What’s the Difference Between CBD and CBG?

If you love CBD and have started hearing about CBG, you might be interested in knowing more about how these two cannabinoids are different. After all, they’re easily confused because they’re both non-intoxicating cannabinoids and can be used for some of the same purposes. Despite their similarities, CBD and CBG have some differences, and it’s important to know more about both cannabinoids before you take them separately or together. 

What Is CBD?

More commonly known as CBD, cannabidiol is a major cannabinoid found in cannabis and hemp. While CBD comes from hemp plants, it’s non-intoxicating and won’t make you feel high. Typically, you can find CBD in products like oils, vaporizers, prerolls, capsules, and edibles.

As one of the most popular cannabinoids in use today, CBD is well-studied and could contain several benefits. For example, some studies suggest that CBD could lower anxiety, reduce chronic pain, and treat insomnia. Due to its potential benefits and non-intoxicating effect, many people enjoy taking CBD daily. Currently, CBD is legal federally due to the 2018 Farm Bill and legal in all states, but regulations and standards for CBD products vary by state. 

What Is CBG?

Cannabigerol (CBG) is a cannabinoid found in small quantities in hemp and cannabis. Sometimes, people call CBG the mother of all cannabinoids, as other cannabinoids derive from cannabigerolic acid, which is an acidic form of CBG. Since concentrations of CBG decrease in cannabis and hemp plants as they mature, CBG is typically harvested from younger plants. If you’re interested in trying CBG, you can usually find it in oil, tincture, and edible CBG products.

Like CBD, CBG is non-intoxicating and could have some therapeutic effects. Though more research needs to be done to evaluate the benefits of CBG, some research suggests CBG can potentially reduce chronic pain, assist with inflammatory bowel disease, treat glaucoma and Huntington’s disease, fight certain cancer cells, and lower anxiety and depression. Additionally, CBG is legal on a federal level because of the 2018 Farm Bill and is currently legal in all states as long as it’s produced from hemp.

CBD vs. CBG: What Are the Main Differences Between Them?

Though CBD and CBG don’t contain psychoactive or intoxicating properties, they have some differences. For instance, CBD is a major cannabinoid, and CBG is a minor cannabinoid, meaning CBD is found in higher quantities in the cannabis plant. They also have different molecular structures and bind differently to the endocannabinoid system’s receptors.

Besides the molecular differences, CBD is much more widely studied than CBG, meaning claims about CBG’s benefits are usually not as well substantiated by research. That being said, research on CBG suggests that CBG acts more like an appetite stimulant while CBD acts more like an appetite suppressant. Though they may offer different effects, some research supports the claim that CBG has anti-inflammatory effects, just like CBD.

Can You Take CBD and CBG Together?

CBD and CBG are commonly taken together, and no current research suggests that taking them simultaneously would be dangerous. Though there’s not a lot of research about how the two cannabinoids interact with each other, some believe that combining cannabinoids causes an “entourage effect.” Essentially, an entourage effect refers to the idea that cannabinoids can deliver more positive effects when they’re taken at the same time.

When it comes to CBD and CBG specifically, some believe that CBG and CBD balance each other out and can heighten each other’s shared effects. For example, since they both have been found to provide an anti-inflammatory effect, taking them together may enhance their pain-relieving qualities. In terms of balance, some users report feeling energized from CBD but sleepy from CBG, so taking them both at the same time could help level out those effects. 

However, everyone reacts differently to cannabinoids, so you may have to test how you feel when you only take CBD or CBG and then see how it compares when you take them together. Once you’re ready to take them both, you can often find CBD CBG gummies, capsules, tinctures, and oils.

Choose Carolindica for High-Quality CBD and CBG Products Made in North Carolina

At Carolindica, we regularly put CBD and CBG together in our edibles and other products so our customers can harness the benefits of the entourage effect. To ensure our CBD and CBG products deliver an exceptional experience, we craft them in small batches and only source ingredients from top-tier suppliers. Whether you’re looking for CBD CBG gummies, capsules, or tinctures, you can find them on our site.

Check out our full lineup of CBD and CBG products today. If you have any questions or want help selecting the right product for you, please contact us.