Smoking CBG Benefits
The world of smokable hemp has expanded quite a bit recently. Those still adapting to the appearance of smokable CBD hemp flower now have another new product to try: CBG flower, which is just as delightfully smokable as CBD flower while offering different benefits.
To some, the differences between CBD and CBG flower might not even be noticeable. Many users have already noted the unique properties of each type of smokable hemp, though, leading CBG flower to catch on as a worldwide trend.
Why, exactly, has smoking CBG flower suddenly jumped into popularity? What do people see in this alternative to CBD buds? Learn the top 7 benefits of smoking CBG in this guide, and then read on to find out everything else you need to know about CBG flower.
What is CBG?
Let’s start with the basics: Cannabigerol (CBG) is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid naturally found in Cannabis sativa. While not quite as abundant as CBD, CBG is nonetheless just as natural, and its precursor chemical, CBGA, plays a major role in the biosynthesis of most cannabinoids.
Recently, CBG has become the focus of research into its potential mood-boosting, digestive, and anti-cancer benefits. While it’s quite similar to CBD in many ways, CBG is nonetheless entirely distinct, and it has its own unique set of potential benefits.
Can you smoke CBG?
Yes, with the emergence of CBG-rich strains of cannabis, it’s now possible to smoke CBG for the first time. Some strains of hemp now contain as much as 15% CBG, which is plenty to experience the full effects that this cannabinoid can provide.
CBG flower products have the potential to be quite high-quality as well, but you need to know how to pick your buds first. High-quality CBG flower is greenhouse or indoor-grown in climate-controlled conditions using organic nutrients and pest control. From there, CBG buds must also be dried and cured to perfection, and they need to be trimmed and packaged competently to reach the end user in acceptable condition.
Benefits of smoking CBG
Ready to learn the top 7 benefits of smoking CBG flower? Let’s dive in:
1. CBG is non-intoxicating
Those on the hunt for yet another form of hemp you can smoke that won’t get you high will be well-pleased with CBG. Research agrees with anecdotal testimony in that CBG is non-intoxicating, which makes it more similar to CBD than THC.
That’s not to say you’re already familiar with the effects of CBG even if you’ve never used the cannabinoid. CBG may be non-intoxicating, but that’s where the similarities between these two cannabinoids end. Well, perhaps not quite “end,” but anyone who has used both can confirm that CBG is quite a bit different from CBD, and in a good way.
2. You can buy it online
One of the most impressive benefits of CBG is that you can buy it online. Like CBD, CBG is covered under the 2018 Farm Bill as “industrial hemp,” meaning that it is not marijuana and can be sold on the internet across state lines.
In fact, every cannabinoid aside from delta 9 THC is covered under the 2018 Farm Bill, allowing a wide variety of cannabinoids to rise to the fore over recent years. Alongside CBG, you can also find CBN, CBC, and even delta 8 — and these cannabinoids are sometimes added into CBG products to trigger the entourage effect.
As with anything you buy online, though, you’ll need to be careful with your smokable CBG purchases. Only buy from reputable brands that have lots of verified five-star reviews, and check for the presence of up-to-date, batch-specific lab reports issued by a third-party testing facility. In the absence of meaningful federal regulations, third-party lab tests are the best tools at your disposal for determining the purity and safety of smokable CBG products.
3. CBG might boost GABA
One of the most promising potential benefits of CBG that science has uncovered is this cannabinoid’s interaction with GABA. According to early research, CBG might work as a GABA reuptake inhibitor, meaning it may increase overall concentrations of GABA in your system.
GABA is a naturally produced amino acid that is believed to be involved in the human body’s natural calming and anxiety-managing mechanisms. If it’s true that CBG increases GABA activity in the brain, that might help explain why users describe this cannabinoid as anxiety-relieving.
It’s important to note here that, contrary to much of the information provided on the internet, there is no evidence that CBG boosts anandamide in the same way it apparently boosts GABA. In fact, the only evidence available suggests the exact opposite: that CBG is an anandamide antagonist, meaning that they compete for neuroreceptors in the brain.
4. CBG might be useful for pain
Early anecdotal reports from users indicate that smoking CBG might be just as useful for pain as smoking CBD. And, these reports appear to fall in line with the limited amount of scientific evidence that has been published so far.
Like CBD, for instance, CBG appears to interact with the body’s 5HT neuroreceptors — though we’re not yet sure in exactly what capacity. What’s clearer is evidence provided from research into CBG’s interaction with the body’s conventional cannabinoid receptors, of which the CB2 receptors are believed to have profound anti-inflammatory potential.
While researchers found that CBG’s impact on the brain’s intoxicating CB1 receptors was minimal, this cannabinoid interacted much more strongly with CB2 receptors, which are spread evenly throughout the peripheral nervous system. If smoking CBD isn’t working for your pain or you’d simply like to try a different approach, smoking CBG is definitely an alternative you should try.
5. CBG has been researched for potential digestive benefits
One area in which CBD lamentably shows little promise is the treatment of digestive conditions. Some CBD users say that it improves their digestion, but taking CBD orally often causes digestive discomfort that can become severe in certain users.
CBG is much less commonly reported to cause digestive pain, and research into this cannabinoid might help us understand why. A 2016 study, for instance, found that CBG acts as an AEA uptake inhibitor, allowing it to help with colitis. While these results haven’t yet been replicated, they are highly promising and further demonstrate CBG’s distinguishing properties compared to CBD.
If it’s true that CBG has digestive benefits, smoking it may be the best way to take advantage of them. Despite CBG’s potential digestive benefits, hemp extract can be hard on the stomach, potentially diminishing the cannabinoid’s inherent usefulness. Smoking CBG, though, bypasses the digestive tract while still ensuring this cannabinoid circulates through your gut as it enters your bloodstream.
6. CBG benefits for cancer
The potential benefits of cannabinoids for cancer are a subject of considerable controversy, but nonetheless, it’s impossible to deny that cancer has played a major role in research into CBG so far. In 2021, for instance, a study was published indicating that CBG “can destroy” glioblastomas, highly aggressive brain cancer cells.
This research builds on earlier studies into cannabinoids in general that identified CBG as a potential therapy for breast cancer. We’ll need to wait for further research to be published before we come to any conclusions regarding the usefulness of CBG for cancer.
It is worth briefly noting that cancer patients have commonly smoked cannabis since the 1990s in California, and the trend has since spread across the nation. While cannabis is usually used to mitigate the nauseating side effects of chemotherapy, early research into CBG suggests that it might be worthwhile to puff on a strain with high concentrations of this cannabinoid if you’re currently battling cancer.
7. CBG isn’t known to have any serious side effects
Those who have endured bad experiences with THC in the past take note: Even though it isn’t exactly like CBD, CBG is enough like the original non-intoxicating cannabinoid that you can be sure you won’t get high, paranoid, or freaked out when you smoke CBG flower. Less research has been conducted into the safety of CBG so far compared to CBD, but early studies indicate that the two cannabinoids likely have very similar safety profiles.
These same studies also suggest that CBG may have a wide range of as-yet untapped benefits that could ultimately make this cannabinoid more in-demand than CBD. It’s quickly becoming clear, for instance, that CBG offers impressive skin benefits that both appear to help with aging and prevent infections. While CBD is usually only useful in topicals as an analgesic, CBG topicals could conceivably have a whole host of different purposes.
8. Smoking CBG is one of the most effective and potent methods
One of the first things every hemp newbie realizes is that there are a lot of different ways to use cannabinoids. As is the case with CBD, though, smoking CBG is one of the most effective methods available if you want to make sure you get the maximum amount of potency out of this cannabinoid.
When you smoke CBG flower, the active ingredients it contains bypass your digestive tract to enter your bloodstream directly. As a result, smoking CBG kicks in within less than a minute compared to the 30 minutes-plus it takes for orally ingested CBG products to activate.
The effects of smoked CBG are also considerably more potent than the effects of orally ingested CBG. If you’re aiming specifically to take advantage of this cannabinoid’s potential psychological benefits, smoking is definitely the way to go.
Types of smokable CBG products
Now that you know why you should smoke CBG, it’s time to move on to identifying which types of CBG products you can smoke. The three most popular options at your disposal are CBG flower, pre-rolls, and vapes.
CBG flower
The most abundant type of smokable CBG product, CBG flower contains anywhere between 5-15% CBG and can be either outdoor, greenhouse, or indoor-grown. While variety isn’t as wide as what you might be used to in the CBD or THC industries, there are plenty of indica, sativa, and hybrid CBG strains to choose from.
CBG pre-rolls
CBG pre-rolls are CBG joints that you don’t have to roll yourself. They can contain the same range of flower quality as CBG nugs themselves, and you also have to keep in mind the quality and safety of the paper and the other components of the joint. Many users contend, though, that CBG pre-rolls are the easiest smokable CBG products to use.
CBG vapes
Sure, vaping isn’t exactly smoking, but inhaling CBG provides roughly the same effects whether you’re inhaling smoke or vapor. Some users swear by CBG vapes, which admittedly are very convenient to use and easy on your lungs. Just make sure you know how to hit a vape without a battery in case yours fails.
Why you should smoke CBG: The bottom line
In the end, what are the most impressive reasons smoking CBG is worth your time? To start with, this cannabinoid appears to have quite a few unique benefits that only reach their fullness of expression when CBG is inhaled. To further sweeten the deal, smoking CBG is one of the most potent ways to experience the naturally relaxing effects of this cannabinoid, and smokable CBG products are now widely available online.
If you’ve already tried smoking CBD, you’ll never know if you like CBG even better until you’ve tried it. And, even if you’ve never smoked hemp or cannabis at all, don’t be afraid to expand your horizons if your personal research leads you to conclude that smoking CBG flower is the next best step.
Smoking CBG FAQ
Deepen your knowledge of the effects of smoking CBG in the FAQ section below:
What does CBG do to your body?
Based on initial research, CBG appears to primarily act upon your 5HT, GABA, and CB2 neuroreceptors, meaning it appears to have a considerable impact on mood, stress, and pain. Like CBD, CBG is fully non-intoxicating, and most users describe its effects as being similar to a more-energizing form of CBD.
Is CBD or CBG better for pain?
It’s hard to say whether CBD or CBG is better for pain, but if you’re suffering from chronic pain, both cannabinoids are certainly worth a shot. Each cannabinoid has been researched for its possible impact on pain, and they both seem to show significant potential. Instead of forcing yourself to choose between CBD and CBG, there’s no reason you shouldn’t use these two cannabinoids together — doing so may even make them more effective due to the entourage effect.
Is CBG good for nerve pain?
It’s hard to say definitively whether CBG is good for nerve pain, but this cannabinoid does appear to interact considerably with your 5HT receptors, which are the primary controllers of neuropathic pain throughout the body. If it’s true that CBG stimulates 5HT receptors even more strongly than CBD, individuals suffering from neuropathic pain should definitely give smoking CBG a shot.
Is CBG anti-inflammatory?
If it’s true that CBG activates your CB2 receptors, it’s possible that this cannabinoid might be highly useful as an anti-inflammatory. Unlike the brain’s CB1 receptors, which get you high, CB2 receptors do not have an intoxicating effect and instead impact inflammation throughout your body.
Is CBG a muscle relaxer?
It’s possible that CBG might be useful as a muscle relaxer due to its effects on your body’s GABA levels. In the human body, GABA is one of the primary substances responsible for muscle relaxation, and if CBG boosts GABA concentrations, it may act as an indirect muscle relaxant.
Can CBG cause anxiety?
Unlike THC, which can cause severe anxiety and paranoia, CBG is not known to cause anxiety. In fact, the opposite may be true due to this cannabinoid’s potential impact on 5HT and GABA, two anxiety-related neural signaling substances. Users generally note that CBG has a calming effect, not an anxiety-inducing one.
How quickly does CBG work?
When ingested orally, the effects of CBG are usually noticeable within around 30 minutes, but CBG activates instantly when inhaled. It may be necessary to use CBG repeatedly over the course of up to two weeks, however, to begin noticing the expected effects.
