Cannabigerol, or CBG, is quickly becoming a frequently talked about cannabinoid in the world of cannabis wellness! While most cannabis consumers are familiar with CBD and THC, more and more people are starting to turn their awareness to other novel cannabinoids found within the cannabis plant, including CBG.

CBG is interesting for many reasons, including its role in the development of other cannabinoids. It turns out that all cannabinoids originate from the acidic form of CBG, called CBGA. Over time, a chemical process occurs in the plant and the CBGA matures into other acidic cannabinoids such as CBDA, THCA, and more. These are the cannabinoids that, when combusted (smoked) or decarboxylated in other ways, provide the therapeutic benefits of cannabis that we know and love.

CBG: Healing Without Intoxication

CBG is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid, which means it won’t get you high. This factor alone makes the cannabinoid especially viable for treatment, as preliminary evidence has also told us that CBG potentially has uplifting effects on mood, among other health benefits. In fact, humans have been using CBG for anxiety  as medicine for a very long time.

Interestingly, CBG can be extracted from an plant called woolly umbrella helichrysum (Helichrysum umbraculigerum), and  healers have historically used it to treat pain and insomnia. This example reaffirms the known notion that cannabinoids are found in plants other than cannabis and that they provide medical value. Although CBG is getting its moment in the spotlight today, it has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years.

Recently, CBG has received specific attention for its therapeutic potential. Anecdotal experience and science have pointed to the fact that CBG for anxiety  may be advantageous for the following:

• Increasing mental acuity and neuroprotection
• Increasing appetite
• Helping to achieve deep rest and good sleep
• Reducing seizures
• Possibly reducing many types of cancers, notably glioblastoma
• Reducing pain

If you’re interested in specifically exploring the use of CBG to mitigate pain, check out this article. In this article, we are going to explore CBG’s potential to improve mood and assist with the mitigation of anxiety and depression. If this sounds like a result you’ve been seeking through cannabis medicine, read on!

CBG’s Impacts on Anandamide, Dopamine, and Mood

Like many of its sister cannabinoids, it turns out that CBG can have an impact on our brain’s production and retention of neurotransmitters. Notably, many articles are reporting that CBG may have an impact on dopamine production through its ability to regulate the endocannabinoid system and maintain levels of anandamide in the brain.

Anandamide, one of the endocannabinoids that is made naturally in the body, is associated with bliss and a state of overall well-being. Our brains are flooded with anandamide when we exercise and move our bodies. If you’ve ever felt the “runner’s high,” or simply felt really good after a workout, that’s anandamide doing its thing!