The cannabis craze has just begun and more and more people are curious about its effects. 

Two of the most discussed cannabinoids are cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG). Both cannabinoids are present in cannabis plants and are not intoxicants. Despite these similarities, each cannabinoid is unique. This article will discuss the characteristics and differences between these two cannabinoids.

What is CBD?

CBD is a non-psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant (marijuana or hemp). The cannabinoid, being non-psychoactive, cannot give you the feeling of being high.

Sources of CBD

There are two primary sources of CBD: the marijuana plant and the hemp plant. There are numerous marijuana strains with varying levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). On the other hand, the hemp plant contains less than 0.2% THC. Given the low THC levels in the hemp plant, it is the best plant for extracting pure CBD.

What is CBG?

CBG is a non-psychotic cannabinoid from the cannabis plant, which means it can't give you the feeling that you're high. CBG levels vary across different cannabis strains, but are typically extremely low, which makes extraction difficult.

What are the main differences between CBD and CBG?

Here are the main differences between CBD and CBG:

Affinity for cannabinoid receptors
Another difference between CBD and CBG is their affinity for cannabinoid receptors. CBD has a low affinity for cannabinoid receptors, but its effects are very complex. On the other hand, CBG has a high affinity for the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. The high affinity for cannabinoid receptors makes CBG effective in the management of numerous health conditions.

Percentage levels in the cannabis plant
CBD levels in the hemp plant do not change, unlike CBG. As the cannabis plant matures, CBGA is converted into THC and CBD, leaving CBG levels extremely low. Experts, therefore, recommend harvesting the hemp plant during its early stages to extract more CBG.

What are the similarities between CBD and CBG?

The following are the most significant similarities between CBD and CBG:

They share a common source
Both CBD and CBG share a common primary chemical compound, cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). As the plant matures, CBGA disintegrates into CBCA, THCA and CBDA, with a small percentage of CBGA lagging behind. When the decarboxylation process takes place, THCA, CBDA, CBCA and CBGA further disintegrate into THC, CBD, CBC and CBG respectively.

They are both non-psychoactive
Both CBD and CBG are non-psychoactive and therefore cannot give you the feeling of being high, even if they interact with the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

Both give entourage effects
A combination of CBD and CBG gives entourage effects. Therefore, instead of separating the two cannabinoids into isolates, it is recommended to combine them to achieve an entourage effect.

Source: https://pharma-hemp.com/