What are the differences between CBD oil and CBG?

Today, almost everyone has heard of CBD, the hemp-derived compound that has become very well-known and popular among consumers. However, its cousin, CBG, is still relatively unknown to the general public. Yet both are harmless cannabinoids. They offer a variety of properties that may appeal to anyone seeking natural solutions to improve their well-being. 

It is clear that these two substances differ from one another in a few subtle ways that are important to understand. 

Also known as “cannabigerol,” CBG is one of the many cannabinoid compounds found in hemp. It is even considered the “mother of all cannabinoids” because without it, neither THC nor CBD would exist. In fact, cannabigerol is the very first cannabinoid produced by hemp during its seedling stage—that is, when the enzymes and plant acids it contains react with one another to create CBGa. It is only afterward that CBGa becomes CBG through a chemical process called decarboxylation. In this way, virtually all of the CBGa present in a hemp plant is converted into THC and CBD.

There’s no doubt that CBD oil and CBG oil differ in several ways. Let’s explore the main differences between these two oils.

CBG is the precursor to the many cannabinoids found in the plant. Although CBG and CBD have nearly identical chemical origins, they are distinct. This difference is primarily reflected in their molecular structure. As a result, the two substances bind to receptors differently, and their effects on the body are not the same.

A 2011 study published in the journal *Psychopharmacology* compared the effects of CBG and CBD on the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor and made the following observation. CBG’s affinity for the receptor allowed it to exert its anti-nausea properties and act as an agonist, whereas CBD acts more like a blocker or antagonist.

CBG interacts only with the CB1 and CB2 receptors, whereas CBD affects the entire endocannabinoid system. However, CBD has an affinity primarily for the CB2 receptor, whereas CBG has a high affinity for CB1 (which is abundant in the brain) and an equally high affinity for CB2 (which is primarily located in the immune system). It binds to specific receptors.

In fact, the results of that same study show that CBG inhibits the antiemetic effects of CBD.

It is much more difficult to isolate CBG than CBD, since CBG accounts for only a negligible portion of the weight of dry hemp. The final hemp product may contain about 1% CBG, whereas a mature hemp plant contains approximately 10% CBD.

According to some studies, cannabigerol can easily stimulate the appetite in some individuals, encouraging them to eat twice their usual amount, while it causes no change in others. In contrast, cannabidiol, or CBD, tends to significantly reduce food intake. 

Although CBD and CBG both come from the hemp plant, their uses differ but remain complementary. Our CBD shop offers you a selection of these products.