CBG The Mother Cannabinoid

There are however some really interesting minor cannabinoids that have real potential to be recognised in their own right for their own unique potential and CBG is one of the most promising. Although found in low levels of less than 1% in many strains, CBG has a major role to play within cannabis plants and offers many wellness benefits. In its own right. CBG stands for Cannabigerol and is actually classed as the ‘mother cannabinoid’ ‘parent’ or ‘stem cell’ of both CBD and THC which simply would not exist without it. CBG is the foundation on which several cannabinoids depend and this is because all cannabinoids start off as CBGA (the acidic, inactive form of CBG).  As the cannabis plant matures, CBGA is broken down, and is converted into CBDA and THCA, the inactive or ‘raw’ forms of CBD and THC. Once they are heated or ‘decarboxylated’ the active ingredients are brought to life and become CBD, THC (and CBG) as we know them best.  THC of course is responsible for the psychoactive and intoxicating effects which cannabis can have, whilst CBD and CBG can support health, without ANY 'high'.  CBGA however, in most cases is immediately converted to either THCA or CBDA meaning that the more THC or CBD that you have in your final product then the less CBG you will have due to the process of how these compounds are synthesised. Despite the minimal amount of CBG that is available in most common cannabis strains,  CBG is really start to grow in popularity and is one of the most sought after cannabinoids in extractions thanks to the growing number of cannabis users who are recognising its potential. So far research has indicated that CBG can act on specific physiological conditions and problems and that its potential for medicinal use is promising. T CBG is thought to be particularly effective in treating sight conditions such as glaucoma because it can reduce fluid pressure in the eye. CBG is thought to be a powerful vasodilator, which is a medication that can dilate blood vessels, meaning it allows blood to flow much more freely and easy.  CBG is also thought to have neuro-protective effects and in a 2015 study was shown to protect neurons in mice with Huntington’s disease, which is characterised by nerve cell degeneration in the brain. Further animal experiments involving mice also found that CBG was effective in decreasing inflammation in those suffering from inflammatory bowel disease. When it comes to fighting cancer, CBG is also looking like it could be a promising weapon, CBG has been shown in studies to block receptors that cause cancer cell growth. In one particular study that was carried out on mice, it was shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells associated with colon cancer. Topical formulations of cannabis have been known to be effective in skin infections since the 1950’s, but researchers at the time were unaware of the plant’s chemical composition. European research however has now produced evidence that CBG works as an effective antibacterial, particularly against MRSA, which is a microbial strain that is notoriously resistant to several kinds of modern day drugs. In 2017 researchers were able to show that a form of CBG that had been purified to remove delta-9 THC acted as an excellent appetite stimulant in rats which could prove potentially beneficial for the symptoms of muscle wastage and severe weight loss that are commonly seen in late stage cancer and other diseases. Another study that looked at the effects of cannabinoids on bladder contractions discovered that CBG fared best out of the 5 cannabinoids chosen to be tested, at inhibiting muscle contractions, meaning that it could be a remedy for easing or prevent bladder dysfunction disorders. Similarly to CBD, CGB’s non psychoactive properties are thought to have even more possible benefits than those already mentioned, including use for general pain relief, a treatment for common skin issues such as psoriasis, and use as an antidepressant . When boasting a wide array of possible health benefits such as those listed above it is hard to understand why CBG has not yet been exploited in a such a large scale commercial way as its much better known child CBD?!. Well, one major reason would be because obtaining CBG extract from the cannabis plant is a very expensive process. So much so that it has earnt itself the reputation of being the “Rolls Royce of cannabinoids”. CBG's price is 5 times (or more) higher than CBD’s, mainly because of the thousands of kilos of plant matter that are needed to extract small isolated quantities of CBG. For example, if the CBG content of a particular batch of cannabis is 1%, then you would need to extract 20 times the amount of biomass to obtain the same CBG concentration. CBG extraction is still relatively new and so processes are still subject to development and currently require highly-specialised, expensive equipment. With this in mind the only other way to make CBG more accessible and affordable is through manipulating the plant’s genetics to produce strains with a dominant level of CBG versus THC or CBD. I’m glad to report that there are currently projects already underway to make strides in this direction. The “Hemp Trading” company in association with the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain, have already successfully bred a high CBG cannabis strain that is free from any psychoactive THC. Impressive enough as that alone is they have also managed to increase the CBG concentration to between 15% and 18% from the standard 0.1-1% Not only is a THC free cannabis strain a game changer for those who are interested in exploring the non-psychoactive medicinal effects of CBD or CBG but it is also a great development for Industrial hemp farmers. Current guidelines in the US state that industrially grown hemp must contain no more than 0.3% THC. This is a guideline, which has seen many a hemp farmer having to destroy whole crops at harvest when testing and finding that the chosen strain that they have planted has naturally produced more THC than intended, The baby of this genetic engineering endeavour is a high-CBG genetic called Panakeia and will be distributed through companies specialising in CBD-rich strains, and those who are providing technology for the production of new hemp varieties. It is not just in Europe where the production of CBG-rich strains is starting to take off either, in the USA  “Oregon CBD” is scheduled to launch their first CBG-rich strains “Stem Cell” and “White CBG” this year after three years of trials that have proven that they can produce a final yield containing over 20% CBG and under 0.3% THC. Additionally there are several other legal corporations in the US that have been working on CBG rich strains. Early findings and research have left the world of science, medicine and hemp farming intrigued and hopeful about the full scope of potential that CBG extract and CBD rich cannabis strains could have. Indeed, further research pathways concerning the applications of CBG by itself and also in combination with other cannabinoids is well underway. In summary it is easy to see why the cannabis industry (and the hemp Industry) is so excited about the lesser known cannabinoid CBG. It is important to shine the spotlight on CBG now however as there is still a large proportion of cannabis users who have not heard of CBG or its amazing possible capabilities, and without awareness it is tough to develop a presence and demand for it in the market.