Is CBG Legal? (And Where to Buy Quality CBG Products)

You've probably heard of THC and CBD and their possible effects on your body. Other therapeutic compounds in the cannabis plant exist, such as CBG. However, since many of the available products might contain traces of THC, some might be skeptical about the legality of CBG products. This article will discuss the difference between CBD and CBG, the legality of CBG, and its side effects.

 Although scientists have not conducted much research on CBG, more and more people are using CBG products due to its recent rise in demand. CBG is one of the cannabis compounds found in the plant and is usually found in younger plants than older ones. Furthermore, it is widely referred to as "the mother of other cannabinoids" such as CBD and THC. Although most people know about CBG products, they might wonder whether CBG is legal. Let's focus on what the law says about CBG products.

What is CBG?

You have probably heard about THC products and the magical healing power of CBD products. However, you may not be familiar with other cannabinoids such as CBG and where these cannabinoids are obtained. CBG, or Cannabigerol's raw acidic form, called Cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), breaks down the many cannabinoids compound that is found in the cannabis plant, such as CBD and THC. Since CBG is not normally found in mature cannabis plants, it is a very rare compound, and the few available products can be a little expensive. Fortunately, more companies are exploring the possibility of breeding several variants of cannabis to birth a variant that can help them yield maximum CBG products. Several strains are specifically designed for that.

You may have heard of CBD products if you love following health topics and are interested in living a healthy lifestyle. CBG is widely known for its various medical benefits, and just like CBD, CBG has been under recent study for alleviating medical conditions such as severe pain and inflammation. However, what exactly makes CBG different from CBD?

The Difference between CBG and CBD

Although many people are familiar with CBD, they might get confused with the term CBG. Although there is a lot of information, much more research is needed to fully explain CBG’s structure and effects. The main difference between CBD and CBG is pretty simple; although they are obtained from the same cannabis plant strain, CBG has a different molecular structure. This difference in molecular structure allows CBG to interact more easily with CB1 and CB2 receptor cells than CBD.

THC and CBD are both very dominant in the cannabis plant. According to Johnson et al. (2010), THC is well known to have psychoactive effects, while CBD is usually preferred because it lacks this trait. Boggs et al. (2018) suggested that CBG also doesn't have any psychoactive effects, and because it interacts with receptor cells the same way as THC, some scientists have even believed that CBG can be used to reverse some side effects of THC. However, because CBG is obtained from the cannabis plant, it's very important to know its stand in the legal arena.

Is CBG Legal?

CBG is not easily available in older cannabis plants. Therefore, it may be rare to find CBG products, which are also quite expensive sometimes. You can readily find CBG products in the market as edibles and tincture oils. Still, because some of these products are extracted from the cannabis plant, you must find out more about the legal issues on cannabis in your area. CBG is legal in the USA when derived from the hemp plant, per the 2018 Farm Bill.

The 2018 Farm Bill allowed the planting of hemp plants and the extraction of CBG products as long as it has a THC level lower than 0.3%. Furthermore, since THC has psychoactive effects, it's less likely that you get high while using CBG, although this might differ depending on the source of your CBG. In other states that have legalized recreational marijuana, you can easily access higher amounts of CBG (no pun intended).

Potential Benefits of CBG Products

CBD is commonly known for its various health benefits that alleviate various health conditions. Since CBG activates the receptors in the body, it has also been linked to several health benefits. You can find all sorts of CBG products online, from edibles to tinctures; however, what makes CBG unique is that most CBG products lack THC. This could be attributed to the formation of THC and CBD that occurs after the breakdown of the acidic form of CBG, known as CBGA. Therefore, it is the preferred choice for those who don't like THC's intoxicating effects and are not ready to test positive for their next drug test unnecessarily.

Additionally, CBG is popular for its anti-inflammatory properties. According to Kienzi, Storr & Schicho (2020), it helps patients with inflammatory irritable bowel syndrome. Furthermore, CBG can also relieve inflammatory skin conditions such as acne and eczema. Lu et al. (2017) suggested that it is also known for its ability to reduce nausea, stimulate appetite, fight cancer-causing cells and improve sleep. Although more research needs to be done, people opt for CBG as a natural way of fighting common diseases and improving their health. If you want to use CBG continuously, there are several things you might want to consider.

What To Consider When Choosing CBG Products

You can find a wide choice of CBG products in the market; today, you can find CBG crystals in the purest form that you can place under the tongue for maximum potent effects. There are also CBG oil and tinctures that you can add to your smoothie or food. Moreover, CBG topicals such as balms, creams, and ointments can be applied to the skin for a refreshing effect or to relieve various skin conditions. When choosing CBG products, purchase them from reputable brands, and ensure that the product has undergone a third-party lab test. In addition, look for the brand's Certificate of Analysis, and ensure it's not more than a year old. Learn more about how much cbg should i take

Conclusion

CBG products are available in many forms to fit a wide range of cannabis users; however, not many people may be familiar with CBG. It is available in young cannabis plants because the acidic CBG breaks down to form THC and CBD as the plant ages. Like CBD, CBG has been claimed by several researchers to have properties that can help fight off some troubling diseases. However, because there is still limited research on humans on how CBG affects bodily function, there is a need to be concerned while purchasing CBG products. Consult your medical adviser before trying CBD products, and ensure you ascertain whether the product has undergone intensive independent third-party testing.

References

Boggs, D. L., Nguyen, J. D., Morgenson, D., Taffe, M. A., & Ranganathan, M. (2018). Clinical and preclinical evidence for functional interactions of cannabidiol and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Neuropsychopharmacology, 43(1), 142-154.

Johnson, J. R., Burnell-Nugent, M., Lossignol, D., Ganae-Motan, E. D., Potts, R., & Fallon, M. T. (2010). Multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of THC's efficacy, safety, and tolerability: CBD extract and THC extract in patients with intractable cancer-related pain. Journal of Pain and symptom management, 39(2), 167-179.

Kienzl, M., Storr, M., & Schicho, R. (2020). Cannabinoids and opioids in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases. Clinical and translational gastroenterology, 11(1).

Lu, X. S., Qiao, Y. B., Li, Y., Yang, B., Chen, M. B., & Xing, C. G. (2017). Preclinical study of cinobufagin as a promising anti-colorectal cancer agent. Oncotarget, 8(1), 988.

Lucassen, E. A., & Cizza, G. (2012). The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, obesity, and chronic stress exposure: sleep and the HPA axis in obesity. Current obesity reports, 1(4), 208-215.