What is cannabigerol (CBG)?

If you’re a regular CBD user, you’ve probably wondered: what is the cannabinoid CBG? Cannabibigerol, as it is also known, is a cannabinoid derived from the cannabis plant.

It has been dubbed the “mother of all cannabinoids”. This is because cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), an acidic version of CBG, is used to produce other cannabinoids.

Cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are the two cannabinoids most commonly derived from cannabis plants. CBG is present in smaller amounts in cannabis than other cannabinoids.

In fact, only 1% CBG is present in most strains of the plant, compared to 20% to 25% CBD and 25% to 30% THC. As a result, cannabinoid-derived products are scarce and often expensive. CBG, on the other hand, is gaining attention as a result of the potential benefits of cannabinoids.

Is CBG legal?

Cannabigerol CBG is currently not listed in the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances. It is also not prohibited under the United States Controlled Substances Act. Therefore, and although it is not very easy to obtain, CBG is not considered illegal in most countries.

However, it is still wise to research the laws in your country before purchasing a product with cannabigerol.

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How is the cannabinoid CBG obtained?

As mentioned above, cannabigerol is present in cannabis at very low levels, usually less than 1 per cent. Because of this, cannabigerol is considered a minor cannabinoid. As for how cannabigerol is produced, it all starts withcannabis plants producing cannabigerolic acid simply called CBGA.

This acid is the precursor of the three main lines of cannabinoids, which are tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabichromenic acid (CBCA), and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA). What happens next is that specific enzymes of the plant are in charge of breaking down the CBGA, and then directing it to one of the three aforementioned lines.

It is worth mentioning that the acids are exposed to ultraviolet light, or heat, so they are converted into the cannabinoids we all know, namely THC and CBD meaning cannabidiol. However, in most strains, CBGA is instantly converted to THCA or CBDA. Consequently, more THC translates into less CBG and CBD, due to the way these compounds are synthesized.

Because young cannabis plants have more CBG than fully grown plants, the cannabinoid CBG is extracted from these plants. Such marijuana strains as White CBG, Super Glue CBG and Jack Frost CBG contain more CBG than others. These strains are primarily bred to produce higher levels of CBG.

CBGA, an acidic type of CBG, is the starting point for both CBD and THC. That’s why CBG concentrations are higher in younger cannabis plants.

CBG concentrations are very low in fully grown plants with high concentrations of THC and CBD. This is because much of the CBG has already been transformed into CBD and THC as the plant has grown.

Those who cultivate cannabis have been experimenting with cross-breeding and genetic modification. This is to make cannabis plants produce more CBG due to the difficulties they face in obtaining it.

How do you get a higher yield of cannabigerol?

To achieve a higher yield of CBG cannabigerol, growers often experiment with genetic manipulation and crossbreeding of plants. For example, some cbg cannabis producers have crossed strains to produce a higher amount of CBG.

Not only that, scientists can also extract higher levels of cannabigerol from the cannabis plant, determining the most optimal extraction time. This is approximately six weeks into an eight week flowering cycle. Currently, a medicinal strain known as Bediol is produced in this way by a Dutch company.

How does CBG work?

The endocannabinoid system in the body processes the cannabinoid CBG. This endocannabinoid system in our body is made up of chemicals and receptors that are responsible for keeping our body in a healthy state regardless of what is happening in the outside world.

CBG mimics endocannabinoids, which are natural compounds produced by the body. CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors are found in our body. The nervous system and brain contain CB1 receptors, while the immune system and other parts of the body contain CB2 receptors.

CBG is believed to enhance the role of anandamide, a neurotransmitter that promotes enjoyment and motivation, controls appetite and sleep, and relieves discomfort by binding to both receptors. CBG, unlike THC, has no psychotropic effects and therefore does not get you “high”.

What are the benefits of cannabigerol CBG?

Before mentioning the benefits of CBG, it is important to note that our body’s built-in endocannabinoid system (ECS) works to keep the body in a state of balanced homeostasis. And while specific details are known about how cannabinoids work, in general the endocannabinoid system performs different functions in different areas of the body.

For example, when we suffer an injury, ECS can help regulate immune cells to reduce inflammation. However, because CBG acts on very specific physiological problems, its medicinal use is really encouraging. Among the main benefits of cannabigerol are the following:

Glaucoma

Because endocannabinoid receptors remain in the ocular structures, it is believed that CBG can be used in the treatment of glaucoma. This is because it can reduce intraocular pressure. That is, it is a potent vasodilator, which also has neuroprotective effects.

Huntington’s disease

Research from 2015 showed that cannabigerol protects neurons in mice with Huntington’s disease. This is a disease characterized by degeneration of nerve cells in the brain.

Antibacterial properties

There is also research in Europe that supports the antibacterial properties of CBG. Cannabigerol would be a highly effective antibacterial agent, specifically against the microbial strain of Staphylococcus aureus, which is resistant to methicillin. In fact, it is known that since 1950, many topical cannabis formulas have been used with positive results to treat skin infections.

Muscle atrophy and weight loss

Another potential benefit of CBG is that according to a 2017 study, cannabigerol acts as an appetite stimulant in rats. Because of this, it could be a new therapeutic option for the treatment of cachexia, muscle atrophy, and even severe weight loss.

Is CBG cannabigerol better than CBD cannabidiol?

Because CBG has numerous potential benefits, many wonder if cannabigerol is better than cannabidiol. The truth is that this is probably not the right question, as these are two completely different cannabinoids.

Cannabinoids that have effects on inflammation

Despite this, studies indicate that both cannabinoids have positive effects on similar conditions such as pain, glaucoma, and inflammation. Not only that, cannabigerol seems to be more effective compared to other cannabinoids when it comes to treating muscle contractions.

Generally speaking we can say that one is not necessarily better than the other. Therefore, the preference for CBG or CBD, will depend solely on the reason for which they are consumed. The truth is that there is a lot more research on CBD, not to mention that its products are much more accessible.

Benefits of the cannabinoid CBG cannabis

CBG, like CBD, has been used to treat discomfort without the intoxicating effects of THC and other cannabinoids. CBG has been shown in studies to have medicinal properties. However, there are few human studies on this topic and more research is needed in this field.

CBG may eventually be considered useful for the therapeutic benefits listed below, based on some positive findings in animals.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease is a disorder in which the intestine becomes inflamed for a long time. It is a disease that affects millions of people worldwide and is incurable. The beneficial effects of CBG on inflammatory bowel disease were discovered in a 2013 animal study.

Researchers provoked inflammation similar to that caused by this disease in the colon of mice before administering CBG. CBG was found to reduce inflammation and nitric oxide production. At the same time the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in the intestines was reduced. The researchers concluded that CBG should be considered for clinical trials in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

May help in the treatment of glaucoma

Researchers discovered that CBG has therapeutic potential for the treatment of glaucoma in an animal study. Researchers administered CBG to glaucoma-affected cats and found a decrease in eye pressure and an improvement in the outflow of aqueous humor. Aqueous humor is a fluid produced by the eye that maintains eye pressure and provides nutrients.

CBG has antibacterial properties

CBG has antibacterial properties, according to a 2020 report on the antibiotic capacity of cannabis. Particularly against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a drug-resistant bacteria that causes staph infections.

Huntington’s disease

Huntington’s disease is a neurological disorder in which nerve cells in the brain break down. Researchers tested the neuroprotective effects of CBG and other cannabinoids in mice with an experimental model of Huntington’s disease in a 2015 investigation.

CBG was found to function as a neuroprotectant, preventing damage to nerve cells in the brain. It also improves motor deficits and protects striatal neurons from 3-nitropropionic acid toxicity.

Conclusion

CBG is most commonly manufactured as a regular consumer oil . Pure CBG oil will help you reap the benefits of this cannabinoid. However, CBG oils tend to be scarce and expensive.

The good news is that broad spectrum CBD oils can have some of the same benefits as CBG. Even broad-spectrum CBD oils include all the cannabinoids present in cannabis plants, including CBG, but not THC.

The great thing about this is that when cannabinoids are used together, a phenomenon known as the entourage effect occurs, which means that they increase the effectiveness of the other cannabinoids.
entourage effect
which means that they increase the effectiveness of the other cannabinoids.

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