What is CBG?

The massive growth of the cannabis industry throughout the country has allowed many researchers, health professionals, and entrepreneurs to dig deeper into the plant and discover new and exciting ways to increase its potential as a medicinal supplement.

One new discovery that has started to gain popularity is Cannabigerol, or CBG, a rare cannabinoid that’s hard to find in mature, fully grown cannabis plants but offers a host of excellent therapeutic benefits.

So, what is CBG? Often referred to as the “mother of cannabinoids,” the acidic form of CBG is actually the parent molecule from which all cannabinoids are synthesized.

In this article, we go over the background, uses, and benefits of CBG so that enthusiasts and amateurs alike can enjoy a healthy and non-psychoactive cannabis experience!

CBG vs CBD vs THC

While many people are aware of CBD and THC, the two most common cannabinoids that you’ll see on labels at your local dispensary, most don’t know that these two compounds begin as CBG before a cannabis plant fully matures! 

There will often be little to no CBG in developed cannabis plants because most of it has been converted to THC and CBD as the plant grows. Higher amounts of cannabigerol are usually contained within younger plants, making it difficult to obtain and create a market-ready product, leading to the overall rarity of CBG in the industry. It’s important to remember that, like CBD, CBG does not deliver any sort of psychoactive high but can yield an array of medicinal benefits that show promising possibilities. 

How CBG is Made

In most cannabis strains, CBG is present in extremely low levels, with around 1% or less still remaining in a fully grown plant. The acidic form of CBG, cannabigerolic acid, is a precursor to the major cannabinoids we find in our bud and gets broken down by enzymes during the growing process to develop into CBD or THC. This molecular change is driven through a chemical process called decarboxylation, where the acids are exposed to UV light or heat to get a more potent plant. Because of this process, strains that are usually higher in THC will have almost little to no CBG or CBD. 

Cannabis growers have more recently developed methods to produce crops that contain a higher CBG content, mainly through cross-breeding and genetic engineering, designing specific strains that will contain higher amounts of CBG. Once a noticeable level of CBG is found in a plant, it can be extracted for production by dissolving the flower in a gas-based solution of CO2 or ethanol to draw out the cannabinoids.  The remaining solution is then evaporated to remove the solvents and leave a pure CBG concentrate behind. 

How it Works

Like CBD and THC, cannabigerol is processed through our body’s endocannabinoid system. 

This system is made up of CB1 receptors located in the nervous system and brain and CB2 receptors located in our immune system and throughout our bodies. When consumed, CBG binds to both of these receptors to stimulate a neurotransmitter called Anandamide, which is known to increase pleasure, stimulate appetite, and alleviate pain and inflammation. There are a number of foods and beverages that contain small amounts of Anandamide. Cacao, or chocolate, is particularly rich in anandamide. 

Check out our Chocolate Agave Tincture for an easy way to incorporate the benefits of both cannabis and cacao into your food and drinks.

Benefits of CBG

Here are a few of the potential medicinal benefits that research into CBG has shown:

Glaucoma

One study conducted by researchers in 2009 found that CBG relieved eye pressure and stimulated the production of nutritional fluids in cats with glaucoma, suggesting that the cannabinoid may have therapeutic benefits. 

Cancers

CBG has also shown incredible promise in its ability to fight cancer cells. In one study published by Oxford University, it was observed that CBG inhibited the growth of harmful colorectal tumors in mice, thus showing its potential for being used as a cancer treatment on humans in the near future. 

IBD

Cannabis has been known to reduce inflammation throughout the body but is specifically acclaimed by many gastro-intestinal doctors as an incredible relief for IBD, or inflammatory-bowel disease. In a 2013 study involving mice, CBG was discovered to reduce the production of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species in the intestines, which are often a major cause of inflammation. 

CBG’s Neuroprotective Properties

In a 2015 study on CBG’s effect on mice with Huntington’s Disease (a condition that causes the breakdown of nerve cells in the brain), the cannabinoid was found to act as a neuroprotectant, preventing the brain cells from further damage and degeneration. 

Try our CBG Tincture

If you’re looking for an easy and convenient way to add CBG into your daily routine, our Blue Agave 1:1:1 Tincture is a great product that has a lower psychoactive potency, along with amazing medicinal benefits! You can use our convenient store locator to find a dispensary near you that sells our CBG tincture, along with your favorite City Trees vapes, and concentrates!