Top 5 CBG (Cannabigerol) Oils & Tinctures for 2022

What is CBG?

Cannabigerol, or CBG, is the “stem cell” for cannabinoids like CBD (cannabidiol), delta 9 THC, CBC (cannabichromene), and more.

As cannabis plants grow, CBG transforms into other cannabinoids through the help of various enzymes. Cannabinoid concentrations depend on the plant’s strain and environmental conditions. CBG is thought to convert more rapidly to other cannabinoids when the plant is stressed or exposed to UV radiation. 

CBG converts naturally into other cannabinoids after about six weeks, which means that hemp manufacturers can harvest plants early to extract more CBG. 

Through selective breeding, farmers have begun breeding plants with lots of CBG, or CBG that doesn’t convert as the plant grows.

Why is CBG Important?

Although CBG may seem like another way for hemp manufacturers to market CBD, the two cannabinoids are different compounds. Both CBG and CBD are cannabinoids that come from the cannabis plant, and their molecular structures are quite similar.

However, the location of certain bonds in the molecule makes for a slightly different structure and different effects when administered. While CBD is used for pain relief, CBG’s impacts may stray more toward lowering inflammation and can even help some users feel more alert and focused. Perhaps most promisingly, CBG shows potential as an effective glaucoma symptom treatment.

Effects of CBG

The effects of CBG are largely similar to CBD, but this cannabinoid doesn’t have nearly as much research on it yet. 

That said, here are the most important aspects of CBG:

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

Potential uses for CBG range from mental wellness to glaucoma to cancer inhibition. Here are some of the promising results of studies on CBG.

1. Glaucoma

CBD alone is not effective in treating glaucoma symptoms, which include eye pain and vision loss due to intraocular pressure. However, CBG might lower intraocular pressure and isn’t psychoactive, so it’s a great option for folks who don’t want to get high [1].

2. Cancer

More research is needed to understand how CBG may work to inhibit cancer growth. However, one study of CBG’s effects on breast cancer showed it slows proliferation and possibly induces necroptosis [2].

3. Appetite Loss

Although THC has a reputation for improving appetite, its psychological effects turn some people off [3]. However, CBG has a similar effect on appetite without any of the high — something that can’t be said for CBD or other non-psychoactive cannabinoids.

4. Anti-Psychoactive

Not only is CBG non-psychoactive, but it’s also anti-psychoactive. That means it can be used to lessen the psychological impacts of other cannabinoids like THC, which can sometimes cause paranoia or anxiety.

What to Look for When Buying CBG

Like any other cannabinoid, it’s important to know what you’re looking for when buying CBG. Especially because it’s a newer product on the market, it’s ripe for dupes and disingenuous marketing. 

Here’s what you need to keep in mind when looking for your new favorite tincture.

1. Third-Party Lab Testing

Always check for third-party lab testing when shopping for hemp and marijuana products. Since hemp products aren’t federally regulated, these tests are the best way to ensure that the manufacturer is producing a safe and honest CBG product.

If a manufacturer doesn’t have third-party testing on the website, it isn’t trustworthy. All CBG manufacturers should be able to provide lab results for every product; that’ll tell you how much CBG and other cannabinoids are in your tincture.

2. U.S.-Grown Hemp

Although hemp products aren’t federally regulated, hemp plants are. When you buy from a farmer who grows in the U.S., you know that the farm has to adhere to specific safety and quality standards. Luckily, it’s totally legal to grow hemp plants in the U.S., so there are tons of farms right here in the country.

3. High CBG Content

Tons of CBD and THC products contain trace amounts of CBG. If you’re a medical marijuana patient, for example, you’re probably used to seeing something like “CBG: 0.17%” on the back of your weed haul.

However, in order to get the benefits of CBG (and ensure you have a non-psychoactive experience), look for very high CBG content, over 95%. That means you’re getting a product that’s almost entirely CBG, rather than something that’s marketed as CBG even though it only has trace amounts.

Key Takeaways: What Are the Best CBG Tinctures?

CBG is a promising answer to the limitations of other cannabinoids, especially when it comes to treating symptoms with a non-psychoactive compound. 

CBG is the precursor to most other cannabinoids, but now the cannabinoid is isolated and used for CBG tinctures. Tinctures can also be mixed with other cannabinoids, like CBD, and can be broad-spectrum to take full advantage of the other cannabinoids in the hemp plant. The best CBG tinctures are lab tested, made from U.S. grown hemp, and 95% or higher concentration of CBG.

References

1. Szczesniak, A. M., Maor, Y., Robertson, H., Hung, O., & Kelly, M. E. (2011). Nonpsychotropic cannabinoids, abnormal cannabidiol, and cannabigerol-dimethyl heptyl, act at novel cannabinoid receptors to reduce intraocular pressure. Journal of ocular pharmacology and therapeutics, 27(5), 427-435.
2. Snell, A. (2021). Meta-Analysis of Cannabigerol Effects on Breast Cancer Tissue Cells.
3. Brierley, D. I., Harman, J. R., Giallourou, N., Leishman, E., Roashan, A. E., Mellows, B. A., … & Williams, C. M. (2019). Chemotherapy‐induced cachexia dysregulates hypothalamic and systemic lipoamines and is attenuated by cannabigerol. Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle, 10(4), 844-859.