Over the past few years, the legal cannabinoid market has truly flourished. With the 2018 Farm Bill, scientists and manufacturers were encouraged to relentlessly research all the promising properties of the cannabis plant. As a result, a lot of exciting cannabinoids came to the surface.
From CBN and CBC to Delta 8 and 10 THC, hemp enthusiasts have an exciting array of products to choose from. With the brilliance of the cannabis plant and the remarkable properties it carries, you now find a cannabinoid for almost every purpose you can think of.
If you’re looking to combat pain without the intoxicating effects of THC, CBG is the best option. It has expressive therapeutic effects that may soothe pain and inflammation, making it the next great cannabinoid on the legal market.
Even though it displays incredible effects, CBG still isn’t getting the attention it deserves. However, the public is slowly starting to realize the benefits of CBG, and the demand for this cannabinoid is rising. With the demand, so does the offer. Therefore, you can now choose from an array of CBG products that bring the healing essence of hemp closer to the consumers.
If you’re interested in this cannabinoid, you can learn more about it in the following CBG buying guide.
What Is CBG?
CBG or cannabigerol was initially discovered in 1964. The cannabinoid is often referred to as the “mother of all cannabinoids” as its acidic form – CBGA is the foundation for numerous other major and minor cannabinoids. Cannabigerolic acid is the acidic chemical precursor of THCA, CBDA, and CBCA.
With time, the CBGA in the cannabis plant is broken down by enzymes, producing the above three cannabinoids. At the end of the harvest, only small amounts of CBGA are leftover to become decarboxylated and turn into CBG.
Therefore, the cannabinoid with an incredible therapeutic potential is only found in trace quantities once the hemp plants are harvested. The low CBG concentration, which is often less than 1% by dry weight, is why many manufacturers often overlook this cannabinoid. However, because of the outstanding therapeutic effects that it features, interest in the cannabinoid is starting to grow.
How CBG Works
The efficiency of CBG and all other cannabinoids relies on the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system in the human body is responsible for maintaining the balance of many vital biological processes that impact your mood, sleep, appetite, immune responses, etc.
The CB receptors inside the endocannabinoid system are responsible for how the system binds with different cannabinoids. CBG binds to both CB1 and CB2 receptors. Its major task is to enhance anandamide and may positively affect your motivation, appetite, sleep quality, and the pleasure centers in your brain.
As a CB1 agonist, CBG stimulates the production of anandamide in the nervous system. On the other hand, it also interacts with the CB2 receptors, but its role here is yet to be researched and explained.
Apart from that, CBG also works like an adrenoceptor agonist. It controls the expression of adrenaline and noradrenaline levels – the most important neurotransmitters in the sympathetic nervous system.
The Benefits of CBG
CBG is very similar to CBD. In fact, the cannabinoids are only differentiated by the number of hydrogen molecules – CBG has 32, while CBD has two less for a total of 30 hydrogen molecules. Therefore, these cannabinoids have pretty much the same properties, with some slight differences.
The medical benefits of CBG include analgesic, anticancer, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. The benefits come from the intoxication of many cannabinoids like THC, meaning that you won’t experience a psychoactive high from using CBG.
Research is still in an early stage, so not all the potential benefits of CBG are scientifically proven. However, findings are looking very promising, so CBG is often used to treat many conditions, including:
Inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel disease causes chronic bowel inflammation. Because of CBG’s anti-inflammatory properties, the cannabinoid displays considerable potential as a possible treatment. Experimental animal studies claim that CBG has beneficial effects on bowel inflammation.
Bacterial infections
CBG is the cannabinoid with the most expressive antibacterial properties. That’s why its efficiency is extensively tested and trialed in bacterial infection studies. Though research is still ongoing, CBG displays excellent efficiency against methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus strains. MRSA is well-known for causing drug-resistant staph infections, so the potential of CBG can be very beneficial.
Glaucoma
Studies show that CBG also has significant therapeutic potential that can be used for treating glaucoma symptoms. Animal studies show that CBG lowers eye pressure while increasing aqueous humor outflow.
Aqueous humor is a liquid that naturally maintains healthy eye pressure and supplies the eyes with nutrients. Despite lowering the pressure directly, CBG may be an effective remedy in the long run, as it helps the eyes regulate the pressure naturally.
Inhibiting the growth of cancer cells
Another promising ability of CBG is the potential to inhibit the growth of some cancer cells. Animal trials on rats with colon cancers show that CBG might be able to block some of the receptors causing cancer cell growth. It may also inhibit the growth of colorectal cancer cells.
However, more research is needed to verify these findings and examine whether the potential is limited to colorectal cancer cells or may be used with other types of cancer as well.
How to Use CBG
CBG can be administered in many different ways. Though it isn’t a popular market option like CBD and THC, if you take some time and search, you can find some excellent CBG products.
The product variety is pretty similar to what you’re used to if you’re using CBD and THC. Suppose you aren’t very familiar with cannabinoid products. In that case, you should know that there are several CBG product types that will help you administer the cannabinoid in a way that’s most convenient for you.
To help you find a suitable product, we’ve included a list of CBG products in the CBG buying guide. You’ll get a detailed overview of different CBG products, their advantages, and their downsides.
CBG vape pens
Vape pens are an excellent way to get the immediate effects of CBG without exposing your respiratory system to the potential risks of inhaling smoke. CBG vape pens work by heating up the vape juice to a controlled temperature that’s perfect for vaporization of the CBG tincture. By maintaining a controlled temperature, vape pens make the most of the juice’s potency while gently vaporizing the precious terpenes for an incredible aroma and enjoyment.
CBG vape pens come infused with different types of CBG juice. Some come with the raw aroma profile of hemp, while others are infused with other natural or synthetic flavorings that conceal the distinctive smell of hemp.
Vaping CBG pens may be an excellent choice if you’re looking for fast-acting effects and an impeccable aroma. However, you should know that even though vaping is much safer than smoking, it still comes with several health risks.
Also Read: How to Charge a Disposable Vape Pen
CBG gummies
Though CBG gummies can be infused with pure CBG isolates, gummies often come with a blend of CBG and CBD to provide you with the best of both worlds. They are very simple to consume and dose, as each gummy comes with an accurate dosage of CBG.
CBG gummies are an excellent option for inexperienced users. The abundance of choices makes the entire experience a lot more fun, while the simple administration takes many concerns away.
CBG gummies are pretty much the same as regular gummies, with the only exception being the presence of CBG. They come in various flavor options and are easily chewable and digestible, so they’ll offer you an exciting way to consume CBG without worrying about any health implications.
Gummies are an excellent way to avoid the health risks of smoking products. The only downside is that they’re significantly slowly acting, so depending on your metabolism, you’ll have to wait for an hour or two until the CBG manifests. Edibles may also require higher concentrations of the cannabinoid.
CBG oils
CBG oils are an excellent way to consume CBG as well, even though they might not sound as exciting as vapes and gummies. Oils can be consumed in two ways, providing you with slower or fast-acting effects.
If you’re anticipating the CBG essence, you’d want to place drops of the CBG oil directly below the tongue. This consumption method is also referred to as sublingual administration and provides fast-acting efficiency. The receptors beneath the tongue are responsible for the rapid manifestation. They quickly absorb the CBG and transfer it directly into the bloodstream, meaning that you won’t have to wait for the oil to be digested traditionally. That way, you may get immediate effects within 15 to 20 minutes after consumption.
The second way to consume CBG is by ingestion. If you opt for ingestion, you’ll be faced with the slow-paced tempo of edibles, meaning that the oil won’t produce effects within a couple of hours after consumption.
CBG oils are often used by people that are looking to incorporate a healthy cannabinoid into their daily diet. Because of the nature of the product, you can use CBG oils to infuse your meals, smoothies, or other beverages and enjoy the cannabinoid in various ways.
How to Find Safe CBG Products
CBG isn’t regulated by the FDA or any other regulatory body, meaning that when purchasing CBG products, you’re left entirely on your own to determine the safety and quality of the product.
Verifying the quality of CBG products can be quite a challenge if you don’t know what to look for. To help you with the task, we have a couple of things for you to consider before purchasing a CBG product.
Lab results
Whether you’re looking for CBG, CBD, CBN, or even THC, the lab results are a golden standard. With the lack of other scientific proof backing the quality of hemp derivatives, manufacturers use lab results to reassure customers about the quality of their products.
When looking at the lab results, the first thing you should consider is the source. Reputable companies turn to independent laboratories. In contrast, in-house lab tests are often an indicator of biased and unreliable results.
After ensuring the reliability of the results, you can start reading. The lab results will offer you a detailed overview of the cannabinoid profile of the product, along with a detailed list of all the chemicals present. That way, you can double-check for legal compliance or the presence of any impurities.
Extraction methods
There are a couple of methods used to extract CBG. The chromatography processes use liquid solvents like CO2 or ethanol to extract the phytocannabinoid. Though there are a couple of solvents that come into play, the safest option is CO2. CO2 involves dissolving hemp into the liquid solution, which is later evaporated to get pure CBG concentrates.
If you’re looking for safe and pure CBG extracts, we suggest you look for manufacturers that use CO2 extraction. Other solvents may leave behind unwanted residues, impacting the product’s safety.
Ingredients
Another thing to look for in safe CBG products is the ingredients. Reliable manufacturers are transparent about the ingredients of their products and clearly display them. That gives you the chance to double-check for any unwanted compounds before purchasing the product.
While looking at the ingredients, consider only organic and natural products. Anything less than 100% natural and organic shouldn’t satisfy your requirements, as you don’t want products that are derived from hemp plants treated with hefty pesticides or any other synthetic chemicals.
Spectrum
Before making up your mind on a specific product, you should also consider the CBG spectrum. CBG isolates contain only pure CBG, while broad- and full-spectrum CBG embraces the presence of other valuable cannabinoids. Full-spectrum CBG also contains THC, which can be off-putting for some users. However, the synergy between CBG and THC is well worth the inconvenience, making the cannabinoid much more effective and beneficial.
CBG Dosage Guide
To find a suitable product, you have to understand CBG potency. That’s why we’ve decided to also add a dosage guide to our CBG buying guide, so let’s take a look at how CBG potency works.
If you’re familiar with other cannabinoids, you already know that there isn’t any precise dosage chart that will help you determine the perfect dose for your individual needs. Dosing cannabinoids has always been a challenge, and CBG is here to remind us of that.
A lot of factors can affect the ideal CBG dosage, so considering every little detail will help you get a more accurate assumption. When thinking about CBG dosage, you should account for the following factors: age, baseline health, any underlying conditions, and your individual tolerance to the cannabinoid.
But even if you do your homework and calculate the recommended dose, the best practice is to start low and go slow. Although CBG is well-tolerated, there’s no point in taking higher doses than what you need. The best approach is to start with a significantly low dose.
Give your body a couple of days to get used to the cannabinoid before deciding whether the dose is potent enough. If it isn’t, slightly increase the dose, and wait to see whether that will provide you with the efficiency you need.
Other dosing considerations
A couple of external factors may also impact how much CBG you will need. The potency of the product is the first and most important one. Different products come with various potencies, meaning that you have to be very careful while choosing the right product. The CBG spectrum is also pretty weighty, as full-spectrum CBG tends to be significantly more efficient than CBG isolates.
The ideal dose also depends on the effects you’re looking to achieve. Some purposes call for higher doses, while other outcomes can be achieved with a low CBG dose. For instance, mental focus calls for low to moderate doses, while poor sleep quality and everyday stress may require significantly higher doses.
The type of product also impacts how CBG will be manifested in your body and whether you’ll need more of it to target some specific effects. Smoking products and sublingually consumed oils are absorbed pretty quickly, while edibles take a significantly longer route and might ask for a higher dose to produce the same effects as the potency is distributed across your system.
The Potential Side Effects of CBG
We can talk for hours about the benefits of the proper use of CBG, but we also have to mention the potential risks from the cannabinoid. CBG is considered to be generally safe and well-tolerated, but still, like many other cannabinoids, it may pose some adverse effects.
The side effects of taking too much CBG are similar to what’s expected when you take too much of similar cannabinoids, like CBD. Therefore, if you exceed the recommended dosage, you may experience nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting. The body’s defense mechanism triggers these symptoms as a way to get rid of the excess cannabinoids you’ve consumed. The side effects should subside once your body defends itself from the excess CBG.
Other side effects that may emerge even if you dose CBG properly include dry mouth, increased heart rate, and decreased blood pressure. However, individual bodily structures respond to the cannabinoid differently, so some people may experience a couple of these symptoms while others face no side effects at all.
The CBG Experience Explained
Even though every person’s experience with CBG is different, in our CBG buying guide, we’re going to try and describe what you can expect when using CBG.
How long does it take for CBG to kick in?
Let’s start at the beginning. You purchase a CBG product and consume it, but nothing happens. That’s because different CBG products need different amounts of time to be metabolized. Depending on the product you’ve chosen, you may have to wait between 15 to 20 minutes or perhaps a couple of hours.
The speed at which the CBG essence is delivered depends mainly on the type of product that you use. Smoking products like vapes and flowers are the best option if you’re looking for fast-acting effects. Inhaling CBG delivered fast efficiency, so you’ll only need to wait for a couple of minutes before the outcomes emerge.
On the other hand, edibles perform pretty poorly in terms of speedy effects. Edibles have to be fully digested before the CBG reaches the bloodstream and is delivered to the endocannabinoid system. It may take between 30 minutes or a couple of hours, depending on your metabolism.
CBG oils are an exception to the slow pace of edibles. When taken sublingually, oils are quickly absorbed and transferred, so you’ll get the same speed as smoking products without worrying about their side effects.
How will CBG make you feel?
By amplifying the function of anandamide, CBG may deliver feelings of enhancing pleasure and motivation. Therefore, CBG may alter your mood and perspective on things, but it won’t give you a high.
The way that CBG works allow the cannabinoid to introduce positive alteration to your mood and attitude. However, if you thought you might experience a psychoactive high, you couldn’t be more wrong.
CBG is non-psychoactive, so it won’t intoxicate your body or alter your perception and senses.
CBG is most effective at improving sleep quality, and alleviating pain, so you shouldn’t expect anything too specific after consuming the cannabinoid.
How long do the effects of CBG last?
CBG effects like pleasure, motivation, pain relief, etc., might last for around 2 to 6 hours. The duration of the CBG essence depends on many factors, so each person can have a varying experience with the cannabinoid.
One of the main factors impacting how long the CBG effects will last is the type of product you use. Products that are easily absorbent usually leave your system faster. If you’ve chosen smoking products that quickly travel across your body and produce fast-acting effects, you should expect the effects to wear out significantly faster.
On the other hand, users claim that edibles tend to have prolonged effects. Edibles take longer to produce, but they usually produce extended effects.
Even though the effects of CBG last between 2 to 6 hours, you should be aware that CBG stays in your system for significantly longer.
What Is the Legal Status of CBG?
When it comes to legal regulation, things are never straightforward for cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are regulated by state and federal laws which are often contrasting, so you have to be very careful about how you approach CBG and many other cannabinoids.
Federal regulations
Federal law is very loose when it comes to cannabinoids. As of 2018, when the U.S. Congress passed the Farm Bill, hemp crops and their derivatives were consequently legalized. With the Farm Bill, hemp plants (cannabis plants with less than 0.3% THC by dry weight) were declared agricultural commodities, and their production and sale were legalized.
Therefore, even though there isn’t a specific law regulating the consumption of CBG, the cannabinoid is considered a legal hemp derivative and falls in the legal gray area posed by the Farm Bill. With that said, as long as federal law is concerned, you can legally consume CBG, as long as it doesn’t contain more than 0.3% THC.
State regulations
CBG is one of the cannabinoids upon which state and federal laws agree. That means that CBG can be legally consumed in all 50 states. However, CBG is often combined with other cannabinoids, including Delta 8 THC. When it comes to Delta 8 THC, state laws aren’t that open-minded. More than 10 states have already banned Delta 8 from consumption. Therefore, if you’re considering CBG blends, make sure that the accompanying cannabinoids are legal as well.
Is CBG Detectable on a Drug Test?
Because of the chemical dissimilarities between CBG and THC – the cannabinoid that regular drug tests look for, CBG won’t induce a positive result in a drug test. However, full-spectrum CBG products contain an abundance of other cannabinoids, which can and will trigger the drug test.
Similar to CBD, CBG isn’t detectable on a drug test. It is the presence of other cannabinoids that are responsible for the positive results after consuming CBG products. THC is present in full-spectrum CBG. Even though the THC concentration in federally legal products seems to be negligible, drug tests are designed to pick up even the slightest traces of the cannabinoid.
Therefore, consuming full-spectrum CBG before taking a drug test is a no-go.
But THC is not the only concern. Recent trials show that CBN can also cause a positive reading. CBN comes from degraded THC, which might be the reason why it triggers drug tests similarly to THC. Since broad-spectrum CBG products often contain CBN, that should be another thing to consider before purchasing and consuming CBG.
How long does full-spectrum CBG stay in your system?
Even though the effects wear out significantly faster, full-spectrum CBG may stay in your system for a couple of days or up to a week. The reason for the broad time frame is that there are many factors that determine how quickly your metabolism can dispose of the cannabinoid.
CBG products like edibles usually stay inside your body for longer, while smoking products like flowers and vapes are flushed significantly faster.
Despite the product you use, cannabinoids slowly accumulate in your body over time. That means that if you use CBG frequently, your body will build up a specific amount of the cannabinoid. Accumulated cannabinoids are harder to dispose of, so if you often use full-spectrum CBG, you’ll have to wait for longer until taking a drug test.
How can you flush full-spectrum CBG extracts?
Unmetabolized CBG extracts can stay inside your system for extended periods. But if you need to take a drug test soon, you’re probably looking for a faster way to eliminate the cannabinoid residues from your system.
The only way to dispose of the full-spectrum CBG inside your system is to try to speed up and assist your metabolism. Though there are a couple of ways to do that, a few methods have already proven to be very beneficial for flushing cannabinoids. They are as follows:
Hydratation
Water is a natural detoxifier, so your body needs much of it to function at its peak. It effectively flushes toxins and waste, including leftover cannabinoids. So if you’re looking to get rid of full-spectrum CBG quickly, drink up.
Fiber-rich diet
Dietary fiber may systematically improve your gut health and digestion. It affects the gut microbiome, influencing the gate barrier, gastrointestinal immune and endocrine responses, and microbial metabolism. These changes also alter liver physiology to metabolize the cannabinoids more quickly.
Exercise
Exercise is an excellent way to get rid of toxins and residues. It speeds up the metabolism and may help your body dispose of unwanted compounds through sweat. If you need to get rid of cannabinoids quickly, you should try exercising for a couple of days before the drug test, and you could get incredible results.
Where Can You Purchase CBG Products?
With the abundance of benefits and the lack of side effects, CBG is becoming increasingly popular. As a result, many hemp suppliers insist on supplying the demand for the cannabinoid, so CBG is now readily available for everyone.
With the loose regulation, you can now find CBG at specialized dispensaries as well as some less specialized stores. However, the internet is the best place to purchase your CBG. The online market is full of reputable manufacturers that offer safe and efficient CBG products at an affordable price.
Online shopping allows you to explore many options until you find a product that checks off all the requirements of your list. It also offers you the chance to get valuable information that you hadn’t found at your local dispensary. Online stores provide the convenience of public lab results, and since there’s no pressure to make a decision quickly, you can review and interpret the lab results for as long as you need to.
Conclusion
So if you’ve decided to give CBG a try, we hope our CBG buying guide helped you understand the cannabinoid slightly better so that you can make a well-informed decision. Make sure you explore all your options and embrace the CBG essence through safe products.