Cannabis is well-known for its impact on the user’s mental state. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the most popular strains from hemp plants for their euphoric and therapeutic effects, respectively. However, a lesser-known cannabinoid with just as many potential benefits is cannabigerol (CBG).
CBG is often overlooked, considering it doesn’t deliver the high delivered by THC that some cannabis users chase. On top of that, it only occupies a small percentage of the overall hemp plant, while CBD takes up most of it. Because of its small percentage, CBG is extremely limited in the cannabis market.
However, products such as organic CBG Tincture are available on the market if you’re looking to try CBG. The advantage of organic CBG is that these have been grown and extracted without using fertilizers or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). It also has its differences from CBD, which will be explained below.
What Makes It Different?
Compared to CBD, CBG possesses key differences that could shed a positive light on the cannabis industry. And those differences only continue to pile up when CBG is extracted naturally. Here are some reasons why organic extraction makes a difference:
- It Is Non-Euphoric
As mentioned, CBG lacks the high some cannabis users may be looking for since it’s a non-psychoactive cannabinoid. Without any psychoactive ingredients, users can better experience the therapeutic and relaxing effects of CBG. Similar to CBD, it may impact the user’s mental health, especially when using CBG along with CBD. Combining both cannabinoids results in an entourage effect, which amplifies its benefits.
CBG directly interacts with cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. Unlike CBD, which only focuses on CB2, communicating with both receptors enables CBG to connect with most neurons in the nervous system (CB1) and immune system (CB2).
Fortunately, naturally-extracted CBG doesn’t change any of its original benefits. If anything, they’re even more amplified as no synthetic chemicals are added.
- It Supports The Green Movement
Cannabinoids are all sourced from hemp plants. Naturally, given they’re plants, cannabis farmers may use pesticides, fertilizers, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Even though they assist in the hemp plants’ growth, these substances are incredibly harmful to the environment.
From manufacturing to extraction, not a drop of synthetic chemicals will touch organic CBG. After all, these toxic substances can seriously harm the environment and leave lasting damage to biodiversity and even the soil. Thus, choosing organic products can help preserve the surrounding environment even better, whether it be soil or water quality.
Moreover, the absence of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers encourages biodiversity to flourish. Besides, hemp already contains some insecticidal properties and does not need assistance from pesticides. With insect repellants out of the picture, you can reduce your carbon footprint.
- It’s Toxin-Free
There are countless methods for extracting cannabinoids from hemp that require extensive knowledge on knowing when it’s the proper time to extract them and which extraction method to use. Some extraction methods include decarboxylation, carbon dioxide (CO2) extraction method, and more.
When handling organic CBG, there are only two factors you must pay close attention to: the growing condition of the plant and how to extract the oil. The critical aspect of growing organic CBG—or anything organic, for that matter—is that it’s grown on soil with no prohibited substances like synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
While the extraction process sounds like they involve synthetic chemicals in them, this isn’t the case. For example, decarboxylation may sound like an overly complicated chemical process. However, this process utilizes heat and time to heat the extract while filtering out the non-essential acids.
Since these are the only two components needed, decarboxylation is one of the most popular extracting methods. After all, you can partially decarboxylate by drying or curing, while smoking and evaporating use extreme heat that quickly releases cannabinoids.
On the other hand, the CO2 extraction method happens by containing carbon dioxide and the hemp plant in different chambers. The CO2 is heated and pressurized before getting pumped into the chamber with the plant matter. CBG extract is created once the carbon dioxide is strong enough to dissolve the hemp plant. Once done, they’re transferred to another chamber where all that’s left is the oil.
Takeaway
CBG may be the least popular cannabinoid from the hemp plant, but it has multiple potential benefits and can be an alternative to CBD as both have non-psychoactive effects. CBG is different from THC and CBD, and even from CBG grown with the assistance of GMOs and synthetic pesticides. Consuming organic CBG has potential therapeutic effects, but it also comes with the additional benefit of being an environmentally-friendly way of enjoying cannabis.
