What is CBG (Cannabigerol)?

If, like millions of others, you’ve made a point of trying to gain a better understanding of the many potential health and wellness benefits of cannabinoids — or compounds found in cannabis plants, you’ve likely developed some level of meaningful appreciation for CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), since these two compounds have been the subject of much favorable scientific and medical research, not to mention prolific local, state and national media coverage.

However, one lesser known compound among the 140 identified in cannabis — which appears to be acquiring prominence as a cannabinoid of note — is CBG

Researchers have determined that CBG positively acts on specific physiological systems in the human body and shows great promise as a potential treatment for an increasing range of chronic or serious medical conditions and diseases. However, before we dive into the specific pharmacological benefits CBG may indeed provide, let’s first take a look at understanding what it is and how it differs from its familial relations, CBD and THC.

It all begins with two chemical compounds – geranyl pyrophosphate and olivetolic acid – that create the first cannabinoid, CBGA, when combined. When CBGA then mixes with other specific enzymes, it turns into THCA and CBDA. Through exposure to heat or ultraviolet light, also known as decarboxylation, each of these cannabinoids are then converted to their non-acidic forms; e.g. THCA to THC, CBDA to CBD and CBGA to CBG.

Now You Know Your Abc’s, What Impact Does Cbg Have on the Human Body?

Cannabigerol, or CBG, is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, like CBD, that does not produce the typical ‘high’ or euphoric feeling that is commonly associated with THC use. And, similar to CBD, CBG can help support your body’s endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for maintaining “biological harmony in response to changes in the environment,” according to one 2014 scientific study (2).
Research initially suggested endocannabinoid receptors were only present in the brain and nerves, but it has since been confirmed by scientists that receptors are present throughout the body, including our skin, immune cells, bone, fat tissue, liver, pancreas, skeletal muscle, heart, blood vessels, kidney and gastrointestinal tract(3).

Human endocannabinoid systems consist of several CB1 and CB2 receptors that are involved in a variety of processes related to both phytocannabinoids (plant-based) and endocannabinoids (produced by our body) to keep the body balanced – or in a state of homeostasis. Unlike CBD, which has a relatively low affinity for cannabinoid receptors and acts mostly through indirect interactions with the endocannabinoid system, CBG is believed to elicit its therapeutic effects directly through interaction with the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors in the brain. Consequently, many are coming to the conclusion that CBG could ultimately prove to be the most power-packed cannabinoid of them all, playing a significant role in future medicine.

Potential Medical Uses of Cannabigerol

Over the past several years, there have a number of medical and scientific research publications shining a light on CBG’s pharmacology and giving voice to its many potential medical applications.

According to the Handbook of Cannabis and Related Pathologies, “Current literature offers evidence of its potentials as an anti-inflammatory and anticancer agent, to only cite a few, addressing interest on this phytocannabinoid as a potential starting material for new therapeutic agents.”

Other researchers have been actively engaged in studying CBG as a possible therapy for ailments that include:

Overcoming Challenges in the Mass Production of Cbg

Analytical Cannabis15 reports that “the largest stumbling block to CBG’s realization as a common therapeutic treatment is the cost of its production. CBG is thought to be one of the most expense cannabinoids to produce, so much so that it has been dubbed ‘the Rolls-Royce of cannabinoids.”

Because of the miniscule amount of CBG found in hemp, it takes thousands of pounds of biomass to produce even small amounts of cannabigerol isolate – in fact, up to 20 times the amount it would take to yield the same CBD amount. Moreover, as a hemp plant matures, CBGA and CBG present in the plant convert to other cannabinoids, which takes place six to eight weeks in the flowering cycles. This means to achieve optimal yields of cannabigerol, farmers would have to harvest their hemp crops early before this conversion takes place; or permit the crop to fully mature and then expect to extract only trace amounts of CBG.

Further, due to the low amount of CBG available in the biomass, processors must invest in a high performance chromatography apparatus to ensure that CBG extraction is as precise as possible, thus avoiding the need to consume even more of the precious biomass to achieve extraction volume objectives.

To help make CBG more affordable and available to consumers, many product manufacturers are opting to blend cannabigerol with CBD and other cannabinoids to produce “full spectrum” CBD oils and tinctures for consumer use. Full spectrum CBD is becoming more readily accessible as a nutritional supplement or as a direct medical treatment pursuant to physician guidance.

With that said, it is important to note that there are several entrepreneurial companies currently working to develop cannabis plant strains that will stop their development at CGB – before it converts to THC, CBD and other cannabinoids. If this is successful, plants could yield up to 100% of cannabigerol, which would change the entire future outlook for CBG as a viable, affordable ingredient for use in consumer products and in much more pervasive medical research to confirm the many health and wellness benefits of cannabigerol and its therapeutic value to addressing chronic illnesses and diseases.

Buyer Beware!

As applicable to the purchase of any hemp-derived cannabis product, it is vital that consumers first conduct their due diligence when seeking out and purchasing cannabigerol products. Most of the alleged CBG products being sold on the market today are of low quality. And many manufacturers unfortunately rely on processors which use harsh and even harmful extraction methods to produce CBG distillates and isolates.

Bear in mind that not all hemp flower is the same. Since hemp (Cannabis sativa) is a bioaccumulator, it is important to learn how the hemp was grown. This plant must be kept away from toxins during its entire growth cycle, so organic cultivation is the best way to grow it. The first step in organic hemp cultivation is ensuring great genetics, so care must be used in selecting hemp chemotypes (chemotype is the term used to classify different hemp varieties based on their chemical constituents). Then, CBG-rich hemp must be grown in an environment far away from heavy metals and other environmental toxins. Next, mold must be factored. Mold and fungi are complex organisms that can contaminate hemp flowers, even when they are removed from the host, causing the flower to become unsafe.

Hemp biomass for extraction should be high in CBG and low in CBD and THC, unless the goal is to produce a specific blend. It should also be free of contaminants, adulterants and microbial growth. When done right, extraction of hemp flower produces a very high quality and potent CBG extract, marketed as CBG oil, which can be further concentrated by removing impurities such as waxes, pigments and unnecessary chemical components.

When doing your homework, look for independent third-party lab testing certification (referred to as a Certificate of Analysis, or COA) attesting to high quality, all natural ingredients; safe extraction in keeping with best industry practices to avoid heavy metal and pesticide content; high purity levels; and potency. The most ethical product manufacturers post their lab reports to their websites or make them available upon request.

Upon review of the COA, make a point of ensuring that the CBG concentrations reflected on the report match what is stated on the product label. Labeling inaccuracies have proven common among industry bad actors. In fact, one study16 showed that only about one-third of CBD products on the market are labeled accurately, so it is safe to assume that CBG products are subject to the same mislabeling issue.

Is CBG the Next Big Thing?

Though the verdict is still out on the efficacy of CBG in humans due to the fact that the prevailing body of scientific and medical research has focused on animal studies, to date, there is a growing number of people providing convincing testimonials on the positive impact that CBG is having on their health and well-being. Recognizing that we live in a world where consumer ‘reviews’ carry great influence with the masses, it is not a stretch to assume that CBG’s popularity and demand will inevitably rise as it becomes more widely available.