What is the Difference Between CBD and CBG?

Just Like cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG) is a cannabinoid. Both compounds are found in cannabis plants. Both are also non-intoxicating, meaning they won’t make you high. So what’s the difference between CBD and CBG?
CBG is the precursor for other cannabinoids. When heated, CBG-A, the acidic form of CBG, breaks down. It doesn’t only form CBG, though. It also forms CBD, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and cannabichromene (CBC).

While there is comparably a lot of research available on CBD, research on CBG is far more limited. We nevertheless know how the two interact differently in the body.

While CBD has a relatively low affinity for cannabinoid receptors and interacts mostly with the endocannabinoid system on an indirect basis, CBG is thought to interact directly with the brain’s CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors.

As such, preliminary research suggests that the compound may be useful in treating multiple conditions. According to a 2013 study conducted on mice, the compound may be able to reduce inflammation associated with inflammatory bowel disease. Another study in 2014 found that it may even be able to reduce growth rates of cancer cells and other tumors in rats with colon cancer.

Sources: Healthline, Analytical Cannabis, Forbes