinoid in high CBD flowers, but that’s about it. However, companies like HiLo Seed have started to breed CBDV dominant plants, selling two kinds of seeds: Garlic Jam and Guava Jam.
According to HiLo Seed, CBDV dominant plants “grow extremely vigorous in almost all climates and all soil types.” This is thanks to its robust root systems, so if farmers wait until July or August to plant, the plant can grow up to 13 foot. In addition, they have the dense nug structure of a common kush plant, which delivers a high yield in a short amount of time.
Thanks to companies like HiLo Seed, we may expect CBD companies producing CBDV flower for those who enjoy smoking a good hemp flower. For the time being, you can stick to the reliable
CBD flower, which can contain small percentages of CBDV if it has been adequately grown and cured.
CBDV Oil
CBDV oils have begun to be sold in the market, even though the FDA has not yet declared it a cannabinoid for medical use. This method of consumption is one of the most effective, since it can be used by sublingual administration, proven to make the cannabinoids of the hemp plant interact with the bloodstream much faster, thus providing the desired benefits efficiently and almost instantly.
You can find CBDV oil online and at local shops, but it is important to check the company you are buying from has third-party lab tests for all its products in order to avoid putting your health at risk.
CBDV Isolate
The purest form of CBDV are isolates, which are created in order to deliver stronger effects than oils. CBDV isolates are common because of their potential uses as an epilepsy treatment. For instance, products like
these can be found from certified pharmaceuticals in order to use them by sublingual administration or as an addition to food. However, it is important to take into account that the FDA is yet to establish whether CBDV isolate can be considered a medical treatment.
CBDV Laws
As of now, the law does not specifically address the use of CBDV due to the little research related to it. On the other hand, the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp and hemp-derived products for its manufacture, distribution and consumption as long as they contain less than .3% THC levels. Since the reason behind it is THC being the compound that produces the “high”, products with high levels of CBDV are not a problem, because it is not psychoactive.
As far as we are concerned, the hemp market has been thriving in ways no one thought possible years ago. Thanks to the amazing reaction of consumers and farmers all over the world, researchers are starting to conduct thorough research to find out more about the different wonders cannabis has in store for us. For that reason, many other cannabinoids like CBDV are being isolated and turned into products that could potentially aid patients find the health benefits they demand. In the future, we are sure we will find several options of hemp products for our specific needs, replacing many of the pharmaceuticals that put our lives at risk with their side effects.
