Last Updated on 11th June 2020

What Is The Difference Between CBD & CBG?

If your familiar with CBD, the chances are you’ve also heard of CBG (Cannabigerol). CBG or Cannabigerol to use it’s full title is one of more than 120 identified cannabinoid compounds found within the cannabis plant.

However, unlike CBD, CBG is found in much smaller quantities than most other cannabinoids within the hemp plant. CBG tends to have less than a 1% presence in most cannabis strains.

What Are Cannabinoids?

Cannabinoids are naturally occurring chemical compounds found within the cannabis plant. Currently there are more than 120 identified cannabinoid compounds found within the cannabis plant.

Cannabinoids interact with the bodies endocannabinoid system (ECS). Each cannabinoid found within the cannabis plant holds their own unique set of characteristics.

What Is CBD Oil?

What Is CBG Good For?

As the CBD industry rapidly evolves and becomes more competitive, CBD producers have made it their mission to let consumers know exactly what their full spectrum hemp oil contains. The main reason CBD producers are boasting about the inclusion of CBG is the fact that CBG and other cannabinoids found within the hemp plant are responsible for the entourage effect.

What Does CBG Do?

Like CBD and other cannabinoids found within the hemp plant, CBG (cannabigerol) can help support your bodies endocannabinoid system, which is used to support various different bodily functions.

However, governing bodies still need much more scientific evidence to support these claims before CBG can be classified as a medicine.

Is CBD Or CBG Better?

Cannabigerol (CBG) is mostly present in low levels of less than 1% in most cannabis strains. Both CBD and THC initially start out as CBG, with CBG being the chemical parent of CBD and THC.

One of the major differences between CBD and CBG obviously is size. CBG is present in smaller quantities in the hemp plant while other compounds such as CBD and THC are present in much larger quantities.

CBG is mostly present in only trace amounts of most hemp strains, however today, some hemp strains are specifically being cultivated to increase higher amounts of cannabigerol as demand increases for its inclusion within CBD oil products.

The increase in demand for more CBG content in CBD products is due to recent positive research into CBG, with some scientists believing it could offer potential benefits.

How Is CBG Made?

Cannabigerol is a cannabinoid found in younger cannabis plants. In order for cannabis producers to ensure they produce CBD oil with a high amount of CBG content, they must harvest their crop at an earlier stage than normal or use cannabis strains that contain higher amounts of CBG content. One of two options is necessary in order for a CBD producer to create a relatively strong CBG strain.

CBG is a chemical precursor to other cannabinoids such as CBD and THC. CBD and THC both initially start out as CBG. Cannabis plants that tend to be high in CBD or THC most commonly tend to be low in CBG content. Why? well the reason is because most of the initial CBG is naturally converted to CBD or THC during the growing process of the plant.

During the hemp plant growing process, enzymes in the hemp plant break down the CBGA (Cannabigerolic acid – the precursor of all the cannabinoids) and direct it towards one of three paths, CBDA, THCA or CBCA (cannabichromenic acid). Once these cannabinoids are then exposed to ultraviolet heat or light, they become CBD, THC and CBC (cannabichromene).