Cannabigerol (CBG), the parent cannabinoid to Cannabidiol (CBD) and other phytocannabinoids, has just recently entered the limelight as possibly medicinal cannabinoid on par with other market favorites — mainly CBD.
Today, consumers are faced with a growing list of exciting and medicinal cannabinoids, including CBD, CBN, THC, CBC and now — CBG. This father-cannabinoid can reportedly be found in low levels within cannabis, therefore removing it from the restraints of synthetic/artificial production. CBG can be found in a range of cannabis products, including edibles, tinctures, gummies and a slew of other merchandise.
Dr. José Torradas, a physician who specializes in alternative therapies, told Women’s Health that CBG acts on the CB1 and CBD receptors, but does not produce a high like Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and it’s variants, Delta-8 and Delta-10, do. Much like CBD, CBG reportedly has zero psychoactive effects, making it much more palatable to a wider market that wishes to avoid getting high and experiencing paranoia, anxiety and other side effects commonly associated with THC.
“In terms of how well it connects to CB1 and CB2 receptors, CBG seems to be much more effective and direct than CBD,” Torradas told Women’s Health. “Similarly to CBD, CBG does not have psychoactive effects (meaning it won’t get you high).”
So, what does the research say?
While research into CBG and its purported benefits is in the early stages, there have been promising studies done utilizing animals. Pre-clinical research has found CBG to be potentially helpful with inflammatory bowel disease, anxiety disorders and motor-function disorders like Parkinson’s [1]
“CBG [research] is in the early stages,” Torradas told the magazine. “More robust research and data is needed and lowering the cost of extraction would help unlock the keys to CBG’s future adoption if these early indications are true.”
Torradas also told the publication that there have been preliminary trials with CBG that show it as a potential antibiotic for MRSA as well.
As with most phytocannabinoid discoveries, there still is a great road ahead in terms of medical research before any definitive conclusion as to its efficacy can be made. Until then, users will have to be content with limited medical knowledge and only early results, making the verdict unknown at this time on CBG’s efficacy.
References:
- Navarro, Gemma et al. “Cannabigerol Action at Cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 Receptors and at CB1-CB2 Heteroreceptor Complexes.” Frontiers in pharmacology vol. 9 632. 21 Jun. 2018, doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00632
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
