CBD is perhaps the most universally recognized compound in cannabis, next to THC. It was one of the first to be isolated and used on its own due to its alleged therapeutic properties. Analysts have estimated that the CBD market could be worth as much as $16 billion a year by 2025.
What a lot of people don’t know about cannabis is that it contains hundreds of active cannabinoids that we don’t know a lot about. While some of these compounds may work synergistically with others to accomplish the entourage effect, some of them could have therapeutic properties on their own. One of the cannabinoids in question is CBG, which many scientists believe could be the next big cannabis compound to take the world by storm.
What is CBG?
CBG, short for cannabigerol, is a compound found in cannabis that’s considered legal when it’s sourced from hemp, but still federally illegal when used in recreational marijuana. It’s a non-psychoactive compound that is usually found in strains of cannabis that contain very little THC and high levels of CBD. While CBG reacts with cannabinoid receptors in the brain similarly to other cannabis compounds, it works against THC in the brain. Acting as a buffer against cannabinoid receptors, it typically reduces the paranoia that can occur in users taking a higher dose of THC.
What Are the Benefits of CBG?
CBG has been shown to potentially decrease the multiplication rate of cancer cells, meaning it might be able to slow down the development of certain cancers. Moreover, CBG appears to work through the endocannabinoid system to reduce nausea, chronic pain, and inflammation in the body. Some users have even stated that CBG works as a more potent anti-inflammatory for them than CBD.
Many people use cannabis to combat glaucoma, and one of the reasons for this could be CBG. CBG has been shown to reduce intraocular eye pressure significantly, which is worsened by glaucoma.
Why Aren’t More People Talking About It?
The only real downside to CBG is that it has a long way to go before it’s as universally studied and regulated as CBD. As of right now, many doctors recommend CBD to their patients because it’s been so widely studied. This is not the case yet with CBG. Some clinical studies have been conducted on the compound, and have they have shown promising results for enhanced therapeutic benefits. However, all these studies have been done on animals, and may not directly apply to humans.
So, will CBD pave the road for CBG? It’s definitely a possibility. The bottom line right now is that no one knows enough about CBG to make a definitive statement, and more human trials have to be done before anything is certain.
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