Best CBG Concentrates For 2022 (CBG Distillates, Crumbles, Dabs, Waxes, & Pastes)

What is CBG? 

Cannabigerol, or CBG, is the precursor molecule for most cannabinoids like CBD (cannabidiol), THC (delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol), and CBC (cannabichromene). 

CBG forms earlier in the flowering process than other cannabinoids because those other cannabinoids start out as CBG. Around the six-week mark, some of the CBG starts to convert into CBD, THC, and CBC.

The conversion happens because of the flower’s exposure to ultraviolet light. Most cannabinoids start out as CBG, then turn into other cannabinoids, including various CBD and THC analogs like delta 8 THC.

Most CBG is converted into other cannabinoids by the time the hemp plant is harvested. 

More recently, farmers have figured out how they can manipulate CBG levels in their plants through selective breeding or gene-editing techniques. This is fuelling a growing selection of CBG-rich hemp flower strains entering the market over the past couple of months. 

CBG vs. CBD: What’s The Difference? 

While CBG and CBD are very similar on the molecular level, each cannabinoid can have different effects on humans. The chemical makeup of CBG versus CBD is essentially the same, but the bonds are located in different places. This simple change in structure gives CBD and CBG a few distinct differences in effects. 

For example, CBD has well-known and well-studied pain-relieving effects [1]. CBG also provides pain inhibition, but not nearly as effectively as CBD. 

On the flip side, CBG has been shown to be much more effective for alleviating glaucoma symptoms, appetite and improving focus and concentration compared to CBD. 

What Are The Effects of CBG Concentrates?

CBG has many beneficial attributes, although the compound isn’t as widely studied as other cannabinoids like THC and CBD. 

Here are the most important points:

• CBG is not psychoactive.
• CBG may increase appetite.
• CBG has anti-psychoactive properties.
• CBG stimulates the adrenergic receptors (energy-enhancing).

These are just the basics of how taking CBG might make you feel. The effects of CBG on your system, however, are much more extensive. Here are a few highlights.

1. Reduced Inflammation

Cannabinoids across the spectrum repeatedly show promising anti-inflammatory results in studies because of their interaction with the GABA and endocannabinoid receptors. CBG is no exception.

In one study using mice, CBG was shown to block inflammatory channels and reduce the weight of the subjects’ inflamed colons due to irritable bowel syndrome [2]. While more studies on humans are needed, this is a hopeful start that showcases the potential inflammation-reducing effects of CBG.

2. Alleviates Glaucoma Symptoms

CBG is one of the main reasons that cannabis is used as a treatment for glaucoma since CBD alone isn’t effective in treating it [3]. 

CBG works to reduce intraocular pressure, which causes vision loss in glaucoma patients. For patients who want to use cannabis to treat glaucoma but don’t want the psychological effects, CBG may be the right alternative.

3. May Combat Cancer

The transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M — better known as TRPM8 — is one of the primary channels through which cancer cells grow in the body. 

CBG inhibits this receptor, as shown in a 2014 study of mice with colon cancer [4]. Cancer growth was inhibited after CBG administration, showing that CBG might be an effective anti-cancer treatment like many other cannabinoids.

4. Alleviates anxiety

CBG works for anxiety the same way CBD and THC do: by interacting with the GABA receptor to inhibit stress and anxiety response. This is the same neurotransmitter that antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications interact with, but CBG may prove to have less disruptive side effects.

CBG is also anti-psychoactive, meaning that it inhibits the psychotropic effects of THC. That means you can take CBG with THC to reduce any feelings of paranoia or anxiety caused by the THC, and it won’t make your paranoia worse.

5. Kills Bacteria

Like other cannabinoids, CBG inhibits the survival of bacteria [5]. CBG makes the cell walls of bacteria more permeable, making each cell more susceptible to dying off.

6. Stimulates appetite

While CBD has been shown to reduce appetite in small doses, CBG has the opposite effect. The mice subjects of a CBG study showed that mice ate twice as much as the control group — a profound effect on appetite typically found only from THC, which might be undesirable due to its psychoactivity [6].

How CBG Concentrates are Made

CBG concentrates are made in a few different ways. The most important part is using a CBG-heavy strain or harvesting the plant early to get the maximum amount of CBG (before it converts to another cannabinoid). 

Once the plant is at the right age to be harvested — around four weeks if you’re using a regular hemp or cannabis plant, and around eight weeks if you’re using a CBG-heavy strain — you can use the same extraction processes as you would for other cannabinoids.

Then, the CBG is processed and purified to ensure it’s the only cannabinoid in there. The result is a concentrate or isolate, with almost entirely CBG (95% or more, in general).

That said, you’re more likely to find CBG in interesting form factors, like paste, crystals, and shatters. That’s because CBG is often sold as an isolate, with no other cannabinoids present. Isolates are best used in ultra-concentrated forms where few other compounds need to be added, so you can get the most potent form possible. (CBD isolate, for instance, typically comes in the form of a white powder.)

Here’s how trustworthy manufacturers make CBG pastes, crystals, and shatters/dabs.

A) CBG Paste

CBG paste can mean a lot of things, but most retailers use it as a way to describe the oral application of CBG concentrate. The pure CBG extract, which is usually in oil or powder form, is combined with a paste-like material, like shea butter. The paste has as much CBG as possible, and combining it with a thicker material helps its bioavailability once you start digesting.

Keep in mind that CBG paste is extremely strong. As we’ve covered, it won’t make you feel high no matter what — but high-concentration options like paste might be overkill if you’re simply looking for a nice oral that’ll also relax your muscles.

B) CBG Crystals

CBG crystals are the purest form of CBG since they’re made from isolate. They typically aren’t solidified into large crystals but rather a crystalline powder. The process is simple: CBG is extracted from the plant, then filtered and purified, and the result is the powder packaged in your product.

Crystals are a great option if you want to enjoy CBG along with other vaporized cannabinoids or oils. You can infuse your vaping oils with CBG crystals or add them to a beverage, topical, or really any other use.

C) CBG Shatters & Dabs

CBG shatters and dabs are made by combining the CBG extract with a solvent. The solvent is used to pick up the CBG; then, it’s vaporized or heated away to leave just the sticky or hard shatter infused with CBG.

Shatter is a great way to consume CBG if you regularly smoke other cannabinoids like CBD or THC. You can put a bit of shatter on top of your flower or use it with a dab rig.

How to Shop for CBG Concentrates

Because CBG is gaining popularity in the cannabis world so quickly, it’s extra important to keep an eye out for faulty or untrustworthy products. When you’re shopping for CBG concentrates, there are a few things to keep at the top of your mind:

A) Check For Third-Party Testing

Third-party lab testing is the only way to know for sure that the cannabis product you’re buying is what you think it is. Every hemp product manufacturer should provide third-party lab testing on their website, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find.

It’s never a bad idea to search the testing facility, too, to ensure they’re a reputable source for information about your product.

B) Check for US-Grown Hemp

Hemp grown in the U.S. is regulated by the 2018 Farm Bill and is totally legal to sell in the U.S. Because CBG can grow in the hemp plant, it’s 100% legal throughout the U.S. That means you should have no problem finding U.S.-sourced CBG while shopping.

C) Check for High Percentages of CBG (Above 95%)

Because CBG is hot right now, lots of products are rebranding to showcase the small amounts of CBG in their products. Many CBD and THC products already contain trace amounts of CBG, which you can see on third-party lab tests for those items. 

Make sure that the CBG product you’re buying has a very high concentration of CBG to ensure that you’re getting a true concentrate, not just a product with the normal amount of CBG (around 4% or less).

Alternative Forms of CBG to Check Out

CBG comes in lots of forms, not just concentrates. Here are some alternative options if you want to try CBG without spending the money on a concentrate. 

A) CBG Flower

CBG-rich hemp flower is just like any other hemp or cannabis flower. It looks just like weed, but since it’s likely coming from a hemp plant, it might hit the back of your throat a bit harsher than the THC flower does. 

You can also combine CBG flower with your THC flower for a pleasant experience of weed with a lower psychological impact.

B) CBG Tinctures

CBG tinctures are essentially CBG isolate infused into oils at various concentrations. You can choose the concentration you want and then use the dropper to dose out your ideal amount. These are perfect if you like CBG in a drink or with food.

Final Thoughts: What Are the Best CBG Concentrates? 

Cannabigerol, a.k.a. CBG, is a promising cannabinoid that might help with inflammation, anxiety, the anxiolytic effects of THC, low appetite, and cancer reduction. CBG is the precursor to other cannabinoids, so it’s harvested from the plant early on before it converts to CBD, THC, CBC, or another cannabinoid.

CBG concentrates are the best way to get large amounts of just CBG — no other cannabinoids — in the form of pastes, crystals, or shatter. You can also find CBG as a flower or tincture if you don’t need the strength of a concentrate.

References

1. Argueta, D. A., Ventura, C. M., Kiven, S., Sagi, V., & Gupta, K. (2020). A balanced approach for cannabidiol use in chronic pain. Frontiers in pharmacology, 11, 561.
2. Borrelli, F., Fasolino, I., Romano, B., Capasso, R., Maiello, F., Coppola, D., … & Izzo, A. A. (2013). Beneficial effect of the non-psychotropic plant cannabinoid cannabigerol on experimental inflammatory bowel disease. Biochemical pharmacology, 85(9), 1306-1316.
3. Nadolska, K., & Goś, R. (2008). Possibilities of applying cannabinoids’ in the treatment of glaucoma. Klinika oczna, 110(7-9), 314-317.
4. Borrelli, F., Pagano, E., Romano, B., Panzera, S., Maiello, F., Coppola, D., … & Izzo, A. A. (2014). Colon carcinogenesis is inhibited by the TRPM8 antagonist cannabigerol, a Cannabis-derived non-psychotropic cannabinoid. Carcinogenesis, 35(12), 2787-2797.
5. Appendino, G., Gibbons, S., Giana, A., Pagani, A., Grassi, G., Stavri, M., … & Rahman, M. M. (2008). Antibacterial cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa: a structure− activity study. Journal of natural products, 71(8), 1427-1430.
6. Brierley, D. I., Samuels, J., Duncan, M., Whalley, B. J., & Williams, C. M. (2016). Cannabigerol is a novel, well-tolerated appetite stimulant in pre-satiated rats. Psychopharmacology, 233(19), 3603-3613.