CBG or cannabigerol seems right on its path to becoming as popular as its sister cannabinoids like CBD and THC. In recent times, there has been a surge in people who have drawn towards CBG because of its unique healing properties and potential health benefits. Like CBD, the market seems to be filled with products specifically made from CBG. Oils, tinctures, creams, sprays, gummies, and full-spectrum products, the list goes on. So what’s the verdict? Is it equally powerful and beneficial at the same time? The answer lies in restrictions created around CBD and THC. We all know that while THC causes intoxication and can alter the state of mind, CBD has been restricted to some extent by the US Food and Drug Administration.
CBG, however, is not widely tested, debated, and discussed cannabinoid. Those who have benefitted from it say it has many qualities that overshadow even CBD but the scientific community is yet to assess those claims. What are the hurdles in making CBG popular? This is the topic we are discussing in this article.
Let’s dive in!
What is CBG?
CBG is as old as CBD or THC but grew in popularity only recently. Marijuana researchers Yehiel Gaoni and Raphael Mechoulam had first discovered CBG in 1964 in Israel. They managed to extract CBG, along with CBD and THC, from a marijuana plant. Although their discovery did not lead to widespread use of CBG due to more interest in CBD and THC, it certainly emerged as a promising chemical compound in the present scenario. People now want to explore its properties just like CBD and THC to understand its effects on the human body.
Part of the reason is some of the other restrictions around CBD and THC, which is stopping the industry from rising globally. But there are no such restrictions around CBG. The reason: this cannabinoid has grown in popularity just recently and regulators are still assessing its negative effects. On the positive side, CBG holds many similarities with CBD. It does not cause high. It is seen as a possible cure against various anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. It can reduce stress by uplifting your mood.
Why do we need CBG when we have CBD?
You may be struggling to answer this question. Yes, they both hold similar properties and you may think “I am using CBD for years, why should I change my habit?”. Well, why not. But now we know CBG is relatively new but that’s the positive thing about it. It’s being seen as a dietary supplement and potential cure against critical diseases, including some forms of cancer. They both hold many similar properties and differ in several aspects. For example, they both contain a minuscule quantity of THC, the compound that causes high, which puts them in the so-called “safe to consume” category.
Entrepreneurs are seeing CBG as another opportunity to grab the pie of the thriving global cannabis market. In essence, we are still in the experimental stage when it comes to CBG. There are many more things that we are yet to learn about CBG but it has drawn cannabis enthusiasts towards itself by promising health benefits.
What makes CBG a ‘scare cannabinoid’?
Though researchers are still studying its negative effects, there’s one drawback they have discovered so far. CBG is available in very small quantities in a cannabis or hemp flower. A harvested cannabis plant generally comprises just 1 percent of CBG, which not only makes it hard to study but to extract as well. To address this problem, producers have devised methods through which they can extract about 20 percent of CBG from a cannabis flower. That begs a question as to how ethical it is to modify the natural composition in a cannabis or hemp plant to enhance compound percentage to increase production. The FDA so far is silent on this issue but considering its stand on CBD and THC, it’s unlikely that CBG can get a full green signal anytime soon.
How to improve CBG scarcity?
The first obvious thing to do to improve CBG scarcity is to enhance research on CBG to make sure it’s studied on a deeper level. The government also needs to relax norms around cannabis research to allow an open debate on exploring ways to unlock CBG’s potential. Another way to improve CBG level in cannabis plants is via modification in the plant structure in lab conditions, which also has side effects. In essence, CBG needs a bigger space to understand its full potential.
How big is the CBG market?
The CBG market is still at the elementary level and CBG-based dietary supplements are in huge demand. Producers are urging researchers to conduct large-scale studies involving CBG to establish the claims users are also experiencing. But its scarce nature makes it expensive and difficult to manufacture. From production to extraction and marketing — CBG is bound to be more expensive than other cannabinoids. That begs the question as to how viable CBG is for mass production. The FDA is still reluctant in assessing its side effects, which means producers have to sell on their risk. As far as potential benefits are concerned, CBG can work pretty well as an antibiotic.
Studies on rats have shown it restricts the uptake of neurotransmitters serotonin GABA, leading to their increased levels. It also works well in weight-loss therapy and in the treatment of metabolic diseases. This so-called “mother of all cannabinoids” behaves more like THC but it primarily interacts with different receptors than CBD and THC. It can be a huge pain reliever and reduces the effects of colitis. If that’s not enough, CBD can even work as a cancer fighter.
In 2014, a study on CBG use against colon cancer showed a reduction in tumor growth. CBG also restricts breast cancer growth. Those undergoing chemotherapy have seen an uptake in urge for food if they are administered the right dose of CBG. It has also proved to be effective in preventing nerve cell degeneration, also called Huntington’s disease. The market is relatively new but the potential is huge. CBG has all the ingredients to become another ‘CBD’ provided producers come up with the right marketing strategies and it’s considered legal by the FDA.
