There are over 500 identified compounds that have been isolated in the cannabis Sativa genus. These compounds are further broken down into groups of cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids.
CBG (cannabigerol) is one of more than 120 identified cannabinoids found in cannabis Sativa. It was first discovered by scientists Gaoni and Mechoulam in 1964. CBG is the non-acidic form cannabigerolic acid and is the parent molecule that synthesizes into many other cannabinoids.
Hemp contains higher amounts of CBG when compared to recreational cannabis strains. This cannabinoid is known as the mother of all cannabinoids. Two major cannabinoids, THC and CBD are synthesized from CBGA. During the growth of the cannabis plant, this synthesis of cannabinoids takes place, leaving CBG as a minor constituent of all the other compounds. During harvest, only 1% of cannabinoids will be made up of CBG.
CBGA is a precursor to the main cannabinoids THCA, CBCA and CBDA secreted through the trichomes in the cannabis plants flower. This, in turn, explains the low percentage of CBG found in mature cannabis plants when compared to other major cannabinoids. A recessive gene in the hemp varieties of cannabis Sativa may be the reason why hemp plants contain more CBG than recreational varieties. By using this recessive gene cannabis breeders are producing CBG-rich strains much in the same way high THC and later on CBD strains were created.
CBG is not a scheduled substance according to the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances. It is a controlled substance in the United States under the Controlled Substances Act, as long as its extracted and produced within the guidelines of the law and not produced from the controlled parts of the cannabis plant. Since the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill by the Trump Administration both, CBD and CBG are legal federally in the U.S.
Although the therapeutic properties have not been studied as much as other cannabinoids, today researchers are looking into the benefits of CBG. There are increasing amounts of studies being conducted on CBG and below we document the most important benefits of it.
CBG is not psychoactive and will therefore not make you high. It is also classified as an antagonist of the CB-1 receptors and is the reason why it could help counteract the effects of the psychoactive cannabinoid THC.
As it has been mentioned before, the breeding and cultivation of CBG-rich strains will help facilitate further research and real-life studies of this cannabinoid. As more data is collected from the scientific community about the properties and effects of CBG, we will be able to further understand and verify the therapeutic potential of it.
1. Biosynthesis of cannabinoid acids https://www.sciencedirect.com
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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov3. Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
4. Evidence that the plant cannabinoid cannabigerol is a highly potent alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonist and moderately potent 5HT receptor antagonist. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5. Beneficial effect of the non-psychotropic plant cannabinoid cannabigerol on experimental inflammatory bowel disease. https://www.sciencedirect.com
6. Interaction between non-psychotropic cannabinoids in marihuana: effect of cannabigerol (CBG) on the anti-nausea or anti-emetic effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in rats and shrews. https://link.springer.com
7. Cannabinoid-related agents in the treatment of anxiety disorders: current knowledge and future perspectives https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
8. Colon carcinogenesis is inhibited by the TRPM8 antagonist cannabigerol, a Cannabis-derived non-psychotropic cannabinoid. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov