CBG, or cannabigerol, is a cannabinoid. It is one of many chemicals found in cannabis plants. It is often referred to as the father of all cannabinoids. The best-known cannabinoids are cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), but there is also growing interest in the potential benefits of CBG.
CBG is found in smaller amounts in cannabis plants than other cannabinoids. In most strains, CBG is only 1%, compared to 20-25% for CBD and 25-30% for THC.
Yet CBG is becoming increasingly popular because of the many potential benefits it offers.
How is CBG made?
Young cannabis plants contain higher levels of CBG, so it is mostly derived from these plants. Very little can be extracted from mature plants because they contain high concentrations of THC and CBD at the expense of CBG. This is possible because most of the CBG is converted to CBD and THC during plant development.
Because of the difficulty in obtaining CBG, cannabis growers have experimented with cross-breeding and genetic manipulation to help cannabis plants produce more CBG.
What do you need to know about how CBG works?
CBG also interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is made up of molecules and receptors in our body that are responsible for keeping our body in balance, no matter what effects we are exposed to.
What does it mean to have cannabinoid receptors in our body?
Our body contains two types of cannabinoid receptors – CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are found in the nervous system and brain, CB2 receptors are found in the immune system and other areas of the body.
CBG binds to both receptors. It is thought to enhance the function of a neurotransmitter, anandamide, which plays a role in enhancing mood and motivation, regulating appetite and sleep, and dampening pain. Unlike THC, CBG has no psychoactive effects.
Research shows that CBG may also have therapeutic effects. However, human studies on this are rare and further research is needed in this area. Source here.
Use of CBG
The simplest way to consume CBG is by ingesting it with oil. However, CBG oils are rare and expensive.
A great option, however, is to use broad spectrum CBD oils because they contain all the cannabinoids found in cannabis plants, including CBG, but do not contain THC.
In fact, when cannabinoids are used together, they can enhance each other’s effectiveness through a phenomenon known as synergism.
CBG and CBD
CBG is often compared to CBD because they do indeed have a lot in common. We already know that both act on the endocannabinoid system.
Neither CBG nor CBD is psychoactive, so they are not mind-altering like THC.
One of the biggest differences between CBD and CBG is the amount found in most cannabis plants. 1% CBG is very much ahead of 25% CBD.
Another important difference between CBD and CBG is the available research. There has been a lot of research on CBD and very little on CBG.
Despite this, CBG is becoming more and more popular and more studies will probably be done on it soon.
Both cannabinoids have the same molecular structure, but differ in their atomic arrangement. Both are phytocannabinoids and are found only in hemp.
Absence of CBG
The difficulties in producing CBG arise from the fact that it is more difficult to produce than other cannabinoids such as CBD. Since CBG shares many similarities with CBD, it is understandable that with such difficulties, manufacturers prefer to produce CBD.
Products made from CBG are very expensive. However, CBG has many promising properties and more research is being done to make it easier to produce and available.
Origin of CBG
Most people have never heard of it, even though it has been used by humans for thousands of years. It was first synthesised in 1964 alongside THC.
As young cannabis plants mature and begin to bud, various enzymes and compounds combine to create the precursor to CBG – or ‘early phase’ cannabinoid – CBGA. All cannabinoids are derived from CBGA. Later on, as the plant nears the end of its growth cycle and absorbs more UV light, CBGA breaks down and is converted into THCA and CBDA. These are two important cannabinoids. Only a very small amount spontaneously becomes CBG, which is why attempts are being made to breed specifically for it.
CBG content in hemp plants
CBGA is present in both cannabis and hemp plants, but farmers obtain CBG from hemp plants. In fact, many hemp farmers breed and grow CBG-rich strains.
Effects and benefits
CBG is sought to treat a wide range of symptoms and conditions. To give some examples:
- Glaucoma
- Cancer
- Crohn’s disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome
Does CBG cause side effects?
Very little is known about side effects of CBG oil or other forms of CBG. We do not have reliable sources or enough research to be able to clearly identify side effects.
CBG and drug interactions
Not much is known about how CBG interacts with over-the-counter or prescription medicines, vitamins or food supplements.
It is best for CBG users to consult their doctor about this before trying CBG oil. This is particularly important for medicines on which a grapefruit warning is included.
There are some medicines that often carry this warning, so it is worth paying attention to them:
- antibiotics and antimicrobials
- anticancer drugs
- antihistamines
- antiepileptic drugs (AEDs)
- antihypertensive drugs
- blood thinners
- cholesterol medicines
- corticosteroids
- medicines for erectile dysfunction
- gastrointestinal (GI) medicines such as gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD) or nausea - medicines for heart rhythm
- immunosuppressants
- mood medicines, for example to treat anxiety or depression
- painkillers
- prostate medicines.
How to choose the right CBG product
It’s harder to find good CBG oil than CBD. Moreover, it is very important to find a good quality product.
Some tips that may help:
- Full spectrum CBD products contain small amounts of cannabinoids. They are more readily available than products containing only CBG.
- Broad spectrum is completely THC-free. It is believed that cannabinoids work best when they are most in combination.
- You should also check for third-party tests. Companies producing CBG products should have their products tested in an independent laboratory. It is worth reading the laboratory report.
Is CBG oil a legal product?
Cannabigerol is not psychoactive and does not contain THC. It is therefore legal to market in the UK and all countries in Europe if it is extracted from hemp plants and not marijuana. Under EU regulations, CBG products with a THC content above 0.2% are illegal unless smoking marijuana is legal in that country.
The most popular CBG products are CBG isolate, CBG oil and CBG crystals.
To summarise the above, a few thoughts
Most of the research on CBG is still in its infancy, but what has been discovered is very promising.
Scientists are forced to continue studying CBG, so that in time we will see how this cannabinoid affects us.
Cannabinoids are also found in our bodies; they are responsible for regulating mood, pain, appetite and memory. One of the main cannabinoids is CBD, the other is THC, but it has mind-altering effects, so its use is almost universally banned.
CBG is only found in the flowering stage of the hemp plant, which is why it is difficult to find CBG-rich products due to its short flowering period.
In addition, it is worth noting that hemp contains many different cannabinoids, including THCV, CBN, CBC and many others.