Kymata Health CBD Guide

CBDV (Cannabidivarin)

A CBD relative studied for seizures and autism. Brain-imaging studies show it changes signalling, but no trial has shown a clinical benefit yet, and a 162-person seizure trial has not posted results.

Last updated October 9, 2026 · Kymata Health editorial team

Level of human evidence: Pilot human studies. Numbers in brackets link to the sources at the end of the page.

What it is

CBDV is the "varin" cousin of CBD (a shorter side chain). It appears in small amounts in some hemp strains.

How it works

Anticonvulsant in mice and rats through a mechanism that does not depend on CB1. In adults, a single 600 mg dose shifted brain GABA signalling on imaging, differently in autistic and non-autistic people.[1][2]

Human studies

Single-dose brain imaging studies (600 mg) in adults with and without autism found changes in excitatory and inhibitory signalling and in striatal connectivity. These are mechanism studies, not outcome trials.[2][3]

A phase 2 trial in people with focal seizures (GWP42006) completed with 162 participants; results are not posted on ClinicalTrials.gov. A trial in children with autism is still recruiting.[4][5]

Doses used in studies

Studied dose: 600 mg once (imaging studies).[2]

Drug interactions

Not well studied. Assume CBD-like enzyme interactions until data exist.

Safety

Repeated-dose safety in people is unknown.

Legal status

From December 11, 2026, federal law counts a finished hemp product as hemp only if the whole container holds no more than 0.4 mg of total THC (including THCA and THC-like cannabinoids). Full-spectrum products usually hold far more than that per bottle, so THC-free (isolate or verified broad-spectrum) products are the safe choice. State rules differ and can be stricter.[6]

Other cannabinoids

Compare brands on lab data: best CBD oils, ranked.

Sources

  1. Hill TD et al. Cannabidivarin-rich extracts are anticonvulsant in mouse and rat via a CB1-independent mechanism. Br J Pharmacol 2013
  2. Pretzsch CM et al. Effects of cannabidivarin on brain excitation and inhibition in adults with and without autism. Transl Psychiatry 2019
  3. Pretzsch CM et al. Modulation of striatal functional connectivity in autism in a single-dose randomized trial of CBDV. Mol Autism 2021
  4. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02365610: A study of GWP42006 in people with focal seizures (Part B)
  5. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03202303: Cannabidivarin vs placebo in children with autism spectrum disorder
  6. Congressional Research Service: Changes to the statutory definition of hemp (IF13136)

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