While cannabinoids like CBD and THC tend to be the focus of many customers, it's often a surprise to many to see that there are dozens of different cannabinoids you can find in cannabis that you may not know about, like CBG vs CBD. As we learn more about each specific cannabinoid, ones with promising attributes pop up on the market. The latest cannabinoid to attract attention is one known as CBG.
In this article, we'll talk about CBG vs CBD, what makes CBG unique, some of the health conditions CBG may help to manage, and how you might be able to take CBD and CBG together.
What is CBG and CBD?
Both CBG (or cannabigerol) and CBD (cannabidiol) are cannabinoids found in most varieties of cannabis. If you're unfamiliar, the term cannabinoid refers to a variety of compounds found in cannabis, including THC. The unique properties of cannabinoids allow them to interact with your endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for regulating things like appetite, mood, and even sleep patterns.
Different cannabinoids are found at different levels in cannabis. CBD, which is the predominant compound in hemp, can easily be found in abundance. This is one of the reasons why CBD was quick to scale in popularity and availability. CBG, on the other hand, is only produced when hemp blooms, which makes it far more scarce and harder to commercially cultivate than CBD.
CBG vs CBD: What's the Difference?
Without getting too bogged down in scientific jargon, there are a few primary differences between CBG and CBD:
- They have a different chemical makeup
- They impact the body in different ways (especially appetite)
- CBD is made in far more abundance than CBG
Let's take a closer look at some of these major differences below.
CBG vs CBD: Structure and Origins
As we said, CBG and CBD have different chemical structures, even though they have similar chemical origins. Both CBG and CBD come from CBGa, which is like the "original" cannabinoid. Almost all other cannabinoids found in cannabis are derived from CBGa.
The below graph makes it clearer. When CBGa is decarboxylated (or "decarbed" by heat or sunlight), it turns into CBG. However, before it decarbs, it will eventually turn into several other kinds of cannabinoids, including CBDa. When you decarb CBDa, it converts to CBD. 
CBG vs CBD: Therapeutic Benefits
Most customers can answer the question "how does CBD make you feel?", but the effects of CBG are far more obscure. If you are looking for another cannabinoid to potentially treat chronic systems, CBG might be able to provide these benefits.
- Increase appetite
- Possible treatment for certain kinds of cancers
- May serve as an antibiotic for treatment-resistance infections, including MRSA
- Could help treat pain and inflammation
- May help manage anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders
Benefits of Using CBD and CBG Together
You may have heard of the entourage effect, which describes how taking different cannabinoids can amplify their positive strengths. CBD and CBG may be able to take advantage of that effect, especially if you are trying to treat chronic pain or inflammation, which both CBD and CBG have been shown to potentially treat.
However, you'll need to be careful if you take CBD to help limit nausea. CBD and CBG can cancel each other out in this kind of treatment, meaning you may not find relief from nausea if you take both. This canceling out effect is sometimes seen in taking two cannabinoids together, like how CBD can reduce the intoxicating effects, or high, that occur when you take THC.
CBG vs CBD: How Are They Used?
While both CBD and CBG have a variety of different potential uses, and many of those uses intersect. For example, many customers take CBD gummies for sleep, anxiety relief, and pain management.
CBG has more of a focus on potentially managing pain and inflammation while helping to manage anxiety and stress. It's the reason CBG is found in our stress and relief gummies, since the compound may have potent pain-relieving and calming effects.
CBG is typically sold as an infused oil, edibles, or capsules. Though CBD is commonly sold in those forms but can also be found in topical creams that can be directly applied to painful areas of inflammation.
There are a few differences between CBD oil vs gummies, and you can expect to find such differences when comparing CBG oils and edibles.
FAQ
Is CBG good for anxiety?
CBG is a possible treatment for anxiety. However, the research on this is still in early stages, and you should remember that cannabinoids, like CBG and CBD, affect different people in different ways.
What is CBG best for?
The research is still out on what the best use for CBG is. However, it currently is a promising treatment for pain and inflammation, as well as an antibacterial or antifungal medicine.
Does CBG get you higher than CBD?
Neither CBG nor CBD have intoxicating effects, meaning they won't get you high.
How does CBG make you feel?
While the research is still out, many who take CBG report having increased appetites, improved moods, and having better sleep.
Does CBG make you sleepy?
Like CBD, higher doses of CBG can make you feel sleepy. This is great if you are taking CBG to improve your sleep but could be problematic if you are looking for ways to manage chronic pain throughout the day. As with any cannabinoid product, you should always start with small doses to make sure you know how any given product will impact you.
How long does CBG last?
Like most cannabinoids, you can expect to feel the effects of CBG somewhere between two to six hours. This will vary from person to person, and is often impacted by someone's weight, pre-existing conditions, or if they already have a tolerance built by regular use of cannabis products.
CBD vs. CBG: Final Thoughts
CBG offers some promising benefits for managing a variety of ailments. However, given how CBG is naturally produced, it is extremely scarce. If you're struggling to find or afford CBG only products, then consider taking full-spectrum CBD products. They'll have trace amounts of all cannabinoids found in the source hemp, including any CBG that was present at the time of harvesting.
If you buy CBD gummies online, you should always check to see exactly what is in them. Reputable brands will have third-party lab reports readily available that show which cannabinoids are present, and how much of any cannabinoid is present in any given full-spectrum product.
Finally, if you're considering starting a regimen of treatment that includes any cannabinoid, always talk to your doctor first. CBD, as well as CBG, can interact with certain prescription medications (most commonly blood thinners).
