Though it’s just one letter off from CBD, CBG is distinct and hugely beneficial. Here, we’ll go through all you need to know about this fascinating chemical.
CBG is very similar to CBD in many ways; the two even share a predecessor. The main benefits of CBG mirror those of CBD, but researchers believe that CBG may more directly influence the way our bodies function, making it a potentially stronger candidate for long-term treatment.
There’s a lot going on in a little space when it comes to cannabinoids, and CBG is no exception. To understand what it is and how it can work for you, read on as we take a deeper dive into these questions and more.
Cannabigerol, commonly referred to as CBG, is one of the many cannabinoids (naturally-occuring chemicals) found in cannabis plants, particularly those that are high in CBD and low in THC.
CBG is sometimes thought of as a “precursor” cannabinoid. Its acidic form, CBGA, breaks down when heated to form other compounds like CBD, CBC, and even THC.
CBG also functions as its own independent cannabinoid, too. It has the ability to bind to receptors in the endocannabinoid system just like CBD, meaning it can impact its user both mentally and physically.
In fact, many of the benefits it brings to the table in other cannabis products can be taken advantage of to enhance or substitute the therapeutic effects of CBD.
CBG is a completely legal compound to have and to use. Because it is nonintoxicating, it won’t produce a high, nor will it cause physical and mental impairment.
Think of CBG like a cousin of CBD. The two function very similarly, carry very minimal risk, and can be found in high volumes in hemp plants.
To answer this question, it’s important to once again make the difference between CBG itself and CBGA clear, as the way each one impacts your experience is significantly different.
Remember that CBGA, the acidic form of CBG, changes fundamentally when exposed to heat. Enzymes within the cannabinoid begin to break it down and redirect its contents to other, new compounds.
In many strains, CBGA is converted into either THCA or CBDA, the acidic version of each respective cannabinoid.
The results are yet another set of precursors, this time to THC and CBD; once exposed to light and heat, or “decarboxylated,” these acidic compounds become the cannabinoids we know and love.
It’s important to note, though, CBGA can also break down into plain old CBG. Much like the CBD and THC it is so closely related to, CBG has the ability to bind to the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in our bodies.
The ECS is a complex network of receptors (think of them as locks missing their keys) that functions regardless of whether you consume cannabis or not.
The ECS plays a key role in regulating normal bodily functions like appetite, sleep, and even the immune system.
Endocannabinoids, which are produced naturally by the body, share similar chemical structures with cannabinoids like CBG. So, even when we introduce outside compounds to the ECS, the two still interact, much to our benefit!
CBG can bind to both CB1 and CB2 receptors–the main two receptors to worry about, as they’re found in high volumes throughout the brain and body–once consumed.
That means it can impact the way our minds work, but also the way our bodies function.
Because it’s so closely related and similar to CBD, CBG is often used for many of the same reasons as the former: to manage mental and physical health challenges, promote relaxation, and offer an alternative and natural solution for a variety of maladies.
Though CBG may be like CBD in many ways, the two aren’t the same.
CBG appears to have some benefits that CBD doesn’t, or is at least able to provide these benefits more significantly.
It is important to note that while we do know some things about CBG, there’s still a lot that we don’t. Research into CBG as a cannabinoid, how it works, and how its benefits can be taken advantage of is still lacking overall.
But, as interest in it tends to rise, so too does the amount of inquiry into how to best utilize this powerful cannabinoid.
For now, let’s break down the main benefits we are aware of.
One of the main appeals of CBG to many is its ability to reduce anxiety and paranoia, especially when used in conjunction with THC (which tends to produce these symptoms as side effects).
Cannabinoids like CBG can increase dopamine production in the brain, which may contribute to lessened feelings of stress or fear and higher levels of relaxation and happiness.
CBG is able to interact with the brain via the endocannabinoid system, particularly the CB1 receptors found throughout. These receptors exist all over the body, but they are perhaps most significant in the mind.
CBG doesn’t make any changes to your brain, it merely participates in a reaction that produces results.
CBG is like the key in the analogy we discussed above; when it meets a “lock” that it fits, the two interact with one another.
After this reaction occurs, CBG is broken down and disposed of by the body.
Research suggests that CBG may be able to increase the amount of serotonin the brain produces and that it may slow the rate at which the body absorbs or uses the serotonin it already has.
That means that even if it doesn’t lead to more serotonin production, it may at least help you hang on to what you have.
Because CBG is great at tackling inflammation, a common source of pain, it’s often used as a natural solution for long-term pain management.
CBG can also help with pain by keeping you relaxed, boosting your appetite (a healing and healthy body thrives off of a consistent diet), and helping you get the sleep you need.
CBG for Sleep
Many fans of CBG praise its ability to help them get a good night’s sleep. This phenomenon may stem from CBG’s ability to produce chemicals in the brain that promote relaxation and even drowsiness.
One of the most promising benefits of CBG is its ability to reduce inflammation throughout the body.
Studies show that CBG can lower inflammation by halting the production of the chemicals that lead to it (like nitric oxide).
CBG makes most people who use it feel better in one way or another, whether it be due to lowered levels of stress, pain, or even just a general feeling of calm or peace.
CBG won’t get you high because it is not a psychoactive compound. That means that it doesn’t have the ability to impair the body and mind the way something like THC would.
Instead, CBG delivers the benefits that cannabinoids have to offer without any intoxicating effects.
CBG may be good for focus if it helps you feel more grounded, less anxious, or more physically comfortable. It may also boost your mood and make it easier to push through daunting tasks.
After all, focusing when you’re dealing with pain, stress, or another similar obstacle is challenging, if not impossible, to do.
CBG is not necessarily known to boost energy levels in the way something like caffeine might, but it can still impact you overall by helping you sleep more consistently and at a higher quality.
In the moment, CBG may also make you feel a bit perkier, but it’s still not going to act in the way a stimulant would. That doesn’t mean it’s not still a good option to turn to if you feel tired and sluggish during the day, though.
CBG does make most who use it feel more relaxed than they did before, largely because it makes both the mind and body feel “good” in one way or another.
Even if you’re not looking to deal with any specific health concerns when you take CBG, you’ll probably still notice you feel better–happier, less on edge, or whatever the case may be–after the fact.
CBG and other cannabinoids can increase appetite by binding to receptors in the brain that tell the body it’s time to eat, much like the naturally-occurring endocannabinoids we already have would.
Another way CBG may help increase appetite overall is by controlling nausea, which can make it very difficult to eat consistently or enough.
Reducing the amount of compounds the body releases that lead to nausea is a common function of cannabinoids, including CBG, and makes them a great solution for managing this symptom long-term.
The exact time it takes CBG to work depends on a lot of things, perhaps most significantly the way you choose to consume it. Regardless, though, you should feel the effects of CBG within an hour or so of taking it.
To make CBG work faster, opt for products meant to be consumed via inhalation or sublingual (under the tongue) absorption. These consumption methods get cannabinoids into the bloodstream the fastest, allowing them to get to work without inhibition.
The effects of CBG usually last for around 4-6 hours, though the length and strength of the results you feel will vary based on how much of the cannabinoid you’ve taken in.
In other words, take more CBG, expect longer-lasting results.
You can take CBG everyday if you want to; in fact, if you’re trying to consistently and successfully manage your health, it’s probably the best course of action.
Regularly using CBG means that you’ll constantly be exposed to the cannabinoid and experience minimal time without its effects.
CBG is not an addictive substance; it is not habit-forming, so using it once in a while or even regularly won’t lead to a tolerance build-up or a dependency.
Habit-forming substances are those that cause the brain’s reward center to activate after use, thus creating a strong association between pleasure and the substance (so much that not having it creates genuine physiological distress).
CBG and CBD both avoid this type of interaction.
As with all cannabinoids, start small with CBG and work your way up from there. A good starting dosage for most people is usually somewhere between 10-20 mg of CBG.
Too much CBG won’t harm you, but it may cause unpleasant side effects.
Too much of any cannabinoid can overwhelm the body and cause things like nausea, irritability, and headaches.
Other than some mild potential side effects (vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea are primary among them), CBG is not known to have negative effects.
Of course, everyone is different; some people might not take well to CBG or find that it does relatively little for them. Always listen to your body and do what’s right for you.
CBG won’t show up on a drug test because it isn’t one of the substances being tested for, not even in the most thorough drug tests out there.
Most drug tests look for the remnants of five substances: THC, amphetamines, opiates, cocaine, and phencyclidine (PCP).
Cannabinoids like CBG are broken down after you consume them, but part of them still remains in the body for several days or even weeks after the fact.
When you introduce something like CBG into your system, the body is unable to rid itself of all of the chemical. So, to clear the bloodstream, some CBG is stored in fatty tissue throughout the body.
These cannabinoid stores may last for a short time if you don’t keep consuming CBG, but if you do so regularly and at large volumes, you may have traces of it in your body for several weeks to a month.
CBG isn’t necessarily “better” than CBD, but it may offer some benefits that CBD just can’t or does a poor job of delivering for you. It may also strengthen the effects of CBD products.
If you don’t want to use CBD, CBG is a nice alternative. The two function similarly and come from the same source.
But it’s not fair to say one is better than the other; they can help with different goals for different people.
Not much is known about the key difference between CBD and CBG (that is, why they work differently with the body and how), but we do know that CBG tends to interact more directly with the ECS than CBD.
CBG isn’t stronger than CBD on a comparative basis – one milligram of CBG won’t be more powerful or intense than one of CBD.
But CBG might be able to work with the brain in a way CBD can’t on its own, so its efficiency may make it seem able to produce stronger effects.
The benefits of CBG closely line up with those of CBD (inflammation control, less pain, better sleep, etc.).
The main individual benefit of CBG is the fact that it offers the benefits of CBD in another form. So, if you don’t like to use CBD, you can use CBG in its place.
Alternatively, combining the two makes for a product that really packs a punch.
You can indeed combine CBG and CBD – in fact, we recommend doing so!
CBG and CBD both target the same parts of the body and mind, as we’ve discussed, but in conjunction they can bring on stronger and more nuanced effects.
Just like combining THC and CBD leads to a better end result (thanks to the entourage effect), working with CBD and CBG at once can give you therapeutic results that feel well-rounded.
CBD is better with CBG if you want the effects of your product to be more intense or to target more areas of your body.
It’s not necessary to use CBG to reap the benefits of CBD, though. Think of CBG as a bonus that both has its own perks but also supports those of the other cannabinoids in your product.
The main reason to combine CBD and CBG is to take advantage of the entourage effect and the way it influences your experience, but you might also do it to try and use less product overall to get the same results.
CBG and other cannabinoids usually last for around a year or two before they begin to change and break down, but the shelf life of your actual CBG product depends on its form.
Some products, like oils and tinctures, may last longer than others, like flower, simply because of the way they are designed and work.
You can inhale, eat, or drink CBG just as you would CBD. The best way to consume it comes down to what your goals are and what your personal preferences are like.
Some of our favorite CBG products make it easy to get what you need without much of a hassle.
We recommend:
You can smoke CBG if you smoke a product, whether it be CBD hemp flower or something else, that contains a significant amount of the cannabinoid.
It may be harder to come by smokable products that have a good amount of CBG, mainly because it may not occur in high volumes without human effort, but that doesn’t mean it’s not doable.
No, CBG flower doesn’t get you high; CBG itself is not psychoactive, so the only way you would experience impairment is if you smoked flower that also had significant amounts of THC.
If you’re looking for a great product to start with, especially if smokable CBG sounds interesting to you, we suggest opting for a top shelf, indoor-grown option.
Not only is this flower subject to a higher level of quality, it also exposes you to terpenes and other parts of the plant that can further enhance your experience.
Clearly, there’s a lot to know about CBG, much more than simply equating it to a knock-off of CBD. The two cannabinoids share a lot, but they’re also fundamentally different.
There’s still a lot we don’t know about CBG and what it has to offer, but it’s clear that the world is interested in learning more. It’s not hard to understand why, either – natural solutions to chronic concerns are accessible, don’t damage the body, and are sustainable to produce.
If you’d like to get in on the CBG action, check out our directory to view product and brand recommendations so that you can make a choice that works for you.
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