CBG, cannabigerol, is the neutral cannabinoid formed when CBGA decarboxylates. In most plants it is a minor compound, typically under 1% w/w, because the synthases convert CBGA into THCA, CBDA or CBCA as fast as it is made. Plants that lack functional synthase activity can't do that conversion, so CBGA builds up instead.
In practice
"CBG cultivars" are plants bred for non-functional THCA and CBDA synthases, which leaves CBGA as the dominant cannabinoid; COAs from such plants can show CBGA well into double figures with near-zero THCA. In ordinary THC-type flower, a modest CBGA reading is normal and is sometimes higher in earlier-harvested material, since conversion is still underway. GenetixBay makes no claims about CBG's effects.
Total CBG ≈ CBG + 0.878 × CBGA (the factor differs slightly from 0.877 because CBGA has a slightly higher molecular weight).being reviewed
Don't confuse with
- CBGA: the acid form and the actual biosynthetic precursor.
- CBD: a different neutral cannabinoid, from CBDA.
- CBN: a THC breakdown product.
A cannabinoid is any compound that binds the body's cannabinoid receptors or shares the typical cannabis terpenophenolic structure; the plant-made ones are phytocannabinoids such as THCA and CBDA.CBGA (cannabigerolic acid) is the precursor cannabinoid that the plant converts into THCA, CBDA or CBCA, formed by joining olivetolic acid to geranyl pyrophosphate.THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) is the acid cannabinoid that drug-type cannabis makes in its trichomes; heat or time decarboxylates it into THC, losing about 12% of its mass.CBDA (cannabidiolic acid) is the acid cannabinoid made by CBDA synthase from CBGA; it dominates hemp-type and CBD-type cannabis and decarboxylates to CBD.Total THC is a calculated figure, Δ9-THC plus 0.877 × THCA, estimating the maximum THC a sample could yield after full decarboxylation.CBD (cannabidiol) is a non-intoxicating neutral cannabinoid formed when CBDA decarboxylates; hemp-type and CBD-dominant cannabis make it mainly as CBDA in their trichomes.CBN (cannabinol) is a cannabinoid formed mainly when THC or THCA oxidises after harvest, so high CBN readings usually signal age, heat, light or air exposure, not plant ripeness.THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the neutral, decarboxylated cannabinoid mainly responsible for cannabis's reported intoxicating effects; the living plant makes it almost entirely as THCA.THCA synthase is the trichome enzyme that converts CBGA into THCA; which alleles of its gene a plant carries largely decides whether it is THC-dominant.CBDA synthase is the trichome enzyme that converts CBGA into CBDA; it competes with THCA synthase, and its alleles largely decide whether a plant is CBD-dominant.The chemotype ratio is the balance of a plant's main cannabinoids, usually THC to CBD, classing plants as type I (THC-dominant), II (mixed), III (CBD-dominant), IV (CBG) or V (near-zero).
