Hey there, Cannabis Enthusiasts! 🌿✨ After a fantastic holiday exploring the breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand with my family, I'm back and more excited to share cannabis education than ever! Ready to dive back into the world of cannabis education, today's blog post is dedicated to a powerhouse cannabinoid often hailed as the "Mother of all cannabinoids" – CBG. As a cannabis nurse, I'm thrilled to share insights and knowledge on this important compound, focusing on its medicinal potential. My aim is to empower you with information on how to incorporate CBG safely and responsibly into your wellness routine. Let's embark on this educational journey together and explore the incredible benefits of CBG for a healthier, more informed cannabis experience!
Cannabigerol (CBG), often referred to as the "mother of all cannabinoids," plays a crucial role in the responsible consumption of cannabis for medicinal purposes. It is formed during decarboxylation of cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), a key compound in the biosynthesis of phytocannabinoids (cannabinoids from plants). However, despite being a minor cannabinoid, CBG has garnered attention for its potential therapeutic properties. It exhibits potential anti-inflammatory effects, can prevent cell proliferation, and contributes to the inhibition of cell death by supporting antioxidants. CBG helps to modulate the endocannabinoid system which influences immune responses, cancer formation, cardiovascular diseases, and pain perception. Research has also explored its potential use in alleviating the negative effects of chemotherapy, treating mood disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and it's pain relieving potential. CBG has the potential to help in a myriad of illnesses and situations! Distinct from its psychoactive counterparts, CBG does not induce a high like THC does. It binds to both CB1 and CB2 receptors within the body's endocannabinoid system, providing a non-intoxicating option for patients to consume. Patient surveys in 2021 revealed CBG-dominant products effectively treated chronic pain, anxiety, and insomnia. Preliminary findings suggest CBG's health benefits include reducing intra-ocular pressure (pressure within the eyeball), combating inflammatory bowel diseases, addressing symptoms of AD/HD, and potential cancer inhibition. When learning about CBG, it can be easy to believe that CBG and CBD are the same type of compound, but they are quite different. Understanding the differences between CBG and CBD is important for responsible consumption, as they bind to different receptors and have unique molecular structures, influencing their therapeutic applications.
CBG has become quite popular recently due mostly to it's potential to help in all the above mentioned disease processes, but it is also due to the fact that it can be found in slightly higher amounts within hemp plants. Due to the way the 2018 Farm Bill was written, hemp plants containing less than 0.3% THC are considered legal and not under the Schedule I status. This means that researchers have a better ability conduct studies on compounds that derive from the hemp plant as compared to compounds in the "marijuana" plant (really it's just cannabis with THC levels over 0.3%). Also due to the way the Farm Bill was written (defining THC as a Schedule I substance) all the other compounds in cannabis, including CBG, are not within the Schedule I classification. This means that in theory (and if we had better regulation for quality/toxic substances) we could walk into any pharmacy or drug store to buy our CBG compounds. Because of its potential health benefits, cannabis growers are also starting to grow hemp cultivars that have been developed to yield a higher CBG amount. Farms like Fern Valley Farms in Oregon and Fingerboard Farms in Maryland have CBG dominant cultivars that can be bought online and shipped to most states in the US. I've had positive feedback from both farms and am continuing to look for CBG flower here in Oklahoma.
In summary, the journey through the world of CBG has been nothing short of enlightening. As we continue to explore the potential health benefits and therapeutic properties of this "mother of all cannabinoids," it is more than evident that CBG holds incredible promise for a wide array of conditions, from chronic pain and anxiety to neurodegenerative diseases and cancer inhibition. The rising popularity of CBG, particularly due to its legality and higher prevalence in hemp plants, opens up new avenues for research and access to this powerful cannabinoid. With hemp cultivars specifically bred for higher CBG content, like those from Fern Valley Farms and Fingerboard Farms, individuals now have the opportunity to incorporate CBG into their wellness routines. If you or a loved one is wanting more information on how cannabis can be consumed as medicine, please reach out to me. I offer consultations with patients on either a 30 min or hourly basis for $25 per 30 minutes. We can chat via video conference, phone call, or if you're local to NW Oklahoma, we can also meet in person. As we continue on this path of cannabis education, let's stay curious, informed, and open to the evolving landscape of cannabinoids, unlocking their full potential for a healthier, more balanced life. Cheers to the exciting world of CBG! 🌱💚
References
JastrzÄ…b A, Jarocka-Karpowicz I, Skrzydlewska E. The Origin and Biomedical Relevance of Cannabigerol. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(14):7929. Published 2022 Jul 19. doi:10.3390/ijms23147929Â
Williams, A. (2022) What is CBG (Cannabigerol) & What does this cannabinoid do?, Leafly. Available at: http://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/what-is-cbg-cannabinoid (Accessed: 02 January 2024).
Clark, C.S., Parmelee, R.A. and Sommers, D.M. (2021) ‘Cannabis Pharmacology: From the Whole Plant to Pharmaceutical Applications’, in Cannabis: A handbook for nurses. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer, pp. 118–120.
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