CBD (cannabidiol) isn’t the only non-intoxicating cannabinoid on the block anymore. Over the last few years, hemp producers have been hard at work producing strains that are high in CBG (cannabigerol) instead while still staying low in THC.
As one of the biggest states in hemp production at the time of our nation’s founding, North Carolina has a long history of using and enjoying hemp to the absolute fullest. People all over Charlotte are embracing this latest development in our great state’s hemp story, so it’s time to learn all about the benefits of this cannabinoid and find out which CBG products are worth your money.
What is CBG?
CBG is short for cannabigerol, one of the eight main cannabinoids found in cannabis. There are dozens of different cannabinoids, but most of them are analogues (copies) of these main eight:
- THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)
- CBD (cannabidiol)
- CBG (cannabigerol
- CBC (cannabichromene)
- CBN (cannabinol)
- THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin)
- THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid)
- CBDA (cannabidiolic acid)
All these cannabinoids and their analogues stem from a single cannabis constituent: cannabigerolic acid, the precursor to CBG. Just as humans have stem cells, cannabis has a “stem cell cannabinoid,” and scientists are very curious about the role CBG will play in the future of cannabis research.
How is CBG different than CBD?
CBG and CBD flower have more similarities than differences. Both cannabinoids are, for instance, non-psychoactive, and they both appear to have potent antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties.
There are a few unique attributes of CBG, however, that have drawn significant attention in recent years. This cannabinoid appears to be antibacterial, for instance, which means it might be useful in treating infectious disease.
CBG also appears to have profound digestive benefits, which might make it a useful treatment for Crohn’s disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Most intriguingly, however, CBG also appears to treat cancer where even CBD might not.
What kinds of CBG products are there?
Right now, you might not find as much variety among CBG products as you find with CBD. The CBG industry just hasn’t been around long enough to diversify, but at the same time, a few reputable CBD manufacturers are starting to expand into other cannabinoids. Here’s a brief list of the different kinds of CBG products that are currently available for sale in all 50 states:
CBG pre-rolls
CBG pre-rolls offer a nutty terpene profile and help you focus. These convenient CBG products fit in your pocket or wait in your medicine cabinet for when you need them. No grinding, no mess—simply light up your CBG pre-roll and enjoy!
CBG flower
Before it can be rolled into pre-rolls, CBG flower exists in its original, bud form. While you need to do your own grinding when you choose loose CBG flower, this product type might be preferable when you’re at home and have space to stretch out.
CBG vape
Some companies offer CBG vape cartridges in addition to the usual CBD. Vape cartridges can be just as convenient as pre-rolls, and as long as the ingredients going into your cartridge are safe, you have nothing to fear from vaping.
CBG tinctures
Tinctures are one of the most popular CBD product categories, and some brands are starting to expand into CBG tinctures as well. Hemp products you take orally, however, have decreased bioavailability.
CBG topicals
Just like CBD, CBG might be useful when applied topically. In particular, CBG topicals could be useful for wound healing, but it would be necessary to make a product formulation that won’t do more harm than good.
What are the benefits of CBG?
Let’s cover some of the most impressive benefits of CBG:
Antibacterial
Animal studies have shown CBG to be just as effective as mainline antibacterial treatments. This cannabinoid may even be effective in fighting MRSA, a common bacterial infection in hospital environments.
Digestive
CBG appears to help with digestion by reducing inflammation in the digestive tract. This helps your gut’s natural mucosal defense barrier support healthy, natural digestion.
Anti-cancer
Cannabigerol has been investigated as a treatment for colorectal, stomach, and other gastrointestinal cancers. This cannabinoid may even be useful for breast cancer, and it appears that CBG mainly fights cancer by reducing tumor size.
How does CBG make you feel?
CBG feels almost the same as CBD when you smoke or vape it. While CBD-rich cannabis can hurt your throat slightly on the way down, however, CBG usually hits smoother, making it more like THC in that way (and that way alone).
Like CBD, cannabigerol doesn’t make you high, and in terms of perceived effects, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to distinguish between these two non-intoxicating cannabinoids. Under the surface, however, CBG operates very differently within your body.
While CBD mainly operates at the 5-HT1A and TRPV1 receptors, CBG affects other bodily systems. It’s possible that using these cannabinoids together might provide enhanced effects, and there’s evidence that adding CBC, CBN, and the other non-intoxicating cannabinoids into the mix may provide even further benefits.
How do you find the best CBG products?
You’re ready to be the first person to bring CBG to your Charlotte neighborhood. How do you tell the good CBG products from the bad, however?
Potency
A few years ago, it was only possible to get CBG from CBD-rich hemp in concentrations under 1% per dry weight. As a result, most CBG products were extremely low-quality and filled with processing toxins.
If you find a CBG flower product with more than 10-15% CBG, it was bred to be high in this cannabinoid, which proves that your flower is just as high-quality as hemp with any other dominant cannabinoid. As the CBG industry continues to evolve, even higher CBG concentrations will be available in hemp flower products.
Lab testing
Independent lab testing is just as essential in the CBG industry as it is for CBD products. Hemp tends to accumulate toxins as it grows, which makes it necessary to follow strict safety protocols.
If a company doesn’t take the time to grow good hemp and extract CBG from it properly, this lack of rigor will be obvious. Either the hemp company won’t provide lab reports at all or the reports provided will be from the company’s own lab.
Customer reviews
Good products speak for themselves, and they end up spreading by word of mouth. The modern equivalent of word of mouth, customer reviews speak volumes regarding the popularity of a hemp company and the quality of its products. As they say—you can fool some people sometimes, but you can’t fool all the people all the time.
Is CBG safe?
Like CBD, cannabigerol does not appear to have any serious side effects. This cannabinoid is also non-intoxicating, and it does not have any addictive properties. It’s possible that, like CBD, CBG may interact with certain prescription drugs, but other than that, this antibacterial, anticancer, pro-digestion plant substance appears to be entirely safe for you to use.
Once you’ve tried CBG, make sure to share with your friends and loved ones. Grab a CBG pre-roll, head out, and enjoy everything that Charlotte has to offer with your new favorite non-intoxicating cannabinoid.