Is CBG stronger than CBD?

Published: September 2nd, 2023

With growing interest in hemp's health potential, two cannabinoids often compared are CBD (cannabidiol) and CBG (cannabigerol). Many wonder how they stack up and whether one is "stronger" than the other overall.

Contents:

An Introduction to CBD and CBG
Assessing and Comparing Potency
Comparing Pharmacological Effects
Comparing Safety and Side Effects
Determining Which Cannabinoid is "Stronger" Overall
Is CBG stronger than CBD? Conclusion
Resources used to write this article

This article provides a detailed comparison of CBG vs CBD in terms of potency, pharmacological effects, safety, and more. Read on for a full breakdown of how these trendy cannabinoids differ.

Is CBG stronger than CBD?

An Introduction to CBD and CBG

First, a quick overview of CBD and CBG. Both are non-intoxicating cannabinoids produced in the resin glands of hemp and cannabis plants.

CBD is short for cannabidiol, which is the second most abundant cannabinoid behind THC. Thanks to substantial research on its benefits, CBD has become extremely popular in wellness and health circles.

Meanwhile, CBG stands for cannabigerol. Unlike CBD, CBG is considered a minor cannabinoid because most varieties of cannabis contain very little CBG content. However, specialty cultivation techniques have led to high-CBG strains that enable concentrated CBG oil production.

Early studies suggest both CBD and CBG offer promising effects, but they differ in some key ways. Let's compare these differences to evaluate if one is truly "stronger."

Assessing and Comparing Potency

When evaluating if CBG or CBD is stronger, the first consideration is potency - meaning the concentration or percentage of each compound typically found in hemp and cannabis plants.

Typical CBD levels: Most cannabis varieties contain CBD levels ranging from trace amounts to around 15-20% CBD by dry weight. However, specialized breeding can yield CBD-dominant strains exceeding 20% CBD.
Typical CBG levels: In most strains, CBG occurs in percentages below 1% by dry weight. But new CBG-specific breeding results in varietals yielding 10-15% CBG in some cases.

So in terms of natural potency, CBD has much higher total concentrations in typical cannabis compared to trace CBG levels. But potency comes down to the specific strain and cultivation methods. With specialty breeding, CBG can reach moderately high potencies as well.

However, when extracted and concentrated into oils and isolates, both CBD and CBG can reach very high purity levels of up to 99% through careful processing. So potency in the final products ultimately depends on the manufacturer’s methods.

In summary, while CBD dominates potency in most strains, advanced breeding and extraction technologies can result in oils and isolates with comparable purity and potency. But CBG has yet to reach the ultra-high potencies exceeding 50-60% that some CBD product manufacturers achieve.

Comparing Pharmacological Effects

Beyond just potency, pharmacological effects determine the true strength and benefits of cannabinoids. So which effects seem most potent based on research for CBD vs CBG?

Analgesic (Pain-Relieving) Effects

Both CBD and CBG exhibit the ability to temporarily reduce pain and inflammation through various mechanisms. However, studies find CBG has up to 10 times higher affinity for CB2 receptors involved in regulating pain compared to CBD. This suggests CBG may provide more powerful analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.

Neuroprotective Effects

CBG also appears more potent in terms of protecting nerve cells and brain function compared to CBD based on superior antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in regions like the hippocampus. However, CBD still provides robust neuroprotection as well.

Anxiolytic (Anti-Anxiety) Effects

For reducing anxiety, CBD has more direct clinical research demonstrating potent anti-anxiety benefits. However, CBG modulates similar brain signaling involved in anxiety. More studies comparing CBG and CBD head-to-head would further inform relative potency for anxiety relief.

Antimicrobial Effects

Both CBG and CBD exhibit antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and other antimicrobial properties. But thus far, studies consistently rate CBG as superior for inhibiting growth of harmful pathogens like MRSA when applied topically.

In summary, while CBD certainly provides powerful effects as well, CBG appears more pharmacologically potent in certain areas like analgesia, neuroprotection, and antimicrobial properties based on preliminary evidence thus far.

Comparing Safety and Side Effects

Safety and side effect risks are also important markers of strength. A cannabinoid can be highly potent yet still produce significant adverse effects. So which is safer in terms of potential downsides?

Human and animal studies report CBD is very well tolerated with few side effects at appropriate doses. Occasional side effects may include fatigue, diarrhea, and changes in appetite and weight.
Similarly, research shows CBG also has a highly favorable safety profile with minimal adverse effects documented. Some users report occasional tiredness, gastrointestinal distress, or dry mouth.

Overall, both CBD and CBG appear very safe for human consumption according to current data. Neither cannabinoid seems to convey high risks of side effects or overdose. Long-term studies are still needed, but most evidence suggests both are relatively low risk for healthy adults.

Determining Which Cannabinoid is "Stronger" Overall

Based on potency, pharmacological effects, and safety profiles analyzed here, can we conclude if CBG or CBD is stronger overall?

The answer is complicated. In certain areas, studies suggest CBG is more potent - particularly for reducing pain and inflammation, protecting the brain and nerves, and fighting harmful bacteria.

However, CBD has greater clinical research backing its effects for issues like anxiety, seizures, psychosis, nausea, and migraines. It also comprises a larger percentage of most cannabis plants.

Ultimately, it depends on what effects you are looking for. Both offer unique benefits that can be considered "strong" in different therapeutic contexts. For wide-ranging benefits, the two cannabinoids likely work best together thanks to the entourage effect.

Rather than comparing strengths or pitting them against each other, it may be most helpful to think of CBD and CBG as complementary compounds that can enhance one another's effects when combined thoughtfully.