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CBD vs CBG — it’s a confusing debate.

If you keep hearing about all of these different cannabinoids but have no idea what sets them apart, then you’ve come to the right place. Today, we’ll take a look at two of the most commonly talked about cannabinoids out there: CBD and CBG.

Both cannabinoids are known to have a variety of potential benefits, some of which are similar and some of which are different. What makes CBD and CBG  alike and distinct is exactly what we are here to figure out today.

We’re going to talk about how these cannabinoids make you feel, what potential benefits they have, their pros and cons, and much more. By the end of today’s article, you should be a total expert on both CBD and CBG and what sets them apart from each other.

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Key Takeaways

• CBD, or cannabidiol, is a cannabinoid that we all know and love due to the wide variety of potential benefits it may offer.
• CBG, or cannabigerol, is a minor cannabinoid that is quickly gaining popularity in the hemp and cannabis communities. It likely won’t get you high, but it also has a wide variety of potential benefits.
• The bottom line in the CBD vs CBG debate is they are more alike than different

What is CBD?

CBD stands for cannabidiol, and this is one of the two major cannabinoids found in cannabis, with the other one being THC. It’s known as a major cannabinoid because it can be present in fairly substantial quantities.

CBD is not overtly intoxicating, and for most people, it will not induce a high. However, it does have a variety of potential medical benefits that we are about and take a look at. CBD may interact with both the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the human body’s endocannabinoid system, therefore producing a wide variety of effects.

How Does CBD Make You Feel?

Generally speaking, if you take CBD, it should help you feel a bit calmer and more mellow. You will also tend to feel more comfortable in general and potentially experience less pain as well.

It’s not something that will produce overwhelming psychoactive effects, but it should help you feel a bit mellower in general.

As you’ll see below, CBD may be able to help release pain, anxiety, stress, and more. These benefits come together to allow you to live a much more comfortable and pain-free life.

Does CBD Get You High?

No, usually, CBD does not get you high. This is not an overtly intoxicating or psychoactive compound. However, the effects of CBD do boil down to the tolerance of the person consuming it. For people with extremely low tolerances, CBD can indeed induce a very mild high. It will not alter your state of mind significantly, impair your cognitive skills, or impair your motor skills. But it will still be there. It may have a variety of medical benefits both for the mind and body, but it’s not going to get you high like THC does.

Benefits of CBD

CBD does have a variety of potential benefits, so let’s take a quick look at what these might be.

CBD for Stress and Anxiety

CBD is well known for being a potential reliever of both anxiety and stress. CBD may be able to affect hormone levels in the brain, specifically serotonin and dopamine, which are known to relieve feelings of anxiety.

These are the same chemicals that are released when you exercise, therefore producing the so-called runners high. 

These brain chemicals produce sensations of elation and euphoria, or in other words, they just make you feel a whole lot better. CBD may also be able to help reduce cortisol levels in the brain, which indirectly relates to lowered stress levels.

CBD for Sleep

CBD may be able to help calm you down, regulate your mood, and make you feel a bit mellower. All of this combined may also be able to help you get a good night’s sleep. While CBD is not a sedative in nature, it can produce a beneficial mental state that will allow you to get good sleep.

CBD for Pain

Another common use of CBD is for pain, specifically as far as being an analgesic painkiller and an anti-inflammatory agent is concerned. CBD can potentially help to block pain signals from reaching your brain, and it may be able to help reduce inflammation in your body.

CBD vs CBG Common Uses

What is interesting about both CBG and CBD is that they do share some common benefits or uses, mainly in the reduction of anxiety, as a sleep aid, and as a pain reliever. Both may also be anti-inflammatory in nature.

However, one common difference here is that CBD generally reduces appetite, whereas CBG typically increases appetite. 

This means that CBG generally makes people hungry, whereas CBD does not. CBG is also commonly used to help reduce inflammation in the gut and to allow for better gastrointestinal health in general.

CBD vs CBG Comparing Side Effects

CBD may occasionally cause mild side effects such as reduced appetite, diarrhea, dry mouth, and, in very rare conditions, fatigue and drowsiness. CBD may also interact negatively with other medications. CBG has fairly similar side effects, including dry mouth, dry eyes, hunger, and sleepiness.

The Effects of CBD

Overall, CBD may have some very beneficial effects on the human mind and body. It may be able to help relieve pain and inflammation, relieve stress, anxiety, and more, and it may be able to help you get a good night’s sleep.

It may even be able to help reduce nausea and vomiting due to its interaction with the serotonin receptors in your brain. There are also other potential benefits it may have. That said, it won’t have any psychoactive or intoxicating effects for most people, so there’s a good chance you’re not going to get high.

Pros & Cons of CBD

Just like anything out there, CBD does have its own pros and cons, so let’s take a quick look.

Pros

•       CBD may help regulate your mood and make you feel better mentally.
•       CBD may be able to help reduce stress.
•       CBD could help you get a good night’s sleep.
•       CBD may help reduce nausea and vomiting.
•       CBD may act as a painkiller and an anti-inflammatory agent.
•       You can potentially get all of these benefits from CBD without getting overly high.
•       CBD is totally legal at a federal level as long as it is hemp-derived.
•       The side effects of CBD tend to be fairly minor.

Cons

•       CBD may have a negative interaction with other medications.
•       CBD may have some very mild side effects, mainly dry mouth, diarrhea, and reduced appetite.

Can You Smoke CBD?  

One of the best ways to get your fix of CBD is by smoking it. There are plenty of CBD flowers out there for you to choose from, so let’s take a look at a few good options.

Botany Farms Blueberry Kush

This Blueberry Kush from Botany Farms has a really nice flavor, with a profile including pine, grape, and blueberry. It’s a really smooth smoke with a pleasant taste all around. It features well over 14% CBD, which is fairly potent, So you’ll definitely be able to reap some benefits from it. It has bright orange hairs and frosty white trichomes that look really attractive.

Dad Grass Rolls & Bowls Flower Dad Stash

If you’re interested in keeping your fondness for CBD discreet, this is probably the best CBD flower you can buy. Dad Grass Rolls and Bowls is a CBD hemp flower that is hidden inside a tin of dog biscuits. It’s just a really cool way to stash the empty flower. It’s all about mailing you out without causing any paranoia.

Botany Farms Strawberry Banana Kush Pre-Roll

If you like some really fruity hemp strains but you don’t want to roll your own joints, these Strawberry Banana Kush Pre-Rolls from Botany Farms might be right for you. They contain a whole lot of CBD, so they have many potential benefits, but they won’t actually get you super high. Between the beneficial effects and the smooth flavor, you can’t go wrong.

Can You Eat CBD?

Yes, CBD can be ingested orally as well. Although it may take a bit longer to work, it should also last a lot longer. There are plenty of awesome CBD edibles and gummies out there, so let’s take a quick look at what these might be.

Batch CBD Gummies

Here we have some really nice CBD gummies from a trusted brand name. Batch CBD is one of the most highly trusted brand names in the industry. Their gummies come with 30 pieces per package, each of which has 25 milligrams of CBD, for a total of 750 milligrams per package. 

They have quite an enjoyable flavor and should definitely help mellow you out. They are made without any genetically modified organisms, and they’re made out of 100% organic Wisconsin-grown hemp. They’ve also been third-party tested. 

Botany Farms Blue Raspberry CBD Gummies

If you want a whole lot of CBD and you like the flavor of blue raspberry, then these hemp gummies from Botany Farms might be right for you. Here you got a total of 12 gummies, each with 25 milligrams of CBD, for a total of 300 milligrams in the package. 

Most people really love the sour blue raspberry flavor. Keep in mind that these gummies are dairy-free, gluten-free, and 100% vegan, and they don’t even contain any high-fructose corn syrup either. All products have been third-party tested to ensure that they fall within all legal limits.

Green Roads CBD Gummy Bears

Here we have some low-potency CBD gummy bears that are ideal for beginners. You get 30 pieces per package, each of which has 10 milligrams, for a total of 300 milligrams of CBD. These gummies are made with USA-grown hemp and are pharmacist formulated. 

They are also gluten-free and tested by an independent laboratory. They feature a variety of great flavors, including orange, green apple, lemon, cherry, and blue raspberry. If these aren’t strong enough for you, check out this list of some of the strongest CBD gummies out there.

What is CBG?

Now it’s time to focus on the CBG cannabinoid in the CBD vs CBG debate.

CBG stands for cannabigerol, and it’s often known as the mother of cannabinoids because there are many other cannabinoids that are derived from it. 

CBG is generally known as a minor cannabinoid because it’s usually not present in high quantities, usually 1% or under. CBG is also not overtly intoxicating, but it also has various potential benefits.

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How Does CBG Make You Feel?

Similar to CBD, CBG may be able to help regulate your mood and make you feel better mentally. It could have the ability to act as an antidepressant, reduce anxiety, and act as a stress reliever. 

CBG may also help make you feel more comfortable in the sense that it may be able to help relieve pain. In general, it should make you feel very similar to CBD, just a lot more comfortable, calmer, and pain-free. However, it might also make you feel a bit hungry and sleepy.

Does CBG Get You High?

CBG is not an overtly psychoactive or intoxicating compound. It should not affect your cognitive abilities or motor skills or impair you in any way. This is a good thing because it allows you to reap a wide variety of potential without putting you down for the count.

The Benefits of CBG

Just like we did for CBD, let’s now take a look at the various potential benefits of CBG.

CBG for Pain

CBG is thought to be very effective at reducing the signals of inflammation and pain from the body to the brain. It may be able to help reduce the concentration of lipids that control the inflammatory response and pain in your brain. Therefore, although CBD might not actually reduce inflammation, it will reduce your perception of it.

CBG for Anxiety

CBG may also interact with the receptors in your brain, which therefore change the way neurotransmitters act. In essence, it affects various neurotransmitters and hormones released by your brain that control mood, which ultimately helps to promote relaxation and reduce anxiety.

CBG for Sleep

Because you feel much calmer, CBG may also be able to help you get a good night’s sleep. Furthermore, CBG may also act as a very mild sedative, helping you get a good night’s sleep.

CBG for ADHD

CBG produces stimulating and motivating effects on the mind, which could, in turn, help to improve concentration and focus. If CBG has the potential ability to improve concentration and focus, it may be able to help people suffering from ADHD, an attention deficit disorder.

CBG for Appetite Stimulation

CBG may also be able to help reduce nausea while simultaneously increasing the amount of hunger hormones the body produces, therefore stimulating appetite.

The Effects of CBG

As you can see, CBG has a wide variety of potential effects or benefits for the human body and mind. It could help make you more focused and concentrated, stimulate your appetite, and take away pain and anxiety. 

That said, it’s not overtly intoxicating or psychoactive in any way, which many people do appreciate. This allows you to reap a wide variety of benefits without having to be intoxicated.

Pros & Cons of CBG

Just like CBD, CBG also has a variety of advantages and disadvantages that need to be considered.

Pros

•       CBG may help reduce nausea and stimulate appetite.
•       CBG may be able to help regulate your mood and make you feel happier.
•       CBG may act as a mild sedative and help put you to sleep.
•       CBG may block pain and inflammation signals from getting to your brain.
•       The side effects from CBG are generally fairly mild if there are any at all.
•       According to the 2018 Farm Bill, CBG is also totally legal as long it’s derived from hemp.
•       There are many potential benefits to reap from CBG, all without having to get overtly high.

Cons

•       CBG may cause some sleepiness, which may not be wanted at times.
•       CBG may also cause dry mouth, dry eyes, and induce hunger.
•       CBG will likely not get you high, which for some people is not a good thing.
•       There are some cases where high doses of CBG gummies may induce anxiety.

Can You Smoke CBG?

The cool part of exploring CBD vs CBG is the discovery that you can smoke both compounds thanks to their prevalence in different hemp strains.

There are plenty of hemp strains that naturally contain CBG. You can also purchase hemp flower infused with CBG extract.

Botany Farms Lemon Diesel CBG

Botany Farms always has great products, such as this Lemon Diesel CBG strain. This is a sativa, and it contains roughly 12% CBG, which is quite a bit. This sativa-dominant strain features notes of cinnamon, lemon peels, and fresh flowers. This is a great daytime strain to consider.

Can You Eat CBG?

If you don’t want to put your lungs at risk at all, then eating CBG is another good option. You can get it in the form of oils, concentrates, and edibles, too, so let’s take a quick look.

FAB CBD CBG Oil

Here we have some really neat full-spectrum CBG oil complete with a whopping 2400 milligrams of cannabinoids. It features a one-to-one ratio of CBG and CBD, therefore providing you with the best of both worlds. You don’t even have to choose! 

Here, you can choose from natural, mint, or citrus flavors. It’s been easy to consume a product that can help relieve some nausea, pain, inflammation, anxiety, and more. FAB CBD is actually one of our favorite brands out there.

NuLeaf Full Spectrum CBG Tincture

This tincture from the NuLeaf brand name features a total of 900 milligrams of CBG per bottle or 30 milligrams per serving. It also comes in two other potencies, in 300 milligrams and an 1800 milligram option. It is made with 100% totally natural and organic hemp, it doesn’t contain any harmful substances, and it has been third-party tested to ensure this.

Lazarus Naturals High Potency Isolate

Here we have a super high quality and high potency CBG isolate tincture that has a whopping 3000 milligrams per bottle. You can choose a smaller bottle with just 1500 milligrams of CBG as well. It is totally flavorless, which many people enjoy, yet it still comes with many potential benefits. This is one of our very favorite products on the list.

CBD vs CBG vs CBN

We already looked at CBD and CBG, but CBN is another cannabinoid worth considering, as it is quite similar. Indeed, CBN, CBD, and CBD do share many of the same qualities. CBN may also be able to help relieve some pain and act as a sleep aid.

It may also be an anti-inflammatory. However, the biggest difference here is that CBN is mildly psychoactive. Although it won’t get you super high, if you take enough of it, you’ll definitely feel it a little bit. It may produce a mild head and body high.

Is CBD and CBG Legal?

According to the 2018 Farm Bill, CBD and CBG should be totally legal at a federal level as long as they are derived from the hemp plant, and any products do not contain more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC. There are currently no indications that either of these are illegal for any reason.

Where to Buy CBD and CBG Products Online

Some of the best places to buy both CBD and CBG online include Botany Farms, NuLeaf, FAB CBD, Lazarus Naturals, Green Roads, and Batch CBD.

CBD vs CBG: Frequently Asked Questions

Before we end things for today, let’s take a quick look at your most frequently asked questions about CBD vs CBG.

How Much CBD and CBG Should I Take?

For beginners, we recommend starting with no more than 5 milligrams or 10 milligrams of both CBD and CBG at the most.

How Long Do CBD and CBG Stay in Your System?

Both CBG and CBD may stay in your system for up to two weeks after the last time it was taken. There are cases of very heavy use where it may be detectable for up to a month.

What is the Best Way to Take CBD and CBG?

Most people would agree that the best way to take CBD and CBG is in an edible format because it generally produces the strongest effects. However, many people also like smoking or vaping it.

Are There Any Potential Side Effects of Taking CBD and CBG?

Besides some dry eyes, dry mouth, a bit of sleepiness, and on occasion, diarrhea, there really aren’t any major or severe side effects of taking CBG and CBD.

What is the Difference Between CBG and CBD?

The biggest difference is that CBG is only a minor cannabinoid, whereas CBD is a major cannabinoid. These two cannabinoids also have slightly different effects.

How Do CBG and CBD Interact with the Body?

Both CBG and CBD interact with the endocannabinoid receptors in your body to produce a wide variety of potential effects and benefits, as we have discussed today.

CBD vs CBG: Final Thoughts

CBD and CBG are popular cannabinoids that offer a wide range of potential benefits without overt psychoactivity. Both compounds are legal as long as they come from hemp and are both easy to incorporate into your wellness regiments. While they may be different in certain ways, the bottom line is they have more in common than people may think.

Hearst Newspapers participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may earn a commission when you click links in this content. Our professional curators independently research and recommend products and services, with no newsroom involvement. Merchants can pay for a sponsored listing and may choose to rewrite their summary. When that happens, we label the listing as “Sponsored” and highlight it in grey to differentiate the merchant-provided content from our writing.