Review Cart

What Is Cannabigerol (CBG) And What Is The Difference Between CBG And CBD?

cannabis-oil

Are you wondering what the differences are between CBG oil and CBD oil?

If you are keeping up to date with the cannabis community you may be noticing these two terms are popping up everywhere. These two cannabinoids come from the cannabis plant but how do they differ? CBG oil and CBD oil are commonly seen in cannabis beauty products and weed edibles. We’re going to tell you what these cannabis compounds are, and their unique differences.

What is CBG?

what is cbg?

Cannabigerol is a minor cannabinoid of the cannabis plant. The reason that this compound is called a minor cannabinoid is that it occurs in considerably low levels. (Like less than 1%, low levels.) We’re going to get a little scientific, but, we want to give you the whole picture.

See, cannabis plants create a compound called cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). From this acid, three cannabinoid lines begin to formulate. CBGA branches off to eventually produce tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), and cannabichromenic acid (CBCA). In addition, the cannabis plant contains powerful enzymes that breakdown CBGA.

lit cannabis pipe

As CBGA continues to breakdown, it is directed to either CBDA or THCA lines. When these compounds are heated or exposed to ultraviolet light, they become the compounds that you are likely familiar with (CBD or THC).

It is most common that CBGA will convert to THCA or CBDA. This conversion decreases the amount of CBGA. If CBGA converts to CBDA there will be more CBDA and less CBGA and THCA. If CBGA converts to THCA there will be more THCA and less CBDA. Are you still with us?

Let’s recap the science of CBGA, CBDA, and THCA.

To recap, CBGA breaks down to become either CBDA or THCA with an enzyme. Why do we call them CBD and THC or CBG? This is what they become when they are decarboxylated (heated or exposed to ultraviolet light).

So, how are CBG and CBD different if they come from the same plant?

isolated cbd bud

The short answer is that they are different cannabinoids. They come from the same plant, they start as CBGA, but an enzyme changes them into two different compounds. Some may argue that CBG is a more pure cannabinoid. Others think that it is not as powerful as its cannabinoid counterparts. It all comes down to the scientific process that occurs within the plant that makes them different as this causes them to become different phytocannabinoids.

Cannadish Newsletter

Sign up for our monthly newsletter!

Receive FREE monthly cannabis recipes, hacks, latest info, news and more to your mailbox.

[bsa_pro_ad_space id=3]