How the body processes a hemp-derived product containing both raw and activated cannabinoids
Raw (acidic) forms of cannabinoids like CBDA and THCA showed dramatically higher absorption and faster onset than their activated counterparts CBD and THC, and even low THC doses produced intoxication when combined with other cannabinoids.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
CBDA and THCA achieved 19-25 times higher peak blood concentrations and reached peak levels up to twice as fast compared to CBD and THC. The highest dose (containing only 7.2mg THC) produced moderate cognitive impairment and subjective intoxication.
Key Numbers
15 participants. At 4 mg/kg: CBD ~134.5mg, CBDA ~142.8mg, THC ~7.2mg, THCA ~5.3mg. CBDA peak concentration was 19-25x higher than CBD. Effects peaked 3-5 hours post-dose. Cannabinoids detectable at 48 hours.
How They Did This
Double-blind, placebo-controlled, ascending-dose study in 15 healthy adults ingesting soft gels at approximately 1, 2, and 4 mg/kg total cannabinoids, with 8 hours of monitoring plus 24- and 48-hour blood draws.
Why This Research Matters
Most cannabinoid research focuses on decarboxylated forms (CBD, THC), but many commercial products contain raw acidic forms. The finding that CBDA absorbs far better than CBD could reshape how hemp products are formulated.
The Bigger Picture
The hemp product market often assumes raw and activated cannabinoids are interchangeable. This study challenges that assumption, showing that acidic cannabinoids may be pharmacologically distinct and potentially more bioavailable.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Small sample of 15 healthy adults. Ascending dose design (not fully randomized across doses) may introduce order effects. Results from a specific product formulation may not generalize to all hemp products.
Questions This Raises
- ?Should hemp products be reformulated to optimize acidic cannabinoid content?
- ?Does CBDA's superior bioavailability translate to greater therapeutic effects?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- CBDA reached 19-25x higher blood levels than CBD
- Evidence Grade:
- Well-designed placebo-controlled human study with detailed pharmacokinetics, though small sample and ascending dose design limit generalizability.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025.
- Original Title:
- The Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of a Hemp-Derived "Full-Spectrum" Oral Cannabinoid Product with a 1:1 Ratio of Cannabidiol to Cannabidiolic Acid and Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol to Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Within-Subjects Human Laboratory Study.
- Published In:
- Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 10(2), e299-e313 (2025)
- Authors:
- Elder, Harrison J(2), Zamarripa, C Austin(9), Klausner, McKenna(3), Wakshlag, Joseph, Davis, Robert, Dresser, Beth, Kjaer, Christian, Weerts, Elise M, Vandrey, Ryan, Spindle, Tory R
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06397
Evidence Hierarchy
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or placebo groups to test cause and effect.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Are raw cannabinoids absorbed better than activated ones?
Yes. This study found CBDA reached 19-25 times higher blood concentrations than CBD, and THCA was similarly more bioavailable than THC, suggesting raw forms may be more efficiently absorbed.
Can a hemp product with low THC still cause intoxication?
Yes. The highest dose contained only 7.2mg of THC but produced moderate cognitive impairment and subjective intoxication, likely due to interactions with other cannabinoids in the full-spectrum product.
Read More on RethinkTHC
- CBD-oil-quality-guide
- anxiety-medication-after-quitting-weed
- cannabis-chemotherapy-nausea
- cannabis-chronic-pain-research
- cannabis-epilepsy-CBD-Epidiolex
- cbd-anxiety-research-evidence
- cbd-for-weed-withdrawal
- cbd-vs-thc-difference
- medical-benefits-of-cannabis
- quitting-weed-before-surgery
- quitting-weed-medication-interactions
- quitting-weed-pregnancy
- quitting-weed-pregnant
- seniors-older-adults-cannabis-risks-medications
- weed-breastfeeding-THC-breast-milk
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06397APA
Elder, Harrison J; Zamarripa, C Austin; Klausner, McKenna; Wakshlag, Joseph; Davis, Robert; Dresser, Beth; Kjaer, Christian; Weerts, Elise M; Vandrey, Ryan; Spindle, Tory R. (2025). The Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of a Hemp-Derived "Full-Spectrum" Oral Cannabinoid Product with a 1:1 Ratio of Cannabidiol to Cannabidiolic Acid and Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol to Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Within-Subjects Human Laboratory Study.. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 10(2), e299-e313. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2024.0187
MLA
Elder, Harrison J, et al. "The Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of a Hemp-Derived "Full-Spectrum" Oral Cannabinoid Product with a 1:1 Ratio of Cannabidiol to Cannabidiolic Acid and Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol to Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Within-Subjects Human Laboratory Study.." Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2024.0187
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "The Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of a Hemp-Derived ..." RTHC-06397. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/elder-2025-the-pharmacokinetics-and-pharmacodynamics
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.