What is CBG (Cannabigerol) in medical marijuana products?
What is CBG (Cannabigerol): The Big Mama Cannabinoid in medical marijuana! After you receive your medical marijuana card or renewal certification, you will be able to visit a medical marijuana dispensary and purchase medical marijuana. For starters, medical marijuana contains many different cannabinoids including, CBD, CBG, THC, CBC, and many others. All cannabinoids offer a different result!
First and foremost, you must speak with a state-certified medical marijuana doctor to receive your MMJ card. Schedule your appointment and receive your medical marijuana card to be able to access a medical marijuana dispensary!
What is CBG? Get Medical Marijuana Card Online Today.
CBD has been hogging the health and wellness spotlight for a while now—and with good reason. As multiple generations of Americans are exploring the benefits of this humble little molecule, we are blazing up in greater numbers than ever.
Speaking of blazing up, THC is still being enjoyed in high—excuse the pun—numbers. Although many users have realized the benefit of a non-psychoactive, non-anxiety-triggering smoke, some are still loyal to the traditional marijuana joint.
So we’re all familiar with the therapeutic benefits of CBD and its slightly psychotic sibling, THC.
And now it’s time to meet their mother.
Let us introduce you to CBG: the mother of all cannabinoids.
No, really. Every one of the estimated 120 cannabinoids found in the cannabis sativa plant starts life as CBGA. At one point, our beloved CBD was a tiny spark of CBGA. Even though CBD is the most prolific cannabinoid in the marijuana plant, CBG can be found in high levels, too. We like to think she’s there to keep an eye on her kids.
We’ll have a pretty cool chemistry lesson for you in a minute, so stay tuned.
We’re also unpacking everything you need to know about CBG and how the big mama of cannabinoids can help transform your medical marijuana usage. Trust us: you’re going to want to stick around for the whole lesson.
What is CBG in medical marijuana: The Origin Story
CBG medical marijuana: A Chemistry Lesson
Like all the cannabinoids found in the medical cannabis plant, CBG comes in different forms.
It starts life as CBGA: CBG Acid. As it grows, it drops the acid format and becomes a charmingly neutral CBG. This, in itself, isn’t strange—many plant molecules morph under certain conditions. Chemicals transform, change structure, and bind to each other.
CBD is a great example of this. In its acid form, as CBDA, it has very little use to us. But by adding heat we can push it to transform into CBD, and deliver all its wellness benefits to our waiting bodies. This process, called decarboxylation—or decarbing, for most of us—is also important in the use of THC. Without decarbing, you would be consuming THCA. THCA will not get you high.
But back to CBGA—cannabigerol’s early form.
When this molecule transforms within the cannabis sativa plant, it can become CBG.
Or, under the right light, soil, water, and chemical conditions, it can become THCA, CBDA, or CBCA.
Technically, the cannabis industry calls CBGA the Mother of All Cannabinoids. CBG, which we’re exploring here, goes by the slightly more accessible moniker the Princess of Pot. Whichever title you prefer, we guarantee you’ll agree by the end of this guide: she’s a pretty charming little molecule.
CBG cannabis: A History Lesson
The story of cannabigerol—CBG to her friends and family—starts in Israel in 1964. Researchers studying marijuana had managed to isolate three key cannabinoids from cannabis sativa: delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, and cannabigerol. For the rest of this ultimate guide to CBG medical marijuana, we’ll call them by the names we know: delta-9 THC, our beloved CBD, and the object of our fascination today, CBG.
The pair didn’t realize what a major coup this was.
Yehiel Gaoni and Raphael Mechoulam had just made the discovery that would go on to form the basis of everything the cannabis industry is today.
The problem was that CBG was difficult to research. Scientists had trouble pinning this valuable little molecule down, because of its ability to transform into other cannabinoids.
A Current Affairs Lesson
As CBD takes the world of wellness exploration by storm, innovative companies and industry leaders are working to uncover the hidden mysteries of the lesser-known cannabinoids—especially CBG.
As the precursor to the cannabinoids the world loves, it holds a lot of interest to researchers. It also holds major promise as a therapeutic treatment.
The US government has its eye on CBG medical marijuana, too. In 2018, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health made a public announcement of their plan to research CBG for pain management.
Major biotech corporations have also acknowledged the promise CBG shows as an anti-inflammatory, going on record to talk about the benefits.
A Buyer’s Guide
The potential advantages for our wellness as human beings is extensive. As another powerful, non-psychoactive cannabinoid, CBG has shown an ability to improve our anandamide levels. Anandamide is our ‘bliss’ molecule—so boosting it makes us happier.
CBG is also being researched as a potential support for sufferers of Huntington’s disease, MRSA, and some forms of cancer.
Research is still in its infancy, though. For the most part, researchers have the same issue the rest of us do: lack of funds. CBG is notoriously expensive to produce in controlled settings, making it a costly process.
Perhaps that’s why CBG’s other nickname is the Rolls Royce of Cannabinoids.
Or perhaps that term of endearment comes from the many reasons smokable CBG is such an enjoyable experience.
What is CBG cannabis: Potential Pain Relief
Cannabis is popularly credited as delivering quality pain relief to users. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence of how effective smokable CBG blunts can be for managing chronic pain.
And now, National Academy of Sciences studies have shown conclusively that cannabis can be effective for pain relief. This is backed up by studies that show CBG is more effective for chronic muscular and joint pain than either delta-9 THC or CBD.
What is Cannabigerol: Signs of Anti-Inflammation Protection
CBG and CBGA have both shown potential as anti-inflammatories, in conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and colitis. Although studies are in their early days, animal studies have shown some promise in this area and make some pretty encouraging reading for cannabigerol marijuana enthusiasts who are plugged into the ongoing wellness conversation.
What is CBG medical cannabis: Potential Brain Support
These are the studies intriguing the cannabis and science communities equally right now.
CBG has shown early signs of its potential as a neuroprotectant. Whether this is a blend of anti-inflammatory benefits and its ability to grow new cells—like brain cells—we’ll leave to the scientists. What we do know is that it stopped degeneration of brain tissue in this one study.
What is CBG Medical Marijuana: Potential Antibacterial Powers
Researchers have suggested that CBG could be used as a powerful antibacterial agent against MRSA—the strain notoriously resistant to antibiotics. They have also confirmed that CBG is more effective at fighting mycobacteria than THC and CBD.
CBG medical marijuana: A Potential Support for Times of Stress
Could CBG be helpful in regulating our emotional responses? Some studies say yes.
In rats, this nifty molecule leads to increased serotonin and GABA levels. In basic terms, there are potential antidepressant qualities. Because CBG is non-intoxicating and non-psychoactive, it also avoids placing strain on our emotions and triggering stress and anxiety reactions.
The compact, frosted buds have very similar terpene profiles to both THC and CBD flower, too. The flowers contain a virtual buffet of wellness treats—from an entourage of cannabinoids, to a variety of flavors and aromas that lend each type of flower its own unique personality.
How you choose yours is up to you (but don’t worry, we have tips if you need them).
The Vibe
Despite the familiar experience from a flavor standpoint, smoking CBG marijuana flower feels very different to smoking THC flower.
You can expect a general sense of calm from a CBG marijuana smoke. Because the blend of high quality CBG and CBD help alleviate feelings of stress and anxiousness, you should start to feel more relaxed.
The Side Effects
CBG has been linked to side effects of hunger—known to cannabis enthusiasts across the world as The Munchies.
2 Things to Look For
When you’re looking for premium smokable CBG marijuana products, the process is pretty straightforward.
#1. Look for quality marijuana products from a reputable local dispensary.
#2. Look for companies that know their products. Seek out a company with a stable online presence, that is able to impart a little wisdom and give sound advice on how to get the most benefit from their products
When it comes to smoking CBG marijuana flower, there are also a few insider secrets that will help you get the most burn for your buck.
The Afterglow
Have we answered everything you want to know about CBG? If not, we’ve rounded up a few quick FAQs that help our cannabis-savvy buyers know what they’re getting into.
For cannabis aficionados and curious new explorers alike, smokable CBG might be high on your radar.
The FAQs
How are people taking CBG?
CBG is still in its infancy, but so far we’re seeing smokable CBG flower as the most effective method of consuming CBG. For those who can’t take advantage of smokable CBG, there are oral care products—yes, toothpaste—and topical creams, tinctures, and full-spectrum products that contain various levels of CBG.
Does smokable CBG medical marijuana come from cannabis sativa or cannabis indica?
Smokable CBG comes from the medical marijuana plant—which shares its genetic profile with cannabis sativa.
Then why Smokable CBG?
- Smoking medical marijuana flower delivers CBG quicker, and allows for a more intense effect, than other methods of CBG administration.
- Smoking CBG medical cannabis flower generally shows effectiveness within 10 minutes of use, and lasts for up to an hour at a time.
- Smoking marijuana CBG has no intoxicating properties, no matter what method of smoking you use.
- Smoking cannabis CBG can act as a supplement to other formats of CBG use—topical or oral.
Will smokable CBG get me high?
No. The high associated with cannabis comes from the cannabinoid THC. There is minimal THC in CBG—not enough to get you high.
For marijuana enthusiasts who are making the switch to low-THC smoking for wellness, the familiar medical cannabis terpenes and lack of psycho-actives can make the transition easier.
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