What is CBG and how is it different from CBD?

In recent years, CBD has become widely known to the general public and has gradually built a solid reputation. CBD—and CBD flowers in particular—are gaining more and more followers.

There are many reasons for this, including the encouraging findings of numerous studies conducted to date on the benefits of CBD, particularly CBD flowers.

But what many users don’t realize is that there is another cannabinoid that may deserve just as much attention: Cannabigerol, or CBG, which is different from CBD and THC.

The first thing to know about CBG is that, like CBD, it has no psychoactive properties. Consuming it therefore does not get you “high,” unlike THC.

As the plant grows, nearly all of the cannabigerol (CBG) is converted into other cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, to the point that by the end of the growing cycle, the plants contain only about 1% CBG. However, certain recent techniques make it possible to preserve a higher CBG content.

In 2010, a study conducted on mouse brain membranes revealed that cannabigerol (CBG) acts as a potent agonist of alpha-2 adrenoreceptors, making it similar to certain medications prescribed to treat various forms of pain.

Regarding inflammatory bowel diseases, the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Naples conducted a study on mice. Published in 2013, it led to the following conclusion: CBG, like CBD, is capable of alleviating colitis while “reducing nitric oxide production in [their] macrophages.”Based on these results, the researchers suggested that CBG and CBD be considered as an experimental treatment for inflammatory bowel diseases.

Scientists have also highlighted the potential of CBG and CBD in treating neurodegenerative diseases. Published in the journal“Neurotherapeutics”in 2015, their study—conducted on mice with Huntington’s disease—revealed that CBG and CBD protected the subjects from several symptoms of these diseases.

So, CBD or CBG?

One is not necessarily better than the other.

CBD and CBG are simply more or less suited to specific situations. Personal preference will therefore depend largely on the reason for using CBG or CBD.

While research on CBD is much more extensive and CBD-containing products are much more widely available,CBG oil deserves to be better known.

What about the legislation regarding CBG and CBD?

CBG is not listed in the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances and is not prohibited by law.

In conclusion, although it is not easy to obtain, CBG is gradually carving out a place for itself in the fascinating yet still little-known world of cannabinoids.

NB: While Mama Kana refers to scientific studies, she in no way advocates the medical use of CBD and CBG.