But Wait, Don’t You Mean CBD?

The term CBD is gaining broad general awareness in the United States, but while more people may have heard of CBD, they may still be a little hazy on exactly what CBD is and what it does (and doesn’t do). Now, throw the term CBG into the mix, and many become downright confused. Is it a typo? Or are these two different things?

The answer is, they are indeed different, but with some commonalities. CBD is a cannabidiol. CBG is cannabigerol. Both are a cannabinoid. Both are found in cannabis plants. CBD is a flower, and so is CBG. You can buy CBD; CBG is also available for sale.   

The differences explained

Think of it like this – CBG is the mother of other cannabinoids. That’s an official nickname. “Mother of all cannabinoids” actually, because it is the first cannabinoids to emerge in the hemp flowers and then gives birth to the other cannabinoids as the plant matures.

Specifically, all of the cannabinoids present in cannabis are derived from cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). CBGA breaks down as the plant matures, forming CBD, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBC (cannabichromene). CBG is formed from the CBGA that remain and are not converted. This often means small yields of CBG. 

Cannabinoids and their receptors are part of our body’s systems that help regulate normal functions like pain and inflammation. This system is called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). CBG and CBD both play a role in the ECS, but CBG is thought to interact directly with the brain’s receptors while CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system.

What is CBG  

• Cannabidiol
• Cannabinoid
• Formed from CBG-A
• Small batches
• Thought to interact directly with the brain’s CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors

What is CBD

• Cannabigerol
• Cannabinoid
• Formed from CBG-A
• Larger batches
• Low affinity for cannabinoid receptors
• Interacts indirectly with the endocannabinoid system

Which is better CBG or CBD?

So now that you know the differences between CBD and CBG, you might be asking yourself, which is better? Both CBG and CBD have been shown to deliver health and wellness benefits; however, research on CBG is more limited than that of CBD. That’s because it’s simply harder to create large quantities of CBG; CBG requires larger amounts of plant material and specialized production equipment is used to extract it. This all means there’s less CBG left to study.

Here’s what we do know thanks to a variety of early studies including a study on mice and another study on rats. Keep in mind, this is all preliminary research and more is needed. But the list of therapeutic implications is long.

Is CBG better than CBD? Let’s compare: CBD vs. CBG

These two compounds may assist with:

Remember that we mentioned we needed more research? Currently the synthetic cannabinoid HU211 is undergoing trials in the cases of brain trauma. Additionally, case studies support cannabis use in migraine and Tourette’s syndrome cases. Due to the limited research, experts say use caution when using CBG. As for how CBD works, check out our article here.

CBG, CBD, THC, Hemp and Marijuana: Please Explain

With a reported 19% of American adults reporting chronic pain, news that cannabis can assist is timely. Let’s break down what cannabis really means.

Cannabis is a type of flowering plant in the Cannabaceae family – the same plant that hemp comes from. It’s the same plant that marijuana comes from. And yes, the same as CBD and CBG. All forms of cannabis can be used for medical purposes.

The only real difference is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content found in the cannabis plant. It’s the reason for the “high” experienced with cannabis, specifically marijuana, which is “high” in THC. Hemp, CBD and CBG do not have levels of THC to create that “high.” In fact, they have less than .3% or less of THC. If the product has THC in levels more than .3%, it’s called marijuana and is legal (or illegal) based on state laws. Some state laws allow medicinal use of marijuana and others also allow recreational use. 

Hemp has been around for hundreds of years. In fact, George Washington grew it as an agricultural plant. Its uses have been expanding and includes paper, clothing, textiles, animal feed, plastic and all types of hemp food products. With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, industrial hemp was legalized for growing, and it made hemp-derived CBD products federally legal too. To better understand hemp’s benefits, check out our article on how hemp can help.

Does cannabis have any negative effects? Experts say cannabis may spark panic or anxiety attack, may exacerbate existing psychosis symptoms, and may impact cognitive skills moderately for a limited time. Research is limited on CBG specifically, and there’s little understanding of its long- term effects. However, CBG may have a quieting effect on THC, serving as a buffer to its psychoactivity and may alleviate any resulting feelings of paranoia.

Does CBG Help With My Particular Affliction?

As mentioned above, research focused on CBG is limited. However, early results indicate CBG may have significant benefits for a myriad of ailments. Here are some typical conditions that Warfighter Hemp customers say they turn to our products. When it comes to those symptoms, here’s what we know about CBD vs. CBG.

Is CBD or CBG better for anxiety?

Studies have indicated CBD is helpful with anxiety. The jury is still out on CBG. 

Is CBD or CBG better for sleep?

Many of our customers have said that CBD has assisted them with their sleep. And the better your sleep, the more your overall health improves.

Is CBD or CBG better for pain?

Studies have shown cannabinoids are a powerful aide against pain. In fact, studies proved cannabinoids were 10-fold more potent than morphine when it comes to mediating pain

So, which is better for pain – CBD or CBG? Both have shown to help with pain management. There’s more research on CBD than CBG at this time.

Can I take CBD and CBG together?

There’s no research we can find that looks at the benefits of taking CBD and CBG together. However, some research suggests taking CBD and THC together create what’s called the “entourage effect.”

While you can take CBD and THC separately, taking them together allows for the interaction of phytocannabinoids and terpenes which can be more effective. Terpenes are smaller organic compounds in the cannabis plant.

Is CBD Safe for Pets?

If your pet suffers from stress and anxiety, CBG could be for her. We’ve found no pet-related research that includes CBG. Warfighter Hemp has a popular CBD full spectrum hemp oil just for dogs.

So, What Do I Do Now?

You know more about CBG now than perhaps you did when you started reading this article. And now you may be asking, why have I heard of these other cannabis-related compounds, but CBG is still mysterious? The issue is the cost of production. CBG is considered one of the most expensive cannabinoids to produce.

But you can still find CBG. Just like CBD products, you want to make sure you are source the highest quality product possible. Not only is Warfighter Hemp product raised from seed in the USA, it’s also bottled here too. That way we control the quality every step of the way. And it’s why we are transparent with our testing. 

Each person is different, with different thresholds of pain. Therefore, how you use cannabis products like CBD and CBG will likely be different as well. Some products may work better than others; you may prefer different forms —  tinctures rather than capsules for example. Not sure where to start? Check out our guide which will help you understand how best to take our products.

Here’s some tips on how to get started:

1. Make a list of what ails you
2. Make a list of what types of medication you prefer to take

For example, here’s a list of considerations for medication types:

• Prefer ingesting liquids rather than swallowing pills (tinctures might be better than capsules)
• Find mixing medicines in foods or beverages makes me forget I’m taking medicine (CBD-infused team could work, as could hemp oil)
• Enjoy a warm bath (bath bombs are the bomb!)
• Like to “set it” and forget it (patches release over time)
• Kill two birds with one stone (topicals like lotion smooths skin while relieving aching muscles)

Keep in mind that most CBD products come in zero-THC versions as well as the legally approved less than .3% full spectrum options.

What Are My CBG Options?

If you are ready to try CBG, then Warfighter Hemp has a great option for you.

Check out our Moab 1500mg CBG Full Spectrum Hemp Oil in natural and peppermint. The 1500mg is one of our most popular sizes. Each dropperful contains around 50mg of CBG. Depending on dosage, each 30 ml (1 ounce) tincture bottle should last around a month.