What is Cannabigerol? CBG Oil Benefits & Uses

Written By: Emily Spring

One of the reasons why CBG is not widely known outside of the industry is due to the fact that only a small percentage of it is present in most cannabis strains by the time they reach maturation. Typically, there is less than 1% CBG in any given plant, which is why CBG is classified as a minor cannabinoid. As one 2018 study states:

Cannabigerol was isolated, characterized and synthetized by the same researchers that reported the structure of the main psychotropic agent of Cannabis, Δ9-THC. Few years later in vivo assays showed that CBG was non-psychoactive. The lower concentration and the lack of psychoactivity was probably the cause that CBG was shadowed by Δ9-THC. In fact, CBG has attracted less attention than Δ9-THC and even more than CBD, but nowadays is gaining interest among the scientific community.

Throughout the various growth stages, the cannabis plant is primarily composed of what’s known as cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). In the later stages, CBGA is eventually broken down by natural enzymes and turned into one of three cannabinoid lines:

• Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA)
• Cannabichromenic acid (CBA)
• Tetrahydrocannbinolic acid (THCA)

Once these are exposed to ultraviolet light or heat, they primarily turn into either THC or CBD, with a small portion converting into CBG. And, for the vast majority of strains, the CBGA is instantly turned into either CBDA or THCA. As a result, a higher percentage of THC indicates the presence of smaller quantities of CBG and CBD, and a higher percentage of CBD indicates the presence of smaller quantities of CBG and THC. 

So, to produce higher percentage yields of CBG, plant breeders have recently started to tinker with experiments such as cross-breeding strains or extracting of CBG at its peak point during the flowering cycle. 

CBG vs CBD

While both of these compounds are cannabinoids, they have different functions and may be helpful in reducing the symptoms of disparate ailments. Despite this, they share numerous similarities and there appears to be several places where therapeutic overlap can occur. 

Both are free of psychoactive compounds, which makes them non-intoxicating. In addition, thanks to their strong interaction with the CB1 receptor, they both work to counteract the psychoactive effects of THC. So, if you were to theoretically smoke weed and then consume a CBG isolate, it would likely inhibit the “high,” at least to a degree. Ministry of Hemp writes:

Though the effects of CBD and CBG when combined haven’t been studied, we do know that combining different cannabinoid chemical compounds results in what’s called the entourage effect. This means that each cannabinoid’s effects are enhanced when they’re combined. This effect has been well-studied relating to the relationship between CBD and THC; for example, both CBD and THC are more effective at reducing pain when taken together.

As a result, full-spectrum CBD may often contain CBG in order to magnify its therapeutic properties.

CBG Benefits

While there haven’t been extensive human studies or trials conducted on CBG, the results of early research and animal studies have been promising. They point to the fact that concentrated CBG could have significant therapeutic benefits, and be used to assuage the following conditions and/or their various symptoms: 

• Poor Vision – Your eyes have a significant presence of endocannabinoid receptors, which is why people with glaucoma used to be able to obtain a medical marijuana card. Now, we know that CBG is a powerful vasodilator, which might even be better at reducing intraocular pressure than THC. 

• Appetite Stimulant – Similar to THC, CBG isolate may be helpful for eating issues or easing the wasting symptoms of patients on chemo. A 2016 study found: “Here, we demonstrate for the first time that CBG elicits hyperphagia, by reducing latency to feed and increasing meal frequency, without producing negative neuromotor side effects. Investigation of the therapeutic potential of CBG for conditions such as cachexia and other disorders of eating and body weight regulation is thus warranted.”

• Staph – It’s recently come to light that these chemical compounds have antibacterial properties and may present a new means for reducing or eliminating a type of potentially fatal staph infection known as Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). A 2008 study stated that CBG had demonstrated special promise in fighting bacteria that are resistant to traditional antibiotics.  

• Aches and soreness – A 2010 in-depth study from the British Journal of Pharmacology looked into the entourage effect created by other cannabinoids such as CBD and CBG. It found that these additional compounds magnified a cannabinoids’ ability to help alleviate aches, soreness, and inflammation. 

• Anti-inflammatory – A 2013 study on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) concluded that: “CBG attenuated murine colitis, reduced nitric oxide production in macrophages (effect being modulated by the CB2 receptor) and reduced ROS formation in intestinal epithelial cells. CBG could be considered for clinical experimentation in IBD patients.”

So, although there is still plenty of groundwork to be done, medical researchers and scientists are wildly optimistic about the potential uses for CBG going forward. 

Plant People

The information we’re gleaning on CBG’s potentially miraculous uses is growing by the day. All signs indicate that it may end up being as important of a therapeutic cannabinoid as CBD. So if you’re looking for CBG oil for sale, Plant People has the CBD products for you. Their organically-grown, full-spectrum hemp extracts are rich in cannabinoids, including CBG, CBD, and CBN. Each product is vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free, and lab tested. 

Written by Emily Spring 

Emily Spring is the Director of Marketing at Plant People. A longtime proponent of balanced living, she has enjoyed over 8 years driving growth in the lifestyle, health and wellness sectors with deep experience in functional solutions for optimizing anyone's everyday life.

Reviewed by Gabe Kennedy

 Co-Founder of Plant People, Gabe Kennedy is an acclaimed chef and entrepreneur. Growing up in a house of healers and herbalists, he is passionate about the power of food as a tool for health, and actualized this passion and belief system into his company, Plant People. Named to Forbes 30 under 30 Gabe has shaped menus and cooked his way around the world with his mission to promote a more communal, green and healthy world.

 Gabe is a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America and Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. You can learn more about his work at his website.