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What Is CBG?

| Spencer Beaudreault

When you hear the word “cannabis” you probably think about many things. The ongoing, back-and-forth legality of the plant. The various potential health benefits associated with its use. You may think about THC and CBD, the two most popular cannabinoids by far. Delta-9-THC, the cannabinoid famous for it’s intoxicating effects, and CBD, the versatile cannabinoid that can help with everything from anxiety and back pain to nausea and inflammation. But did you know these two very different cannabinoids formulate from the same parent cannabinoid? CBG, or Cannabigerol, is responsible for the formation of both THC as well as CBD, as most of the existing CBG within the cannabis plant is converted to either THC or CBD during growth. Yes, we have CBG to thank for CBD and THC! For all the benefits and assistance that these two cannabinoids may provide for millions of individuals around the world, we have cannabigerol to thank! It is for this reason why many refer to CBG as “The mother of all cannabinoids.”

But CBG has more to it than simply working as the predecessor to THC and CBD. In fact, it is believed that there are multiple benefits to be gained from the use of CBG in its own right! Yes, the benefits that can arise from the use of CBG can be experienced long before CBG has converted into THC, CBD, or any other cannabinoid. CBG on its own is believed to have a vast array of potential benefits and uses that could potentially assist millions of individuals who suffer from a wide variety of diseases, disorders, and ailments. In this article, we will go in depth on the various potentially beneficial properties that CBG may possess, and answer key questions about this cannabinoid.

  • What is CBG?
  • What is CBG good for?
  • What is CBG used for currently, and what can someone using cannabigerol expect to experience?

Let’s start with the basics of CBG

 

What is CBG Oil?

As previously mentioned, CBG can be thought of as the parent cannabinoid to THC and CBD in a way. CBG is converted into both of these popular cannabinoids during various stages in the growing and maturing of the cannabis plant. It is for this reason that CBG is found in much lower amounts than THC or CBD. Although these three cannabinoids are strongly related and THC and CBD both rely on CBG in order to formulate, CBG is quite different than these two famous cannabinoids. For starters, CBG is not psychoactive, so users will not feel the same intoxicating effects as that of THC. On the contrary, using CBG after using THC can actually lessen the effects of THC. CBG oil is extracted from the cannabis plant prior to conversion to CBD and THC, and is used for a variety of different ailments.

So, what is CBG good for, and what is CBG used for? Is there a potential for cannabigerol/CBG to assist with disorders or illnesses in the same method that many are using THC and CBD?

Below, we will go over several potential benefits that CBG may provide to select individuals.

what is cbg oil and a yellow picture showing the molecule

 

What Is CBG Good For?

Cannabigerol/CBG has been heralded by some as being very similar in terms of effects to CBD, yet with key differences that separate the two cannabinoids. One of the most commonly suggested uses for CBG would be to manage pain. In fact, some studies have presented the argument that in select cases, CBG may be better at alleviating aches and pains than THC and CBD, depending on the type of pain as well as the individual user. This can prove to be very beneficial, as there are some instances in which an individual suffering from pain may not want to consume THC due to the intoxicating effects associated with this cannabinoid. But, if they were able to use CBG and gain the relief that CBD may or may not have been able to provide them, this could be life-altering. Imagine not having to get high and simply being able to consume CBG oil instead! With no intoxicating effects and few if any known side effects, CBG could effectively change the life of the individual suffering from aches and pains, and change it forever.

CBG has also shown promise in the hopes of fighting back against inflammation. In a rodent study, mice suffering from colitis were given CBG and scientists noted a drop in several of the symptoms that commonly arise from the inflammation associated with colitis. As inflammation can be the determining factor in the level of pain that colitis patients deal with on a day-to-day basis, this is not simply a small win. When someone suffering from colitis is dealing with inflammation, this can be debilitating. Constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and extreme levels of intestinal pain are unfortunately the daily reality of so many who deal with this disorder. If CBG has the ability to lessen some of this inflammation, many of those symptoms can quite literally vanish. Furthermore, the current method of dealing with colitis often involves a cocktail of prescription pills that have paragraphs of potential side effects to go along with them! CBG does not.

CBG is also known for a potential benefit that is not commonly discussed when talking about cannabinoids: CBG has shown promise in various case studies as a neuroprotectant. Rodents suffering from Huntington’s disease were given regular doses of CBG and researchers found that the symptoms that the mice were having shrank in comparison to rodents who were not given

what is cbg good for and a picture of a brain

CBG. This may be the result of the anti-inflammatory properties that CBG possesses, but researchers also believe that CBG can help to promote neurogenesis, or the formation of new brain cells.

The physical well-being of an individual is crucial to living a happy and healthy lifestyle, but for those who suffer from chronic illnesses, this can prove to be not only taxing on the physical body, but draining on the mental health of said individual. Luckily, CBG has also shown promise not only with general depression, but with chronic anxiety. In fact, the National Institute for Drug Abuse has stated that they believe CBG helps with stress. It has also been noted that CBG can even assist with the physical response that the body has to stress, such as CBG’s ability to lower the racing heart rate that those suffering from stress and anxiety will commonly have. It allows those who are so anxious that they cannot sleep to get relaxed and comfortable enough to rest, and it helps to elevate the mood that those suffering from depression are dealing with.

Are there medications out there that already seek to do all of these things?Absolutely.

Are they affordable? Are they safe? Are they all-natural? Absolutely not.

It sounds crazy, I know. How could this minor cannabinoid that seemingly no one has ever heard of be able to manage both physical as well as mental anguish and get people back to living the lives that they want to live? How come this cannabinoid isn’t more popular? How come people aren’t jumping all over the CBG bandwagon just as we’ve seen in recent years with CBD, delta 9 THC, and even delta 8 THC?

Well, for starters CBG can prove to be difficult to extract from the cannabis plant. There simply isn’t a whole lot of cannabigerol/CBG within the plant. As such, many are seeking methods in which to synthesize CBG, as well as find alternative methods to grow a CBG-rich strain of cannabis. It isn’t found in such abundance as that of CBD or THC, and I believe that it is for this reason why CBG isn’t talked about as much as THC or CBD. However, with all of the possibilities for healing that CBG may possess, it is high-time that we start taking a bigger look into these lesser known cannabinoids. Cannabis isn’t just THC and CBD, and the sooner that we are able to take deep dives into the healing properties that this plant has as a whole, the sooner we can get back to doing the things we love without having to worry about the diseases that hold us back.

 

smiley faces representing what is cbg used for as an anxiety aid

 

The Future of Cannabigerol

The future of cannabigerol, like most all of the lesser known cannabinoids, is currently uncertain. Despite the growing support for the federal legalization of cannabis, until this becomes a reality it can prove to be very difficult for scientists to do the necessary research on the potential health benefits of cannabinoids, and CBG is caught in this sort of legal limbo. CBG itself is legal, but there is little to no regulation on the cannabinoid. In addition to this, CBG isn’t nearly as commonly known as CBD or THC, and this mystery that shrouds CBG can prevent individuals who may truly benefit from the cannabinoid from ever even using a CBG product. The future of cannabigerol looks bright, but the timeline for real understanding and more in depth research is currently unknown.

Until we get over this legal hurdle, many cannabinoids like CBG may remain in the dark.

cannabis leaf for cannabigerol cbg

Spencer Beaudreault

Spencer Beaudreault is the Founder of Hero Brands, a Business Development & Marketing Expert, and a lifelong advocate & user of cannabis, hemp, & plant-based alternatives.