CBD
CBG vs. CBD: What is the Difference Between CBD and CBG?
Apr
CBD has taken the world by storm in recent years. It’s become widely popular, and everyone is talking about CBD’s health benefits. This resulted in a huge range of CBD products available everywhere.
But CBG products, such as CBG oils, are emerging as well. If you’ve confused about the difference between them, you’ve come to the right place.
I’ve used both CBD and CBG for several months, and today I’ll explain what they are, their differences, and if these substances are legal.
Quick Summary
- The cannabis plant has over 480 compounds. CBG and CBD are two of these.
- There are several important differences between CBD and CBG, such as the manufacturing process, uses, and price.
- You should take CBD and CBG together for the biggest effect.
What are Cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are compounds from the Cannabis sativa plant. There are over 480 compounds present in the plant. Only 66 of these are termed cannabinoids.
The most well-known cannabinoid is THC, which is known for its psychoactive properties, i.e., the ability to get you high.
Cannabinoids are separated into several subclasses. Here’s the breakdown of two of them: CBD and CBG.
What is CBG?
CBG stands for cannabigerol. This is one of over 100 cannabinoids found in hemp and cannabis plants.
Young hemp plants produce cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). As the plant matures, this turns into cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA). Then, these compounds are turned into CBD and THC, and leftover CBGA becomes CBG.
CBG is only currently getting a lot of buzz. CBG research is still in the preclinical stages, but so far, it’s showing that CBG has therapeutic effects and pain-relieving properties.
CBG interacts with CB1 and CB2 receptors of the endocannabinoid system, so it can have an effect on inflammation and chronic pain.
What is CBD?
CBD stands for cannabidiol. It naturally occurs in high concentrations in hemp and cannabis plants. It’s closely related to THC but isn’t psychoactive. In other words, it can’t get you high.
Research has confirmed CBD has several therapeutic benefits. It has anti-depression and anti-anxiety properties, can relieve nausea, and alleviate chronic pain.
Moreover, CBD is effective in treating epilepsy attacks in children, and it’s used in an FDA-approved drug, Epidiolex.
What is the Difference Between CBG and CBD? CBG vs. CBD
The difference between CBG and CBD is that CBG is a minor cannabinoid, and CBD is a major
cannabinoid. This means CBG makes up for a smaller percentage of the cannabinoids in the cannabis plant compared to CBD.
These two cannabinoids have similar therapeutic properties, but their molecular structures are different. Molecular structure determines how they bind with receptors in your body.
For example, CBG behaves as an antagonist when bound with the 5-HT1A serotonin receptor, while CBD acts as an agonist. In other words, CBG makes nausea worse, while CBD makes it better. This means even though these cannabinoids bind to the same place, they have opposite effects.
Another difference is how they stimulate the appetite. A study found that CBG doubles the appetite while CBD lowers it.
Finally, CBG is known to have anti-bacterial qualities, while CBD calms the nervous system.
Using CBD and CBG Together
It’s completely safe to take CBD and CBG together. In fact, you’ll notice a bigger effect when you take these cannabinoid receptors together than when you take them alone.
CBD and CBG work together to provide pain-relieving options. For example, they can help with inflammatory bowel disease. Moreover, they increase the benefits of other cannabinoids from the hemp plant. This is especially true when you take full-spectrum products, such as full-spectrum CBG oil with CBD oil.
Stick to a 1:1 ratio, which means take 1 mg of CBD and 1 mg of CBG for best results.
Is CBD & CBG Legal?
Yes, CBD and CBG are legal under the 2018 Farm Bill. You can consume CBG isolate, full-spectrum, or broad CBG and CBD products as long as they don’t contain more than 0.3% THC.
However, even though these products are legal, it’s best to consult your healthcare provider before you consume CBG and CBD oils, especially if you already have to use prescription medications.
Should You Use CBG and CBD?
Both CBG and CBD can help with various health conditions. There are some differences between these cannabinoids, such as how they affect nausea and appetite. But, you should use them together for the biggest health benefits.
Look for CBD and CBG products from verified manufacturers like UNO CBD, and enjoy numerous health benefits.
References
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Wieckiewicz, G., Stokłosa, I., Stokłosa, M., Gorczyca, P., & Pudlo, R. (2022). Cannabidiol (CBD) in the Self-Treatment of Depression-Exploratory Study and a New Phenomenon of Concern for Psychiatrists. Frontiers in psychiatry, 13, 837946. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.837946
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Boyaji, S., Merkow, J., Elman, R. N. M., Kaye, A. D., Yong, R. J., & Urman, R. D. (2020). The Role of Cannabidiol (CBD) in Chronic Pain Management: An Assessment of Current Evidence. Current Pain and Headache Reports, 24(2). Available at:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-020-0835-4
Rock, E. M., & Parker, L. A. (2017, January 1). Chapter 72 – The Role of 5-HT1A Receptor and Nausea and Vomiting Relief by Cannabidiol (CBD), Cannabidiolic Acid (CBDA), and Cannabigerol (CBG) (V. R. Preedy, Ed.). ScienceDirect; Academic Press. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128007563000831
Commissioner, O. of the. (2021). FDA Regulation of Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Products, Including Cannabidiol (CBD). FDA. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/fda-regulation-cannabis-and-cannabis-derived-products-including-cannabidiol-cbd#:~:text=22.-
Brierley, D. I., Samuels, J., Duncan, M., Whalley, B. J., & Williams, C. M. (2016). Cannabigerol is a novel, well-tolerated appetite stimulant in pre-satiated rats. Psychopharmacology, 233(19-20), 3603–3613. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-016-4397-4
Aqawi, M., Sionov, R. V., Gallily, R., Friedman, M., & Steinberg, D. (2021). Anti-Bacterial Properties of Cannabigerol Toward Streptococcus mutans. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.656471
Farm Bill. (n.d.). Www.usda.gov. Available at: https://www.usda.gov/farmbill