What Is CBG?

Meet cannabigerol (CBG), one of the other over 100 cannabinoids found in cannabis plants. Like cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBG is a nonintoxicating cannabinoid, meaning it won’t make you high. CBG is often referred to as the “Mother of All Cannabinoids” because other cannabinoids are derived from CBG acid (CBGA), an acidic form of CBG.

 CBG is found in smaller quantities than other cannabinoids in cannabis plants, categorizing it as an “exotic cannabinoid.” In most strains of the plant, only 1% of CBG can be found compared to 20 to 25% of CBD or 25 to 30% of THC, but there’s recently been more interest in the potential benefits of CBG. Genuine GI Joes (GNUNGIGOs) is growing cannabis (hemp) plants with a much higher percentage of CBG. Recent harvests yielded plants that tested as high as 17% CBG, making the oil and products derived from that oil much more highly concentrated and effective.

How Does CBG Work?

CBG is processed by the body’s endocannabinoid system. The
endocannabinoid system is made up of molecules and receptors in our bodies that are responsible for keeping our bodies in an optimal state regardless of what’s going on in our external environment. CBG imitates endocannabinoids, the natural compounds our body makes, helping maintain our body in that optimal state. Besides being referred to as the “Mother of All Cannabinoids”, CBG is also considered the “superhighway” by which other cannabinoids are transported directly to where they need to go.

What Are 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, while CB2 receptors are in the immune system and other areas of the body. CBG works by binding to both receptors where it’s thought to strengthen the function of anandamide, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in enhancing pleasure and motivation, regulating appetite and sleep, and alleviating pain.

What are the Potential Benefits of CBG?

Like CBD, CBG has been used to combat different symptoms without having the intoxicating effect like THC. Though human studies are sparse, the research available does show that CBG can also have therapeutic effects. Some promising studies show that CBG might ultimately be found therapeutically beneficial for many uses.

Does CBG Cause Any Side Effects?

Little is known about the side effects of CBG oil or other forms of CBG. So far, it seems to be well tolerated. CBG only becomes a problem when taken in excess of 300 milligrams per kilogram of body weight.

 A 180-pound person would have to consume 54,000 milligrams or 11 tablespoons of CBG for it to become dangerous. To put that in perspective, a 180-pound person suffering from something such as for example severe pain should take, at the most, 25 milligrams to possibly feel benefit. And that 25 milligrams of CBG will likely be administered in a few drops of tincture or a small amount of an edible. So, you can see that there’s a huge difference between a “therapeutic dose” and one that would cause side effects.

Does CBG Interact with Any Medications?

Being that CBG is new to the market, not much is known about how it might interact with over the counter or prescription medications, as well as vitamins or supplements. If you take any kind of medication, it’s best to check with your healthcare provider before trying CBG oil. It’s especially important if you take a medication that contains a grapefruit warning.

CBD may affect how your body metabolizes these medications. It isn’t clear if CBG has the same effect, but given how similar it is to CBD, it’s best to err on the side of caution and double-check.

NOTE: Don’t stop taking any medications to use CBG oil
without first consulting with your healthcare provider.

However, CBG does seem to have some different functions and health benefits than CBD. The main difference between CBD and CBG comes down to the level of research available. There’s been a decent amount of research on CBD, but not so much on CBG. That said, with CBG becoming more popular, there will likely be more studies on it soon.

How Do You Know a Company Is Legit?

Check for third-party testing because companies that produce CBG products should have their products tested by an independent lab. Before you buy CBG, find out whether the company’s products are third-party tested, and be sure to read the lab report, which should be available on their website or via email.  

How Do You Choose a Good CBG product?

As you have probably seen the many different products made with CBD lately, these same products can be made with CBG. Like CBD, CBG can be inhaled by smoking or vaping, taken orally in the form of tinctures and tea, digested in the form of gummies and baked goods and topically in the form of oils, lotions and salves.

It’s also important to remember that many products don’t contain just CBG (or CBD) on its own. There are three types of CBG available:

• Isolate contains CBG and only CBG
• Broad-spectrum contains CBG and other cannabinoids, but not THC
• Full spectrum contains CBG, THC, and other cannabinoids

What is THC?

There are two types of THCs, delta-8 (Δ-8-THC) and delta-9 (Δ-9-THC). Δ-8 binds to the CB1 receptor like Δ-9, but its affinity for the receptor is different due to its slightly altered molecular structure. The CB1 receptor is responsible for mediating most of the psychotropic effects of THC.

This differential binding may be responsible for the reported clearer “high” with reduced anxiety, and greater ability to concentrate often associated with Δ-8. In other words, you’ll feel high but not actually be high which is the effect with Δ-9.

 How Do You Smoke CBG?

Like a cigarette, CBG flower (where legal of course) should be grinded down in order to achieve a more even burn, capitalizing on the CBG’s effects. The ground CBG flower can be rolled into cigarettes or smoked in a pipe. You can get great help, advice and materials from your local smoke shop.

How Do You Make a Tea with CBG?

The CBG flower for tea, like smoking, should be ground prior to seeping. When seeping CBG flower, ensure you use boiling water. Also, add a small amount of coconut oil, real butter or olive oil to the seeping CBG. Raw CBG oil has an earthy taste to it so mix in your favorite green or flavored tea to make it more palatable. You can also add what you normally add to your cup of tea to your liking.

Why Coconut Oil, Real Butter or Olive Oil?

CBG, like CBD, is a fat-soluble cannabinoid, meaning it breaks down and is stored in fat rather than water. Enter coconut oil, the Queen of healthy fats. With over 80% saturated fat content, coconut oil is the perfect medium for hemp oil. (For comparison, butter has about 50% and olive oil only 20%).

Saturated fats are considered “healthy fats” due to their key role in supporting cardiovascular health, their proven ability to help improve immunity, and they even contribute to healthy brain functioning.

These fatty acids in the coconut oil create a strong binding agent for the cannabinoids, producing a potent elixir which can be efficiently absorbed into the blood stream and carried to every part of the body.

More specifically, about 2/3 of the fats in coconut oil are high in medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), also called medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs).

What’s the BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) on CBG?

CBG is becoming increasingly popular, but the research around it is still limited. If you’re curious about trying CBG, just make sure to check in with your healthcare provider first if you take any medications or have an underlying health condition. Start off slowly with small doses and work your way up to what you feel comfortable with or up until your symptoms are alleviated. Then just maintain a regular regimen.

 

The articles linked below were the sources for this document.

[1] Cannabigerol (CBG): Uses and Benefits - December 24,
2020 www.verywellmind.com

[2] CBG Oil: Is It Really the New CBD? - February 27, 2020
www.healthline.com

[3] What Is CBG and What are the Benefits of Cannabigerol… -
October 31, 2020 www.vaping360.com

[4] What Is CBG: Benefits, Effects, and More? - September
30, 2020 www.cbdmd.com

[5] CBG vs. CBD: Differences, Benefits, Uses, & More -
July 17, 2020 www.cbdmd.com

[6] What is the Difference Between CBD and CBG? - July 2,
2020 www.labroots.com

[7] CBG: Everything You Need To Know www.honestmarijuana.com

[8] CBG vs CBD: What Are the Differences? - February 7, 2020
www.analyticalcannabis.com

[9] Is CBG the Next CBD? Here’s What You Should Know -
August 28, 2019 www.realsimple.com

[10] What Is CBG and How Is It Different from CBD? - April
24, 2019 www.shape.com

[11] CBG www.crescolabs.com

[12] Delta-8-Tetrahydrocannabinol www.weedmaps.com

[13] What Is Delta-8-THC and How Is It Different from
Delta-9? www.leafly.com