C20H28O4 · MW ≈ 332.44 · CAS 64924-07-8 · non-intoxicating raw acid · the varin "mother acid" · acid of CBGV · decarboxylates to CBGV (~110–130 °C) · precursor to THCVA / CBDVA
40 questions are answered here. 23 carry a verified grade on the six-rung evidence ladder. 13 are marked with an evidence state rather than a rung — most often no primary evidence, which means our registry holds nothing on that question. That is not the same claim as not supported, and we do not render it as one. The remaining 4 carry an author qualifier that is not yet part of the controlled vocabulary, so they are shown without a grade chip rather than with a guessed one — catalogue in progress.
Verified science — what CBGVA *is*, its formula/CAS, how it forms, that it decarboxylates to CBGV, and that the raw acid is non-intoxicating — is stated as fact with a grade. Any effect or benefit is **reported as a third-party claim** and paired with the honest limit; **CBG Atlas does not make, adopt, or affirm these claims**. Where evidence is thin we say "catalogue in progress." Not medical or legal advice.
CBGVA (cannabigerovarinic acid) is the raw, non-intoxicating acid at the head of the varin cannabinoid branch — the "varin mother acid." On heating it decarboxylates to CBGV. Its chemical identity is well established, but its own effects in people are essentially unstudied.
CBGVA stands for cannabigerovarinic acid — the carboxylic-acid ("-ic acid") form of cannabigerovarin (CBGV), which is itself the varin (propyl-side-chain) homolog of CBG. The "A" marks the carboxyl group the living plant makes first. Its formula is C20H28O4, molecular weight ≈ 332.44, CAS 64924-07-8. The name describes chemistry, and that chemistry is Established; it implies no effect.
CBGVA is assembled on the varin pathway — from divarinic acid plus a prenyl group — as the propyl counterpart to CBGA on the main line. It is the shared precursor the varin synthases convert into THCVA and CBDVA. This upstream enzymology is general biochemistry.
Yes. CBGVA is a naturally occurring cannabinoid acid found in raw, unheated cannabis, particularly in varin-rich chemotypes. It is the form the living plant actually makes; the neutral CBGV appears mainly after heating, drying, or aging drives off CO₂ from the acid.
No. As a raw cannabinoid acid, CBGVA is non-intoxicating — cannabinoid acids don't activate the CB1 receptor the way THC does. Its heated product, CBGV, is also non-intoxicating. There is no verified evidence that CBGVA produces any high in people.
No — CBGVA is not known to be intoxicating, and its heated form CBGV is non-intoxicating as well. Whether the raw acid has any subtle psychoactive effect on mood or alertness is genuinely unstudied rather than studied-and-ruled-out: no controlled human data on CBGVA exist in either direction. That half of the question stays catalogue in progress, and we would rather say so than guess.
CBGVA's effects in the body are not established. The one verified in-vitro handle for cannabinoid acids as a class is inhibition of the enzyme DAGLα (De Petrocellis 2011, PMID 21175579) — a cell-level observation, not a human effect. Catalogue in progress.
Unheated, CBGVA is a non-intoxicating acid whose specific activity in people is unverified. "Raw cannabinoid" products exist, but CBGVA's raw effects are not established (not medical advice). To obtain the neutral CBGV, the acid must be decarboxylated with heat. Catalogue in progress.
Legality depends on source and jurisdiction, not the molecule alone. Where hemp-derived cannabinoids under 0.3% Δ⁹-THC are permitted, CBGVA generally falls in that framework; elsewhere it may be restricted. This is a general, dated snapshot (2026-07-11), not legal advice — verify locally.
Generally yes, with one important limit. In the US, hemp-derived CBGVA in a product at or below 0.3% Δ⁹-THC by dry weight is generally federally legal as a hemp product under the 2018 Farm Bill — but the FDA has not authorised cannabinoids as foods or dietary supplements, so a lawful hemp derivative is not automatically a lawful food ingredient. Dated 2026-07-11; general information, not legal advice.
CBGVA's status depends on your state, and we cannot determine that for you here. US state laws vary, and some restrict hemp cannabinoids more tightly than federal law. CBGVA is essentially never named specifically in statute, so it usually inherits your state's general hemp and THC rules. Check your state's current statute, or ask a qualified attorney. Dated 2026-07-11; informational only, not legal advice.
Generally no — not as a food or supplement you can freely sell. The EU and UK classify extracted cannabinoids as novel foods requiring authorisation, and CBGVA is not specifically authorised; Canada regulates isolated phytocannabinoids under the Cannabis Act. Rules differ by product class and change often, so verify the current national position before relying on this. Dated 2026-07-11; general information, not legal advice.
None are established. CBGVA has no verified human or preclinical evidence for any benefit. It is occasionally marketed within raw or full-spectrum products, but such claims are unproven and not affirmed by CBG Atlas (not medical advice). Catalogue in progress.
CBGVA is used mainly as a raw-cannabinoid or full-spectrum ingredient and as a research/reference compound; it has no established therapeutic use. Its main practical role is biochemical — the varin mother acid that becomes CBGV and precedes the other varin acids. Catalogue in progress.
No effects are established in people. The only verified data are in-vitro observations for cannabinoid acids generally (e.g., DAGLα inhibition, De Petrocellis 2011). Anything beyond that — including CBG-like activity — is unverified marketing, not evidence (not medical advice). Catalogue in progress.
No. There are no known controlled human trials of CBGVA. Its human safety and efficacy are unstudied; verified data are limited to cell-level acid observations. This is exactly why CBG Atlas marks it catalogue in progress rather than claiming benefits.
CBGVA's safety is not established — there are no human safety studies, no defined dose, and no long-term data. Non-intoxicating does not mean "proven safe." Consult a qualified professional before use, particularly alongside other medications (not medical advice). Catalogue in progress.
CBGVA's side-effect profile is unknown; no controlled studies document its adverse effects, and absence of data isn't evidence of safety. Products may contain other cannabinoids or contaminants. Stop use and seek advice if you feel unwell (not medical advice). Catalogue in progress.
No safe or effective CBGVA dose has been established, so "too much" can't be defined from evidence, and no overdose data exist. As with any unstudied compound, more is not better. This is not dosing or medical advice. Catalogue in progress.
Nobody knows, because no interaction study of CBGVA exists in people or in the laboratory — the question is untested rather than answered. Cannabinoids as a class can affect drug-metabolising enzymes, so an interaction is plausible for CBGVA but entirely unverified, and plausible is not demonstrated. If you take any medication, consult a clinician or pharmacist before use. Catalogue in progress. (Not medical advice.)
Probably not. Standard drug tests screen for THC's metabolite (THC-COOH), not CBGVA, and CBGVA does not convert to THC, so direct interference is unlikely. The real variable is any trace THC in a hemp product. CBGVA-specific cross-reactivity data are limited, so a current third-party certificate of analysis is the only way to see what a product actually contains.
CBGVA is not THC and does not decarboxylate into THC — heating yields the non-intoxicating CBGV. Pure CBGVA contains no THC. However, hemp-derived products can carry trace Δ⁹-THC unless made from isolate, so check the product's certificate of analysis (COA) for THC content.
CBGVA is not what drug tests detect and doesn't form THC, so it is unlikely to be the direct cause of a failed test. The real risk is trace THC in a hemp product. If drug-tested, choose products with a COA showing non-detectable THC.
CBGVA appears mostly in raw or full-spectrum hemp preparations and as a reference isolate, since heating converts it to CBGV. It may be used sublingually or in a raw-cannabinoid blend. These are format notes only — CBGVA has no studied route or dose (not medical advice).
CBGVA is very rare, so products are limited: some raw or full-spectrum extracts, varin-focused blends, and reference isolates for laboratories. Standalone consumer CBGVA products are uncommon, and any heated product will have converted its CBGVA to CBGV. Potency and purity vary widely between sellers, so a current third-party certificate of analysis (COA) is the only reliable way to know what is actually in the bottle.
There is no established dose for CBGVA. No clinical studies define a safe or effective amount, so CBG Atlas gives no dosing guidance. Any label amount reflects manufacturer choice, not evidence. Consult a qualified professional (not medical or dosing advice). Catalogue in progress.
To become CBGV, yes — CBGVA must be heated (decarboxylated) to lose CO₂. Kept raw, it stays a non-intoxicating acid. Whether you want the acid or the neutral form depends on the product; note that CBGVA's raw effects are themselves unstudied. Catalogue in progress.
CBGVA is the raw plant acid; CBGV is its heated, decarboxylated (neutral) form. Both are non-intoxicating and largely unstudied in people. They differ by a single carboxyl group, which leaves as CO₂ when CBGVA is heated to roughly 110–130 °C.
CBGVA and CBGA are both "mother" acids, but they head different branches: CBGVA heads the varin (propyl) series, while CBGA heads the main pentyl series. CBGA→(THCA/CBDA/CBCA) mirrors CBGVA→(THCVA/CBDVA/CBCVA). They differ only by side-chain length — two carbons — and both are non-intoxicating precursor acids. That biosynthetic relationship is Established; what either acid does in a person is a separate and largely untested question.
CBGVA is the parent of the varin acids: synthase enzymes convert CBGVA into THCVA (→THCV) and CBDVA (→CBDV). So CBGVA precedes the others, which are its branch products, exactly as CBGA precedes THCA and CBDA on the pentyl line. All three share the varin scaffold and are non-intoxicating in raw form. The pathway is Established; the varin synthases themselves are less fully characterised, so that step stays catalogue in progress.
"Raw" means the acid CBGVA is intact and non-intoxicating; "decarbed" means heat has removed its carboxyl group and left neutral CBGV. CBGVA and CBGV are chemically distinct molecules, and only decarbed material is CBGV — an Established relationship. Neither one is an approved or established treatment for anything, and CBGVA's own human evidence is catalogue in progress. (Not medical advice.)
CBGVA's molecular formula is C20H28O4 (molecular weight ≈ 332.44 g/mol), CAS 64924-07-8. Structurally, CBGVA is the carboxylic-acid precursor of CBGV (C19H28O2) and the varin analog of CBGA, carrying a carboxyl group that neutral CBGV lacks. Heating removes that group as CO₂ to give CBGV. This chemical identity is Established; CBGVA's biological effects are a separate, largely unstudied question.
CBGVA is obtained from raw, unheated varin-rich cannabis using gentle, heat-avoiding extraction (heat would convert it to CBGV), followed by chromatographic purification. Because plants make so little and heat destroys it, isolating stable CBGVA is low-yield and demanding. Its chemistry is established.
Yes. CBGVA is the varin "mother acid" — the shared precursor that varin synthase enzymes convert into THCVA (→THCV) and CBDVA (→CBDV), mirroring how CBGA yields THCA/CBDA/CBCA. The specific varin synthases are less characterized — catalogue in progress for that enzymology.
CBGVA decarboxylates to CBGV in roughly the 110–130 °C range — gentle heat over time drives off CO₂. Around 130 °C for ~30 minutes is near-complete for cannabinoid acids; hotter (150–160 °C) is faster but risks degradation. CBGVA-specific kinetics are less published (catalogue in progress).
CBGVA is sold by a small number of specialty hemp/cannabinoid and reference-chemical suppliers, usually as raw-cannabinoid extracts or reference isolates. It is niche and inconsistently stocked. CBG Atlas endorses no specific brand — buy only from vendors that publish third-party lab results.
CBGVA occurs only in specific varin-rich chemotypes and in small amounts, and it converts to CBGV with heat, so isolating stable CBGVA is low-yield and technically demanding. Cold handling, cold storage, and extra purification all add cost. Scarcity plus specialised handling is what makes CBGVA rare and expensive next to common cannabinoids like CBD — scarcity is a supply fact, not a sign of potency.
Request a current certificate of analysis (COA) from an accredited third-party lab confirming CBGVA content, showing the THC level, and screening for pesticides, solvents, and heavy metals. The label should match the COA. No COA, or a mismatched one, is a red flag.
That is your call, and the honest input is this: CBGVA has no established benefit and has never been tested in a controlled human trial, so any value is speculative rather than evidence-based — untested, not tested-and-rejected. Catalogue in progress. If you do try it, prioritise lab-tested products with a current certificate of analysis and keep expectations proportionate to the evidence. (Not medical advice.)
Look for a third-party COA matching the label, compliant and clearly declared THC, stated cannabinoid amounts, contaminant screening, and transparent sourcing. Be sceptical of any health or "CBG-like" claim: none is verified for CBGVA, whose evidence file is catalogue in progress rather than positive, and CBG's own record does not transfer to the varin acid. Testing and transparency are the only things you can check at the point of purchase. (Not medical advice.)
CBG Atlas is a scientific reference. Nothing here diagnoses, treats, cures or prevents any disease. Statements about effects, benefits or uses reflect claims made by third parties — CBG Atlas does not make, adopt or affirm them. Legal status is scoped to jurisdiction, product class and date, and moves; verify against the official source. See how we grade and the safety page. Peregrine Biopharma funds the platform and holds no editorial authority.