Introducing the Mother of All Cannabinoids: CBG

Table of Contents

1. What is CBG?
2. What are the CBG Benefits?
3. CBG vs. CBD
4. How to Take CBG

 

When it comes to cannabis, there’s no doubt that THC and CBD get most of the headlines, but the reality is that neither compound can lay claim to the nickname “The Mother of all Cannabinoids.” That title belongs to cannabigerol, also known as CBG, a fellow cannabinoid of the cannabis plant seeing a surge in popularity because of its ample benefits.

 

Both THC and CBD are derived from the acidic form of CBG (CBGa), hence the “Mother” moniker. For the cannabis novice, that fun fact is just the tip of the iceberg for things they’re about to learn about CBG. To help clear up some of the confusion and offer a little education, we’ve recapped a few other things that we thought you might like to know.

 

What is CBG?

 

 

CBG is a cannabinoid that comes from the cannabis plant. Unlike THC and CBD, which are more prevalent in cannabis plants, CBG is often scarce or harder to find. The reason for this is because as the plant ages, CBG that is present will be converted into THC and CBD. That means that in order to access CBG, you’d need to either use younger plants that have not yet matured or perform specialized cross-breeding to manipulate the plant’s genetics.

 

What are the CBG benefits?

 

Much like with CBD, CBG benefits are possible because of an interaction with our endocannabinoid system (ECS). The goal of the ECS is to keep our bodies in homeostasis, or a balanced, steady state, which is why it can affect daily functions like sleep, mood, pain levels and appetite. 

 

Though research on CBG benefits is somewhat limited, what is available shows great promise as a potential therapeutic for numerous diseases and conditions. Some of the top CBG benefits involve:

 

• Reduction in inflammation and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease¹
• Treatment of glaucoma²
• Treatment of Huntington’s disease³
• Reduction in the size of cancerous  tumors⁴
• Stimulation of appetite⁵
• Eradication of bacteria like MRSA⁶

 

But perhaps its most wide-reaching benefit is that CBG can amplify the effect of a neurotransmitter called anandamide⁷ that controls how we feel, including focus and energy level.

 

CBG vs. CBD

 

 

Wondering how CBG stacks up with CBD? Both cannabinoids are non-psychoactive, meaning they don’t cause a euphoric high in the user the way THC does. And, like CBD, CBG may reduce THC’s psychoactive properties when the compounds are present in the same strain. There is one key difference to note in the CBG vs. CBD debate. While CBD influences the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the ECS, CBG will actually bind to the receptors, increasing its potential as an effective therapeutic.  

 

How to take CBG

 

 

There are a variety of different delivery mechanisms for CBG products, making it easy for someone interested in the cannabinoid to find the right fit for their needs and preferences. For example, CBG can be found in oils—but those are often messy and cumbersome to use. It’s also readily available in capsules, but swallowing a large capsule is unpleasant for many people.

 

Those in search of high-quality, easy-to-use CBG products will appreciate Liweli’s Focus CBD Gummies, which include 20mg of CBG, a touch of CBD and a natural watermelon flavor that’s delicious on the tongue. Many CBG products, including our gummies and other topical CBG or CBD creams that can be rubbed directly onto the skin, are classified as full-spectrum or broad-spectrum because they include both CBG and CBD. When multiple cannabinoids are present, their respective benefits all receive a boost, a phenomenon known as the entourage effect. In contrast, CBG isolate is a product that contains pure CBG extracted from the cannabis plant without any other cannabinoids.

 

Lastly, if you’re unsure about how much CBG to take, we recommend you start low and slow. Try one of our gummies per day to see how you feel and make notes about your experience. After a few days, try slowly increasing how many you’re taking. The goal is always to take as little CBG as possible in order to reach the maximum benefit—we call that threshold the “sweet spot.”

 

¹ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23415610/

² https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19112869/

³ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25252936/

⁴ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25269802/

⁵ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5021742/

⁶ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18681481/

⁷https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3165957/