CBD vs. CBG: A Complete Comparison

There are two kinds of cannabinoids we will be talking about: Cannabidiol (CBD) and Cannabigerol (CBG). Both of these are relatively well-known cannabinoids, but still come with some confusion between them. This is because they have a lot of similarities and benefits, and sometimes it can be hard to tell the both apart. Today, we’ll compare CBD vs. CBG.

What Is Cannabidiol (CBD)?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. But more than that, it is also leading when it comes to research topics, developments, and innovations. For a quick introduction to its history, Cannabidiol was discovered and shrugged off in the 1930s, until the 70s came.

During this time, it attracted attention from researchers because of its proven ability to reduce or lessen epileptic seizures.

With that said, studies about CBD being an effective anticonvulsant were made. Moving forward, it was also proven by studies that CBD plays a crucial role in treating childhood epilepsy and other types of convulsions. It also reduces stress, improves the immune system, reduces physical stress, and even boosts brain activity.

Now that you know a thing or two about Cannabidiol, let’s move on to Cannabigerol, which is also known as CBG.

What Is Cannabigerol (CBG)?

In a nutshell, CBG, or Cannabigerol is a kind of cannabinoid that comes from the cannabis plant. Just like many things that you can think of, there are also different kinds of cannabinoids, and most of them are derived from CBG.

This is the reason why it is known as the ‘mother of cannabinoids.’

Compared to CBD, CBG is much harder to find because of how rare it is. You may think that since it is the mother cannabinoid, there would be lots of it. Most of CBG ends up converting into other cannabinoids, leaving very little actual CBG left.

This is the reason why it is sold at a high price. Despite this, products made out of CBG are still in demand because it has a lot of potential benefits that are similar to what CBD has to offer.

Aside from reducing epileptic seizures, it is also proven to neutralize anxiety attacks, relieve pain, reduce symptoms of PTSD, and many more.

CBD vs CBG: A Comparison

To understand more about CBD vs. CBG, here’s a short compilation of comparisons between the two.

Chemical Structure

CBD and CBG vary in their chemical structure. The elements hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen atom are what make up a cannabinoid. Now, between CBD and CBG, their chemical makeup is made differently and is structured in different ways.

This means that they vary in how their shapes look, making how the human body reacts to each of them and how they accept it. By now, you probably know how it affects one’s health, especially when used as a medication for various aches.

Health Benefits of CBG and CBD

While they have similar benefits, the intensity of these benefits also depends on their chemical structure or three-dimensional shapes.

CBD and CBG vary in how they affect appetite. Another notable difference between CBD and CBG was proven in a study conducted on animals, specifically rats. Results showed that CBD drastically reduces food consumed while CBG has no significant effect on their behavior in eating. In another study that was conducted, it was concluded that CBG increases food consumption.

Availability of CBG in the Cannabis Plant

CBD and CBG vary in abundance. In the earlier part of the article, it was mentioned that CBD is generally more abundant than CBG. This is because despite CBG being the mother of all cannabinoids, its manufacturing costs also come at a high price.

From extraction, processing, and isolation, some corporations or companies simply see the costs as a burden. Moreover, the right equipment needed to produce and perform chromatography is also hard to finance. Some of this equipment can literally cost millions.

When it comes to CBD, there is a rich supply of these cannabinoids and requires less of everything as compared to CBG. Another notable difference between cbd vs cbg is that CBG doesn’t require high-performance chromatography, only the regular one. The cultivation process is also easier, as well as the biomass needed in order to process it.

Expensive to Produce

CBD and CBG vary in cost. Aside from the cost of production, extraction, and everything in between, CBD and CBG also have great differences when it comes to the cost of their products in the market. These are usually in the form of oils, but sometimes they also take the form of candies, gummies, and other similar candies.

CBD is more cost-friendly compared to CBG. A lot of factors play a role in it; the abundance, the manufacturing and processing cost, and the final product in the market.

Pharmacology

CBD and CBG vary in their Pharmacology. Way back in 2011, a study showed results that CBD and CBG vary in the mechanisms that they use. One of the most notable parts of the study that was highlighted was each of their receptor functions differently.

CBD and CBG both have that 5-HT1A receptor; while CBD activates it, CBG delays or blocks it.

In short, despite their similarity when it comes to their bonds, the actions of their receptors are the complete opposite.

Closing Thoughts

Now that you’ve learned a lot about CBG and CBD, you can make more informed decisions when it comes to hemp-derived purchases.

As far as health benefits, CBD products are going to be your best bet for now, and probably well into the future. It’s readily available, and must more affordable.

References:

Lennon, A. (2020, July 2). What is the Difference Between CBD and CBG? Labroots. Retrieved April 20, 2022, from https://www.labroots.com/trending/cannabis-sciences/18030/difference-cbd-cbg

Cannabinoids – Alcohol and Drug Foundation. (2021, November 10). Alcohol and Drug Foundation. Retrieved April 20, 2022, from https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/cannabinoids/