Eating raw CBD flower provides several unique benefits & nutrients you can only get from raw consumption. Raw CBD flower contains cannabinoids in their acidic form, including cannabidiolic acid (CBDa) & many others.

While it is okay to eat CBD flowers, you may want to keep reading to become aware of the risks and potential side effects, although the chances are low.

Leading a healthy lifestyle with cannabis isn't always about smoking. Let's take a look at raw CBD flower, and how to incorporate it into your health regimen.

What Qualifies As Raw Cannabis?

Raw cannabis means that the plant has not been processed, activated, or decarboxylated (heated).

Once harvested, several parts of the cannabis plant can be consumed in its raw form without requiring additional drying, curing, or heating.

Maintaining the raw form of cannabis (including seeds) offers some omega-3’s, fatty acids, some proteins, minerals like iron and calcium, and vitamins A, B1, B2, C, and E.

Some of the plant's nutritional properties are not fully utilized through decarboxylation or extraction, which can lose some beneficial terpenes and cannabinoids when the plant is smoked.

Raw cannabis consumed by combusting the dried form and inhaled doesn’t qualify as raw cannabis due to the chemical transformation of cannabinoids from the heat.

Raw cannabis is taken straight from the plant and consumed with zero or very minimal processing in its basic form.

Can Raw Cannabis Get You High?

People who consume raw cannabis are unlikely to experience a substantial high.

According to the journal of Cannabis And Cannabinoid Research, more than 100 cannabinoids have now been isolated by researchers.

THC, CBD, and CBG are three cannabinoids with a high level of interest among researchers that may have therapeutic potential.

Cannabinoids in their “non” acidic, neutral form don’t occur in large concentrations in raw cannabis and have a carboxylic acid bound to them in raw cannabis.

Carboxylated cannabinoids are classified by their more common technical name known as tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THC-A), cannabidiolic acid (CBD-A), and cannabigerolic acid (CBG-A).

When exposed to heat or light from smoking or baking, the carboxylic acid group detaches.

This process of stimulating raw cannabis with light or heat is known as decarboxylation.

Without going through decarboxylation, the acidic cannabinoids may have different distinct therapeutic potential without the carboxylic acid group.

THC is the commonly known cannabinoid that gets high and can only trigger psychoactive effects if the detachment occurs -- aka heated (decarboxylated).

Even though carboxylated derivatives of THC do not produce a high, researchers are interested in the medicinal effects of raw hemp, including normal brain cell protection and many others.

What Happens When You Eat Raw CBD Flowers?

While raw CBD flowers are edible, consuming them raw may not be the most desirable method for most, but for some, it may be the most beneficial method of consuming cannabis.

One reason why eating raw CBD flowers may not be desirable is the potential bad flavour for those who’ve not yet acquired a taste for eating cannabis in its raw form.

Furthermore, cannabinoids are only “activated” when exposed to heat. Therefore eating raw CBD flowers may not provide the same desired effects you’re used to experiencing.

According to the peer-reviewed medical journal Cannabis And Cannabinoid Research, raw cannabis flower has a critical advantage of not producing psychoactive effects while still potentially providing more precise benefits.

Raw CBD is also rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids through its consumption.

The endocannabinoid receptors in users’ brains are activated by raw cannabis juice, triggering an antioxidant release that removes damaged cells from their bodies.

The endocannabinoid (EC) system controls various physiological processes in humans and animals, including pain perception, cognitive abilities, appetite, emotions, and more.

EC receptors can be found on nearly every cell in the human body, including glands, organs, connective tissue, brain, and immune cells.

Endocannabinoids are naturally generated by the human body to activate certain endocannabinoid system functions - primarily maintaining homeostasis.

How To Prepare Your Raw CBD Flower?

With access to affordable raw cannabis, you can make cannabis dishes, including smoothies, salads, raw seeds, and even topping off dishes as a garnish adding a handful of leaves or seeds.

The leaves may contain little or no THC, and you’ll most likely not get "high," but you could pop positive on a drug test.

With a little creativity, you can add raw CBD flower to nearly any recipe you’d like.

If you’re feeling brave and have the spirit of exploration, you can also try eating raw cannabis flower without doing anything to it and/or preparing it in different ways.

Different methods of preparing raw CBD flower involve grinding the flower and measuring it with a tiny "pinch" or using a measuring spoon, about 1/16th teaspoon -- to start.

According to personal stories, every six hours, consumers are taking a pinch serving two to three times a day -- or more.

You can also put the raw cannabis in a capsule, sprinkle the ground flower in your food, or consume it raw.

If you’re consuming raw CBD flower with a particular intention in mind, it’s essential to keep track of your experience in a journal to monitor progress to fine-tuning results.

What Are The Downsides Of Eating Raw CBD Flower?

Eating raw CBD flower doesn't normally produce negative effects.

A small handful of people might still experience some of the undesirable side effects.

Some of the potential undesirable side effects of eating raw CBD flower include nausea, fatigue, and irritability.

Other potential issues in consuming raw CBD flower can include negative interaction with your current medication.

Since CBD is mainly marketed and sold as a supplement, certain safety concerns with the actual product may be a potential issue.

Although most of the CBD products on the market are currently unregulated by the FDA -- in terms of protection and purity -- users can’t always be sure that their raw CBD flower is safe and free of unwanted chemicals, mould, or other harmful substances.

Raw CBD flower and other CBD products may also contain other added active ingredients or may not list the accurate amounts of cannabinoids or terpenes specified on the packaging.

Most of the evidence of the most appropriate CBD dosage for any issue is anecdotal, with most recommending you start at the lowest dose possible and then slowly increase your dosage until you’ve achieved the results you want.

Because CBD is currently and primarily available as an unregulated supplement, it isn’t easy to know what customers are getting precisely in their end-product from various manufacturers.

One way to know exactly what’s in your raw CBD flower is to grow your own by ordering quality seeds from a trusted established seed bank.

If you decide to try CBD, it’s recommended you talk with your doctor to ensure it won’t affect other medications or cause any other potentially unwanted issues.