CBG stands for cannabigerol, and it's a cannabinoid naturally produced in hemp and marijuana plants.
CBG has been referred to as the "precursor cannabinoid" or the "mother cannabinoid" to CBD and THC. Early flowering hemp plants will have a higher concentration of CBG and as the plant matures, it transforms into either THC, CBD, or CBC.
Because most cannabis plants are harvested in the mature flowering phase, there isn't much CBG left in the plants, so this cannabinoid often went under the radar as a minor cannabinoid.
Why Is CBG Becoming Popular?
Our bodies naturally produce a collection of neurotransmitters called endocannabinoids that play an essential role in maintaining homeostasis (balance) in the body by regulating vital systems.
When we consume additional cannabinoids from cannabis plants, we strengthen the endocannabinoid system, which can add many positive benefits to our overall well being. CBD, THC, and CBG are notable cannabis-produced compounds that have been widely investigated for their interactions with the endocannabinoid system.
A number of studies have linked CBG to unique benefits including supporting healthy inflammatory function in the gut, memory, appetite, and the combating the psychoactive effects of THC [ 1,2,3]. While the research for the benefits of CBG is still new and continues to unfold, it's showing promising potential and we can expect to see more hemp products featuring it.
How To Dose CBG
Unfortunately, there is no precise drop-by-drop instruction on how to properly dose CBG. Dosing CBD and CBG are personal affairs as dosage can depend on a wide variety of factors, including:
Age
Baseline health
Underlying conditions
Cannabis experience
Only you can determine your ideal doses for cannabis products — but the best rule of thumb is to start lowand go slow, just like with CBD dosing.
Each brand will usually label in MG or a percentage of how much CBD or CBG is in the product. If it's not listed — check the lab results on the website. Always look for the product's recommended dose and start on the lower end of the spectrum and gradually build up until you reach your desired effects.
Gradually introducing the product into your system can help you to get used to the compound and help you avoid any adverse side effects.
CBG Dosing Considerations
Dosing a CBG extract isn't as straightforward as many people would like it to be and will simply come down to trial and error. Here are a few outside factors that can effect your CBG dosage:
The Brand: Depending on the strain and the product formula, you may have different ratios of the cannabinoid in your Full Spectrum or THC-Free Broad Spectrum product.
Liver metabolism: This all comes down to your genetics and how fast your liver can metabolize compounds. Different rates of your liver metabolism can affect how much CBG you should take and how long it will stay in your system.
Reason for using CBG: Your dose can depend on the desired effects you're looking for when using a CBD or CBG product. Some instances will require lower doses, like for supporting mental focus, while improving sleep and stress typically require higher doses.
Product you’re taking: A CBG oil taken sublingually will get to work quite quickly (15 minutes) and last for a shorter amount of time (2-3 hours), while CBG gummies will take a longer time to kick in (45 minutes) and have longer lasting effects (up to 7 hours).
The Side Effects Of CBG
If you're sticking to the guided doses on your CBG product, there's very little risk of experiencing adverse effects. CBG has been shown to be a safe and well-tolerated compound, even in high doses [ 4].
Similar to CBD, if you end up taking too much CBG, you may experience nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting — but these effects will subside once the compound is out of your system (3–5 hours).That being said, everyone responds to CBG differently, which is why it's important to always start on the safe side with lower doses and build-up over the course of a few days.
Many people find it helpful to journal their CBG oil dosage on their phone in the notes app or in a physical journal. Start by recording the date, how you're feeling before taking CBG, how much CBG you're taking, and how you feel 30–45 minutes after your dose.
Where Can You Find CBG Products?
CBG is a newer cannabinoid, which means it's not widely available yet. However, a few CBD brands ( like us!) have come up with innovative ways to include hyper-concentrated CBG in their products, while still maintaining complex cannabinoid content.
If you've ever tried full spectrum CBD oils then you've likely encountered CBG already without even knowing it. The nature of full spectrum hemp extracts is to maintain as much of the natural cannabinoid profile from the plant as possible to produce a balanced, whole plant extract that delivers many more benefits alongside CBD.
Remember, CBD is one of many beneficial compounds produced in cannabis. In natural wellness and plant medicine, you'll often come across the concept of plant synergy. This is the phenomenon of compounds working better in combination when they're combined with their natural cannabinoid compound content. [5].
While CBD and CBG as compounds on their own have proven in lab-controlled environments to show great benefits to overall health, they work better in combination with other cannabinoids and healthy lifestyle changes. One of the most common CBG products on the market is CBG oils. There are several advantages to using oils over other product types:
Long shelf-life
Customizable dosages
Cost-effective
Purchase CBG Oils Responsibly
No matter which type of product you choose or which brand you purchase from, you always want to reference the company's lab tests to ensure what's advertised matches the contents of the bottle.
Unfortunately, not all hemp extract manufacturers have their customers' best interest at heart, and while regulations in the CBD space are improving in the United States, a lot of snake-oil and even potentially harmful products are being sold in-store and online.
As a general rule for safety and to ensure you're spending your money wisely, it's a good idea to shop with brands that practice third-party lab testing.
Non-biased labs will test the samples sent to them from CBD companies to look for impurities from the extraction process, remnants of pesticides, heavy metals, or mold, and will verify the cannabinoid and terpene profile to show you the potency and the range of compounds in the product you're buying.
To Wrap Up: CBG Dosage
Dosing CBG, similar to CBD will depend on many different factors from your genetic makeup, your lifestyle, and the effects you hope to get out of the compound.
You can expect to experiment with your CBG dosage, especially when you're new to it. To help keep track of your doses and how you feel, we recommend keeping a journal either on your phone or in a physical diary.
Luckily, CBG has been proven to be well-tolerated and the side effects of taking too much CBG are mild and subside when CBG runs its course through your system. As long as you're sticking to the recommended doses on your product bottle, you're highly unlikely to experience and severe adverse symptoms. As with any cannabis product, only shop with brands you trust and that provide a third-party lab test to verify the contents in the bottle and safety.
Resources:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006295213000543
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/np8002673
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/7/4/882
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5021742/
https://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=hPVwBAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA280&dq=cannabis+plant+synergy&ots=yv4jHMQG-k&sig=5wdizC0yAXMJ12jMEmtaYhuFaoQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=cannabis%20plant%20synergy&f=false