CBG vs CBD? Elucidating the benefits of the “stem cell cannabinoid”

Another cannabinoid growing in popularity in the UK CBD industry over the past 12-18 months is CBG or Cannabigerol. But what is this cannabinoid, what does it do and how does CBD compare vs CBG? This article breaks down the key differences between CBG vs CBD to help you understand what might be best for you. We’ll also look at some popular products that contain CBG.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a naturally occurring constituent of the cannabis and hemp plant. It belongs to a family of wellness molecules unique to the cannabis sativa genus known as a phyto-cannabinoids. There are over 100 of these compounds in the plant however CBD is the most abundant and reknowned.

CBD was originally discovered way back in 1940 by a British chemist. Two years later is was successfully isolated. Today CBD is used ubiquitously as an oil, e-liquid, topical, edible or drink to boost overall wellness. Research and users experience show it can provide relief from pain, sleeplessness, inflammation, restlessness and stress.

CBD achieves this by activating various systems within your body. The main one being your endocannabinoid system, a regulatory network of receptors, endocannabinoids and enzymes. Specifically CBD helps

What is CBG?

Similarly to CBD, Cannabigerol is also a cannabinoid that is unique to the cannabis sativa genus. It was discovered a little later by Israeli researchers in 1964. Since then it has garnered the nickname “the stem cell cannabinoid” as all other cannabinoids, including THC and CBD, stem from CBG. Well, strictly speaking from CBGa (cannabigerolic acid) which is the unheated, acidic precursor to CBG that naturally occurs in the hemp plant.

CBG is made from decarboxylating CBGa by exposing cannabinoids to heat or light. However this process can also be done artifically using enzymes. In this process, CBGa loses a molecule of carbon dioxide and becomes CBG.

CBG works on your endocannabinoid system in a slightly different way than CBD. While CBD primarily activates your CB2 receptors, CBG can also bind to CB1 receptors but not in the way THC does.

Similar to CBD, CBG also blocks the enzymes that break down our endocannabinoids enhancing your endocannabinoid function. It also has a number of potential benefits including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and neuroprotective benefits. Similar to CBD, CBG is also a non-psychotropic and does not cause a high.

Potential benefits of CBG vs CBD

While the old adage of ‘needing more studies’ always applies in science, studies have unveiled many promising benefits of these cannabinoids.

CBD has garnered mainstream popularity for its health benefits including:

• Pain relief: CBD has pain relieving properties particularly inflammatory and neuropathic pain.
• Inflammation: Additionally CBD can also reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory molecules to provide an anti-inflammatory effect.
• Neuroprotection: CBD also has neuroprotective properties and may help boost mood or reduce brain fog.
• Sleeplessness: CBD may help improve sleep by calming down racing minds and easing pain.
• Anxiousness: Multiple studies and trials have reported that CBD delivers a reduction in anxiousness and provides a mild calming effect.

CBG, on the other hand, offers some of the same benefits but also some unique benefits such as:

• Antimicrobial: CBG has shown potential as an antimicrobial against multiple different agents.
• Inflammation: Like most cannabinoids, CBG shows promise as an anti-inflammatory, particularly for inflammatory gut issues.
• Appetite: Additionally CBG is an appetite stimulant and shows primise as a potential aid for eating disorders.
• Anxiousness: CBG may also help with anxiousness and stress by targeting the serotonin and GABA systems that regulate mood.
• Gut Health: Thanks to CBG’s anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects it is also helpful in maintaining gut health.

Which products contain CBG?

CBG is now found in numerous products including topicals, oils and vapes. Here at Hemptations we have several CBG infused products including Darwin CBD Starter Kit, which include a 50-50 blend of CBG & CBD. Similarly some other Darwin products including their CBD muscle rub and replacement vape pods both contain a mix of CBD/CBG.

Finally full spectrum CBD and broad spectrum CBD products will often contain trace amounts of CBG. Although this is unlikely to be alluded to on the label. Given CBG is often the second most abundant cannabinoid in the hemp plant, these unrefined extracts retain some CBGa/CBG. Uniquely Little Rick drinks do state that they contain 6mg of CBG per can.

Key differences between CBD & CBG

• Origin: While both cannabinoids are found in the hemp plant, CBD actually comes from the breakdown of CBG.
• Major vs minor: Due to its abundance in the plant, CBD is considered a major cannabinoid whereas CBG is considered a minor cannabinoid.
• Effects: While CBD is well known for its calming effect, CBG is often used for boosting energy and focus.
• Potential Benefits: CBD may help with anxiousness, sleep and pain. Whereas CBG is more effective for gut health, appetite and even eye health.
• Availability: CBD is of course much more readily available than CBG however that is changing. Many new products are now coming out with added CBG increasing its availability.

CBG vs CBD: Which should you choose?

When deciding to use CBG vs CBD you need to consider your health goals. If you’re seeking relief from stress or pain perhaps CBD is the better choice. However for those looking to support digestive health or stimulate appetite CBG could offer unique benefits.

With that said, the smart money is on those who use extracts that use both cannabinoids such as those listed above. Or to incorporate a full spectrum hemp extract that contains CBD, CBG and the other constituents of the hemp plant. After all the plant has perfected its synergy over thousands of years to bring you ‘the entourage effect.’

References

Effects of cannabinoids and cannabinoid-enriched Cannabis extracts on TRP channels and endocannabinoid metabolic enzymes – (De Petrocellis et al. 2011)

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21175579

Cannabigerol is a novel, well-tolerated appetite stimulant in pre-satiated rats – (Brierley et al. 2016)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5021742

Any questions?

We would love to help if you have any questions around this topic. Let us know by dropping a comment below. We will endeavour to get back to you asap but while you wait the answer to your query may lie in our CBD FAQs.

Related Articles

If you’ve enjoyed this post you may like to read some of our other posts on learning CBD.

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  Is CBD legal in the UK? (2026 Update)
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  CBG vs CBD? Elucidating the benefits of the “stem cell cannabinoid”
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  Hemp Oil vs CBD Oil: What is the Difference?

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