The 2018 Farm Bill legalized industrial hemp — but along with it, it legalized so much more. In fact, in 2020 the hemp act within the bill was made clearer. Hemp and all its derivatives, including cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and more, are legal as long as they contain 0.3% or less of delta-9 THC. One of these cannabinoids, as it happens, is cannabigerol; CBG, for short. But what is CBG? Why is it being talked about now? Is it similar to CBD or THC? We want to cover it all in this guide today.
What is CBG?
What is CBG?Simply put, cannabigerol is a minor cannabinoid. A minor cannabinoid means it’s present in less than 1% of any particular cannabis strain. While it may not be present in large quantities in most hemp strains, researchers have still put in the time to learn about it.
In fact, research into the minor cannabinoid helps us understand that it may have benefits of its own. Furthermore, it could either interact or amplify the effects from other cannabinoids.
How is CBG Made?
Firstly, you probably know a bit about cannabinoids at this point. They’re CBD, THC and, as we’re learning, also CBG, among others.
Cannabis strains contain these cannabinoids in different concentrations. Likewise, these concentrations happen at varying stages of the plants’ life. Basically, CBG is the chemical parent of both CBD and THC. In fact, it functions as a precursor for all three major cannabinoids. CBDA, CBDA, and CBCA all start out as CBG. However, the latter (CBCA) is not seen as frequently as the former two.
Most strains immediately convert CBGA into either CBDA or THCA. More CBG in a final product, the less CBD and THC, and vice versa for the other two. Only in recent years have we been able to perform crossbreeding of plants and genetic manipulation to obtain higher yields of CBG in a strain. Choosing to extract earlier in the flowering cycle can also produce more CBG than most standard stains naturally produce when it’s time for harvest.
What is CBG Capable of Doing?
Like most other cannabinoids, there are some potential benefits when it comes to CBG. However, more research with human participants is certainly needed. In the meantime, we’ve compiled what research we have on cannabigerol. As it happens, there’s an array of animal model studies on the subject.
4 Potential Benefits of CBG
4 Potential Benefits of CBGMost of the clinical trials, experiments, and studies we have with findings of CBG have been performed on animals. We look forward to a future with more human participants, but the endocannabinoid systems among other animals are close enough to ours that we can get an idea of what’s possible.
As a part of the cannabis plant, researchers find CBG delivers a variety of properties. Let’s take a look at all the potential benefits we’ve discovered for it so far.
CBG may have anti-inflammatory properties
IBD, or inflammatory bowel disease, is currently incurable. It also affects millions of people across the world. However, cannabis use looks like it might have a positive impact on IBD patients. After a clinical trial on mice, researchers determined that CBG, specifically, could have an even more positive impact.
Further clinical experimentation in IBD patients is necessary, for sure, but this gives CBG a lot of promise.
Cannabinoids are antibacterial by nature
Incidentally, marijuana has long been known to contain antibacterial compounds. These compounds just happen to be cannabinoids, including CBG. It should be noted, the potential to address antibiotic resistance hasn’t been researched yet.
However, all five major cannabinoids demonstrate potent activity against MRSA, also known as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. These five major cannabinoids include CBD, CBC, CBG, delta-9 THC, and CBN.
Simply put, CBG, as well as the other four cannabinoids that are most abundant in cannabis, has antibacterial properties. This could serve a variety of helpful purposes for the body.
CBG could have neuroprotective benefits
In a 2015 study on mice, we look at CBG’s neuroprotective properties in Huntington’s disease. The results opened the door for new research avenues for the use of cannabigerol, either in combination with other therapies or phytocannabinoids or alone, at least for neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington’s Disease.
Cannabigerol may stimulate your appetite
Even in rats that were pre-satiated, CBG is a novel, well-tolerated appetite stimulant. While the clinical trial was done on rats, they do have a genetic code similar enough to ours to give us an idea of what it can do for us humans, too.
Basically, CBG might help you eat! Maybe you have trouble getting an appetite, or you’re trying to get yourself onto a routine schedule for meals. CBG might be exactly what you need.
Where Can You Buy CBG?
CBD flower has been getting a lot of hype lately, so might we recommend our White CBG strain? A hybrid CBG strain, it’s absolutely coated with frosty white crystals. A delicious variety, it has hints of hops and citrus, with tones of vanilla and pine throughout.
Each of our strains offers something special. This one contains a higher percentage of CBG that’s found in most strains. It’s best known for its uplifting effects. Our users report it helps with certain types of pain, inflammation, and even nausea. Try out some White CBG today to see if it’s the flower you’ve been looking for.
Not so sure about CBG products yet? More interested in CBD or delta-8 products instead, maybe? Take a look through the rest of our line of carefully cultivated, hemp-derived products. We offer a variety of different ways to use CBD and delta-8 THC.
Wrapping Up Our Guide On: What is CBG?
In conclusion, CBG is a minor cannabinoid. However, it’s still one of the five major cannabinoids found in cannabis, as it’s technically one of the most abundant. It appears to be anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, neuroprotective, and could stimulate your appetite. Now that you know what is CBG, its benefits, and everything in between, we hope we were able to answer any questions you might have had. Have you ever tried CBG? Have you ever tried any hemp-based product?
Make sure to check out the next blog: Can Delta 8 THC Make You Fail a Drug Test?