How the body processes a hemp-derived product containing both raw and activated cannabinoids | Research

The takeaway

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.

Hemp product consumers and formulators, cannabinoid researchers, and clinicians advising patients on cannabinoid products.

CBDA reached 19-25x higher blood levels than CBD

What the researchers 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.

Why it 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 numbers in context

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 the study worked

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.

What this study cannot 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.

How to read the evidence

Well-designed placebo-controlled human study with detailed pharmacokinetics, though small sample and ascending dose design limit generalizability.

When this study was published

Published in 2025.

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.

Questions still open

Should hemp products be reformulated to optimize acidic cannabinoid content? Does CBDA's superior bioavailability translate to greater therapeutic effects?

Common 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 the original research

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

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

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