A Beginners Guide To Cannabigerol (CBG) Benefits

Summary

• Cannabigerol, also known as CBG, or the “mother cannabinoid”, is the cannabinoid that turns into the famous compounds cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as cannabis plants mature. We still don’t know all the CBG facts, but CBG research is uncovering more potential benefits all the time.

• When looking at cannabigerol benefits, we need to be aware that many of the potential effects are comparable to CBD, but there is a lot more scientific information available for CBD. Part of the reason is that the level of CBG cannabinoids naturally found in cannabis is a lot lower than CBD. However, over the years, we have found ways to breed plants that contain decent amounts of CBG and harvest the hemp plant before the cannabinoids transform into CBD and THC.

• The list of potential supporting benefits of CBG is long, but most are yet to be backed by human-run trials. At the moment, we have to make do with the many reputed reports by CBG takers and the early research trials. The positive results indicate that CBG could support eye health, stress management, and metabolic processes, promote focus, increase appetite, and help promote comfort.

• CBG is a great addition or alternative to CBD, especially for the guys that want to enjoy cannabis without the THC high. The godfather of cannabinoids also has a super safety profile, so although research still needs to catch up, there are few risks associated with taking CBG. 

Introduction 

Most of you will probably have tried or at least heard of cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). But have you ever come across cannabigerol (CBG)? This is the lesser-known parent cannabinoid of CBD and THC. As cannabis plants mature, CBG transforms into CBD and THC. The amount of CBG that cannabis plants naturally produce is pretty low, but with some clever advancements in plant breeding, we are now able to extract decent levels of CBG. Give thanks to the farmers deep in the hills of Humboldt County for pushing innovation on these minor cannabinoids.

How the stem cell magically develops into CBD and THC is still a bit of a mystery, but as we learn more about cannabinoids, it appears that CBG may have a number of benefits of its own. If you’re wanting to enjoy cannabis without the high and want to find an alternative or supporting cannabinoid to CBD, CBG is a viable option. So what do we know about the cannabinoid CBG parent, and why it's worth trying?

What is Cannabigerol (CBG)?

CBG is a cannabinoid compound found in young cannabis plants. As the plant matures, CBG works as a stem cell that produces all the other famous cannabinoids, such as CBD and THC. The parent cannabinoid can be extracted for use by harvesting hemp plants while young or breeding strands with exceptionally high levels of CBG.  

Similar to CBD, CBG is non-psychoactive, so it won't get you high like THC or fail a drug test. This makes CBG another cannabinoid option worth trying if you're finding CBD isn't hitting the spot or want to try a cannabinoid combination. However, CBG might work on your body differently from CBD.

It's understood that CBD and CBG are both cannabinoids that will not intoxicate you, and they also interact with the identical endocannabinoid system receptors in your body (CB1 and CB2). As a cannabinoid, CBG will likely benefit your body's endocannabinoid system (ECS), which supports functions like your nervous system, immune system, and almost all the body's organs.

It's pretty wild just how much the ECS helps modulate our bodies. The ECS was only first discovered in 1992 when researchers were looking into how active compounds in cannabis interact with the human body. The team of scientists found that plant-made cannabinoids act similarly to endogenous (internal) cannabinoids to relay messages within the ECS. 

The potential effects of CBD and CBG are extensive. As we've mentioned in the intro, CBG is the parent molecule (the godfather) to the most notable cannabinoids – THC and CBD. In the past, the importance of CBG was only tied to its transformation into these compounds. But recently, CBG has been put onto a pedestal of its own since researchers have found CBG's unique properties and interactions with the ECS.

When it comes to CBG and CBD, there has been more research and recorded outcomes of CBD when compared to CBG. We're not saying CBG isn't safe to use – it's just that guys have been researching and testing out CBD for much longer. The knowledge gap is likely to close as interest begins to grow in CBG.

What Are The Benefits of CBG?

The list of benefits that have been connected to taking CBG is a long one. Of course, not everyone that tries CBG experiences the same thing, but there have been some exciting results reported from the research into its potential. Here's a round-up of some of the benefits the mother of all cannabinoids may be able to provide.

Support Focus

A common report from CBG users is that it helps give them a sense of alertness or focus. When checking whether this has any scientific backing, some suggest the explanation for this effect could be due to CBG showing great potential as a neuroprotectant. CBG shows signs of supporting a healthy inflammation function and possibly neurogenesis (growth of new brain cells) which would explain the reputed focus and attention effects.

Healthy Appetite

When you ask some average Joe about weed, they'll likely mention that it can make you high and give you the munchies. CBG might not give you the high part, but it could share the appetite-stimulating trait. We know that eating a load of junk food isn't healthy, but for some people, inducing appetite could support them in getting the adequate amount of nutrients they need into their bodies. In one study (albeit on rats), the researchers found CBG increased the appetites of well-satiated rats without any dangerous side effects. 

Stress Response

We know that many hemp fans use CBD to manage the day-to-day stresses in their lives. It turns out CBG might also be an excellent cannabinoid to introduce if you have a lot riding on your shoulders or need some help winding down after a long day. This is because both CBG and CBD show signs of slowing the breakdown of the neurotransmitter GABA. It could result in higher levels of GABA and may have related effects that could help regulate stress. Another theory is that CBG supports decent serotonin levels.

Eye Health

We all need to look after our eyes, and researchers have found there are a bunch of cannabinoid receptors in the eye tissue. This suggests that the ECS may play a big part in maintaining eye health. For example, high eye pressure levels (ocular hypertension) can result in poor blood flow to the optic nerves, which can affect vision. Some research suggests cannabinoids (including CBG) could have the potential to help regulate healthy levels of intraocular eye pressure.

Inflammatory Response

One of the often shouted about effects of CBD is its potential role in supporting a healthy immune response. However, CBG has also shown some positive results in the lab. In studies conducted on mice's inflammatory channels, researchers found CBG could help with the inflammatory response. In one such study, CBG limited the actions of some pretty major inflammatory markers (including IL-1, IL-10, iNOS, and interferon-γ). The concluding observation in the study suggested that CBG has the potential to support a normal inflammatory response.

Metabolic Processes

In 2019, a study was conducted via computer simulation to see if there is any potential for CBG to affect fat storage (specifically the adipocyte tissues) positively. The findings are positive and will help progress the research into animal and human studies on CBG and fat metabolism needed to substantiate this benefit. 

Support Comfort

One of the major reasons people use cannabis-based products is to support discomfort naturally. Some studies have indicated that CBG could exhibit analgesic (comfort-inducing) effects and promising GABA reuptake inhibitors. The effects GABA has on the stress response could also ring true as a muscle relaxant, which is especially positive for you guys with blue-collar jobs or who enjoy a hard workout.

Closing Thoughts

It's true that the current understanding of what CBG may or may not do is limited. The studies completed so far are looking positive, but they're only scraping the surface of a fascinating and complex subject matter. It is necessary to point out that these studies are not definitive answers, and a lot more work is necessary before we can truly understand the potential of CBG. 

 

However, because we know CBG is such a remarkably safe compound, it is a low-risk option for some viable significant gains. As cannabis research progresses, we're seeing more and more attention put on CBG. We're still in the early research stages, and there's still a lot to uncover about the benefits of CBG and potential side effects.

 

If you want to try CBG dip into the Cannadips Go Fuel line which is our patented water dispersible technology applied to CBG + caffeine.  This combination delivers incredible mental performance and has been purported to help you run through walls.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the benefits of using CBG?

We still need to discover much about the complexities of the ECS and how cannabinoids interact with it. Some studies show that CBG could help fight inflammation, support eye health, a good appetite and stress management. Unfortunately, much of the testing has only been completed via computer generation and animal testing, so we'll have to wait a tad longer before getting solid results from human trials.

How long does it take CBG to work?

As with CBD, the length of time you can expect CBG to take some effect will depend on its strength and form. For example, a CBG oil taken sublingually or in a dip will likely get to work pretty quickly (around 15 minutes). On the other hand, CBG edibles will probably take longer to kick in (about 45 minutes) as it has more processes to go through before the cannabinoid can reach your bloodstream.  The edibles also have lower bioavailability for having to go through your digestive system.

What are the negative effects of CBG?

CBG is considered to have a very high safety profile. The negative effects reported have been pretty mild and include dry mouth, dry eyes, sleepiness, and increased appetite. Most guys that take CBG don't experience any negative effects, so don't be too concerned if you decide to try it.  

Is CBG stronger than CBD?

Some people believe that CBG could be more effective at supporting some functions than CBD. Although CBG naturally only occurs in very small amounts in cannabis plants, modern advancements in plant genetics have made it possible to breed hemp plants that produce higher volumes of CBG and extract the cannabinoid before it turns into CBD or THC.

Does CBG make you feel high?

You don't have to be bothered about getting high when trying out CBG – it's non-intoxicating. Unlike THC, CBG has the potential to provide some of the benefits cannabis offers without the psychoactive element. There is still a major gap in knowledge on the exact way it interacts with the ECS, but we know it's pretty safe for humans to use, and there are a lot of potential CBG health benefits.

 

Will CBG make me fail a drug test?

CBG alone is free of THC and will not make you fail a drug test.  It is worth using a product that you trust and that participates in 3rd party testing as many CBG extracts also contain THC.  The Cannadips Fuel line is THC free and a safe option to dip into the new CBG craze.

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5877694/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5021742/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/168349/

https://www.nature.com/articles/1300390.pdf?origin=ppub

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1772142/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6073490/

https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/5/1119/htm

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2503660/