By now, everyone should know about CBD and its supposed healing properties. CBD products can be seen all over shelves at retail stores, more studies are being done on its effects, and companies everywhere are popping up with the latest CBD-infused items. Even if you haven’t tried the magic stuff yourself, you’ve at least heard of CBD… but what about CBG?
It’s Not A Typo
There’s another cannabis compound on the block called CBG, and it’s high time you get to know it. CBG stands for cannabigerol and is currently being studied for its potential pharmacological properties as well as being tested in clinical trials with scientists around the world, but that’s currently in its infancy stages. The plant itself is thousands of years old, and one study dates back to the 60s — but common knowledge of it is still new.
The cannabis plant, like all plants, is made up of several chemical compounds. Within cannabis specifically, these compounds are called cannabinoids. The human body actually has an endocannabinoid system designed to receive these compounds and use them to achieve a healthy equilibrium. The common cannabinoids from the cannabis plant are THC and CBD, and now CBG.
The Difference Between CBD & CBG
“Although they both fall under the same category of cannabinoids, there are multiple differences between CBD and CBG, primarily because CBG is mixed with a different compound of THC and that actually makes it more potent than CBD,” Sara Rose Kennedy, Co-founder of PuraPhy, said. “As there is more research coming out every day and more and more consumers are seeing symptomatic health benefits from both of these cannabinoids, this is most likely just the beginning of the potential health benefits that we are discovering.”
Kennedy explains that since CBD reportedly has the medicinal healing effects without the “high” that’s associated with THC, it has become mainstream and a popular choice for many patients and consumers across the U.S. Instead of being regulated as a controlled substance through State regulations, like cannabis, the production of both CBD and CBG is controlled on a Federal level.
As More Research is Being Done, the Benefits of CBG Are Looking Good
“There are many more CBD products on the market currently, and not as many CBG products,” Kennedy said. “Due to this mass availability on the market, there is more research based on CBD’s effectiveness compared to CBG, currently.”
The potential medicinal properties of CBG are being researched, and could possibly provide equal or potentially more relief for patients than CBD as more information is discovered. Some of the potential symptomatic relief of CBG thus far includes changes in appetite, glaucoma symptoms and even inflammation. There is a possibility that CBG also has antibacterial properties, which could be used against certain bacterial infections.
Making CBG Products
“The same type of products that are being produced for CBD can be made in distillate or isolate form and added to CBG products,” Kennedy said. “CBG is much more expensive than producing CBD, but the extraction process is ultimately the same.”
Products that can be made with CBG include oil concentrates, isolate, capsules, edibles, tinctures, vape oil, skin products, and even pet products. Kennedy says we will probably be seeing more CBG products entering the mainstream market this year into next year as CBD and CBG are more widely used in new and emerging global markets.