CBD vs. CBG: How Are They Different, And What Is CBG?

The majority of people have probably heard of CBD, the cannabis compound that is included in many products on the market and has a variety of advantages, including the ability to aid with hangovers, chronic pain, and sleep. It's a little-known truth that the hemp plant contains many additional cannabinoids with diverse medicinal properties than CBD and THC. Cannabigerol (CBG) is one such cannabinoid, but what is it and how is it used? 

Scientists, consumers, and the marijuana business have lately become interested in CBG, a molecule that was identified decades ago. There are several similarities among the various types of cannabinoids, even though each one has special health advantages of its own. This begs the questions of how various cannabinoids interact with one another and if mixing them has any benefits. A thorough explanation of CBG and the distinctions and similarities between it and CBD is provided below. After reading this, we hope you will be better able to determine whether CBG is correct for you.

Describe CBG.

CBG was first identified in 1964 and is one of the more than 113 cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant. Because it aids in the conversion of other cannabinoids, cannabigerol is referred to as the "mother of all cannabinoids." CBGA, also known as cannabigerolic acid, is the parent cannabinoid of well-known cannabinoids including THC and CBD. The cannabinoids change into their non-acidic forms over time and by heat processes: CBDA becomes CBD, THCA becomes THC, and CBGA becomes CBG. 

How does CBG function in the human body?

CBG functions by interacting with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), much like CBD. The endocannabinoids, enzymes, and cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) that make up the ECS are components of a complex system. Naturally occurring substances called endocannabinoids attach to CB1 and CB2 receptors all across the body to assist control a wide range of physiological processes and preserve homeostasis.  

There are distinct locations for CB1 and CB2 receptors in the body. The brain and central nervous system have CB1 receptors, while the immune system (primarily the tonsils, spleen, and white blood cells) has CB2 receptors. These receptors may bind to a variety of endocannabinoids, but the two most well-known are 2-AG, or 2-Arachidonoylglycerol, and AE, or anandamide. By attaching itself to CB1 receptors and acting as a neurotransmitter, AEA improves our mood and cognitive abilities. Conversely, 2-AG has the ability to bind to CB1 and CB2 receptors and has anti-inflammatory properties. The ECS produces digestive enzymes to break down these endocannabinoids once they attach to receptors.

CBG and CBD include phytocannabinoids, which are naturally occurring cannabis plant-derived compounds with similar effects and purposes to your body's own endocannabinoids. Upon entering the body, phytocannabinoids function similarly to endocannabinoids by binding to receptors and aiding in bodily regulation. By sacrificially breaking down your endocannabinoids, ingesting CBG or CBD oil prevents them from eventually breaking down and makes more available for binding to receptors. 

How is it removed, and where can one find it?

As was previously discussed, decarboxylation is the procedure used to extract CBG, which is present in cannabis plants. A chemical process known as decarboxylation takes place when a cannabinoid is heated to the degree where a carboxyl group is removed. This improves the cannabinoid's capacity to bind to receptors throughout the body. For decarboxylation to occur, a high temperature and time are required. The body's cannabinoid receptors may respond to the cannabinoid that results from the conversion of CBGA to CBG. A 2018 research found that CBG is partial to both CB1 and CB2 receptors and will bind to both, much like 2-AG. 

But CBG is only found in very small amounts—usually less than 1%. Expert plant breeders have started experimenting with genetic engineering and crossbreeding to increase CBG production. Researchers have the ability to extract larger concentrations of CBG from growing plants by determining the best time to extract, which is around six weeks into an eight-week blooming cycle. 

Why is it not (yet) as well-liked as CBD?

Despite having many potential medical applications, CBG has not been as well-liked as CBD for a variety of reasons. The primary challenge that CBG faces, which is not shared by CBD, is the expense of manufacture. The Environmental Magazine states that the main reason CBG is one of the most costly cannabinoids to manufacture is because growers can only extract a little portion from thousands of hemp plants.

Thousands of pounds of biomass (plant material) are needed to produce tiny quantities of CBG isolate. This is due to the fact that most hemp strains only have extremely modest amounts of CBG, but others currently have about 20% CBD. This implies that 20 times as much biomass is required to extract the equivalent quantity of CBG from a crop with a 1% CBG concentration. 

Restricted accessibility

In addition to the restricted amount of CBG found in hemp, growers face additional challenges due to the need for prompt extraction of CBG. Since CBG is a parent cannabinoid that eventually transforms into other cannabinoids, the likelihood of the cannabis plant producing any CBG decreases with maturity. This puts growers in a difficult situation: either they cultivate their crop for the specific goal of extracting CBG by harvesting early and missing out on its other advantages, or they let their crop to fully develop so that they may be marketed for various uses and risk losing the CBG content. 

Lastly, certain tools are needed for CBG extraction. The chromatography equipment used to separate and purify CBG extracts must be as accurate as possible due to the low concentration of CBG in cannabis in order to prevent ingesting excess raw cannabis or hemp material. For processors who may not currently need them for routine operations, the cost of this equipment might be high up front.  

Varying impacts on hunger

Studies have shown that CBG may have an appetite-stimulating effect. Rats given dosages of CBG were shown to consume more than twice as much food as they normally would, according to a 2016 research on the subject. More research is need to validate this assertion, however, since a separate 2012 study showed that CBD decreased overall food consumption but CBG did not cause an alteration in eating habits. 

Antimicrobial qualities

Finally, CBG has shown that it has a lot of promise as a strong antibiotic. In a 2020 study evaluating the antibacterial efficacy of eighteen distinct cannabinoids against MRSA, researchers discovered that CBG outperformed the others and was just as effective as the strong antibiotic vancomycin. 

Which is superior than the other?

In addition to having comparable physiological effects, CBG and CBD share a host of other qualities and advantages. But as previously mentioned, each of the two cannabinoids is a completely separate molecule with a unique chemical structure, and CBG has its own special advantages. Despite these shared characteristics, a great deal more study is still needed to fully comprehend the range of impacts these cannabinoids have on the body.

However, the issue is not one of CBG vs. CBD debate. It is more beneficial to identify the symptoms and issues you are facing and research which cannabis is more effective in addressing them than it is to attempt to determine which is superior. Since every body reacts to drugs differently, it's possible that one individual may find CBD's effects to be more advantageous than CBG's, while another may find the reverse to be true.

It's also important to consider the advantages that mixing the two cannabinoids may have. When cannabinoids are combined, a phenomenon known as "the entourage effect" may occur. The entourage effect implies that the constituents of the cannabis plant function better together than they do alone as they most likely each have a greater therapeutic impact than they do when taken separately. 

Conclusion

All things considered, a great deal more study is still required until we fully understand the types and extent of CBG function in the body. Nevertheless, based on the research that are now available, there are encouraging indications that CBG may be a helpful addition to your existing CBD consumption or an alternative to conventional treatment. The right dosage will vary on each person's demands, but generally speaking, it's recommended to start small and raise the amount as needed.