CBG: What It Is, Effects and Safety | PatientsCann UK Skip to main content Back to Cannabinoids Guide CBG CBG cannabigerol, “the mother cannabinoid” pronounced: kan-uh-bih-JER-ol The “mother cannabinoid” – the plant makes everything else from its acid form. Neutral cannabinoidFormula: C21H32O2Intoxicating: No TypeNeutral FormulaC21H32O2 IntoxicatingNo Key focusFocus & gut Cannabigerol · 316.5 g/mol The molecule Chemical structure This is the accurate skeletal structure of CBG, drawn from PubChem data. Each corner and line-end is a carbon atom, and the red O marks oxygen. Its formula is C21H32O2 and it weighs 316.5 g/mol. FocusAnti-bacterialGut supportAnti-inflammatory About What is CBG? Cannabigerol, or CBG, is often called the “mother cannabinoid”. That is because its acid form, CBGA, is the raw material the plant uses to build almost every other cannabinoid. Most plants turn nearly all of their CBGA into other things, so mature flower usually contains only a little CBG. To get more CBG, growers harvest some plants early, or breed special CBG-rich varieties. Like CBD, CBG does not make you high. In the body How CBG Works CBG binds both the CB1 and CB2 receptors, but only weakly, which is why it is not intoxicating. It also acts on other targets, including alpha-2 adrenoceptors, which are involved in alertness, and serotonin receptors. Early research, still mostly in the lab and in animals, is looking at CBG for inflammatory bowel disease, for protecting nerve cells, for mood, and as an antibacterial. Human studies are still limited, so its benefits are not yet proven. Receptor snapshot Where CBG Acts The endocannabinoid system has two main receptors. Here is how strongly CBG acts on each. CB1Brain & nervous systemPartial Binds CB1 weakly, so it is not intoxicating. CB2Immune system & bodyPartial Binds CB2 weakly too. Beyond CB1 and CB2: Also acts on alpha-2 adrenoceptors and blocks 5-HT1A serotonin receptors. In the plant How CBG is Made CBG comes from CBGA, the first cannabinoid acid the plant makes, by joining a molecule called olivetolic acid with a terpene building block. Any CBGA the plant does not turn into THCA, CBDA or CBCA can be heated to become CBG. This is why CBG sits at the very start of the cannabinoid family tree. Comes fromCBGA→ add heat →CBG Good to know Safety and Side Effects CBG appears to be well tolerated in the small amount of research done so far, with few reported side effects. Because studies in people are limited, its long-term safety is not fully known. As with any cannabinoid, tell your prescriber before adding CBG, especially if you take other medicines. Questions CBG: Common Questions Why is CBG called the mother cannabinoid? Because its acid form, CBGA, is the raw material the cannabis plant uses to build the other cannabinoids. Enzymes turn CBGA into THCA, CBDA and CBCA, which then become THC, CBD and CBC. Is CBG intoxicating? No. CBG binds the CB1 receptor only weakly, so it does not cause a high. PreviousCBD NextCBN Back to full Cannabinoids Guide Important: This page is for education only. It is not medical advice. Cannabinoid research is still developing, and many studies have been done in cells or animals rather than people. Always speak to your prescriber before changing your treatment. PatientsCann UK does not recommend any specific cannabis product. References Nachnani, R., Raup-Konsavage, W.M. and Vrana, K.E. (2021) ‘The pharmacological case for cannabigerol’, Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 376(2), pp. 204-212. doi: 10.1124/jpet.120.000340. Izzo, A.A., Borrelli, F., Capasso, R., Di Marzo, V. and Mechoulam, R. (2009) ‘Non-psychotropic plant cannabinoids: new therapeutic opportunities from an ancient herb’, Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 30(10), pp. 515-527. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2009.07.006. Morales, P., Hurst, D.P. and Reggio, P.H. (2017) ‘Molecular targets of the phytocannabinoids: a complex picture’, Progress in the Chemistry of Organic Natural Products, 103, pp. 103-131. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-45541-9_4. National Center for Biotechnology Information (2025) PubChem Compound Database. Bethesda: U.S. National Library of Medicine. Available at: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (Accessed: 29 July 2026).
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