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What is CBG9 and what does it have to do with CBG? Effects, possible risks and CBG9 product offerings

What is CBG and what does it have in common with CBG9?

Cannabigerol (CBG) is one of the many cannabinoid compounds in cannabis and is nicknamed the "mother of all cannabinoids".  It is so called because without CBG, neither THC nor CBD would have been created. CBG is the first cannabinoid that the cannabis plant produces during the germination phase.

 

Text: What is CBG, and an illustration of the chemical structure of cannabigerol, with CBG9 being a derivative of CBG.

All cannabinoids start as CBGa, then gradually break down into THCa, CBDa and CBCa. These acidic forms of cannabinoids are then converted by heat or ultraviolet light into THC, CBD, CBC and other compounds.

 

Text: Cannabigerol A, CBGA, and the chemical structure of this cannabinoid, from which other cannabinoids are converted

Since CBGa is converted into other cannabinoids, adult plants contain only a tiny amount of CBG. And what does CBG have in common with CBG9 (CBG-9)?

CBG9 was introduced to the world as a variant of CBG. It is reported to act as a chemical precursor from which other cannabinoids such as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) are formed.

What is CBG9 and where does it come from?

CBG9 stands for cannabigerol-9. The 9 in the name indicates a specific variant that differs from the original compound in chemical structure and/or properties. The original compound is cannabigerol or CBG.

According to IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry), the official name of CBG9 is 2-[(2E)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienyl]-5-pentyl-benzene-1,3-diol.

 

Concept lab, scientist making CBG9 from CBD, beaker with CBG9 distillate

If you are asking where CBG9 came from, there is no clear answer at the moment. Some are inclined to believe that it is a phytocannabinoid naturally occurring in the cannabis plant and that it can be directly extracted from the plant. Others believe that it is a compound that scientists synthesise in the laboratory from other precursors such as CBD.

The available information suggests that CBG9, unlike other cannabinoids, does not crystallise, while CB9, which is a CBD derivative, has the same property. CBG9 can therefore be expected to be less susceptible to degradation and to have a longer shelf life. The fact that it does not form crystals makes it easier to process and, given its liquid form, it could have a higher bioavailability.

 

Lab where the scientist pours a liquid form of CBG9 distillate, as CBG9 does not crystallize

CBG tells us more about the effects of CBG9

CBG interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), acting through partial activation on CB1 and CB2 receptors. Similar to CBD, one study suggests it could affect sleep, mood and appetite, plus stimulate receptors responsible for pain and heat perception.

 

Infographics showing and describing where CB1 and CB2 receptors are located in the endocannabinoid system, which is likely to be affected by the cannabinoid CBG9

At the moment, the research on CBG is not as extensive as that on CBD, but studies to date suggest that it has promising therapeutic potential.

Experts suggest that CBG could have the following properties:

  • Neuroprotective
  • Antiparasitic
  • Antibacterial
  • dermatological (soothing effect for the skin)
  • Antifungal
  • reducing bladder contractions (positive effect of CBG on urinary tract problems)

Neither CBG nor the well-known CBD is psychoactive. Both cannabinoids help to improve overall well-being. Users mainly use them to relieve symptoms of pain, sleep problems or stress.

What research suggests about the therapeutic potential of CBG

  • In 2009, a study came out that suggested CBG reduces intraocular pressure glaucoma.
  • In a 2018 study, researchers suggested that CBG could be a promising compound that inhibits the growth of cancer cells (colon cancer and glioblastoma).
  • A 2021 study concluded that CBG shows the ability to reduce inflammation.
  • In 2022, a study suggested that acute administration of CBG lowers blood pressure in mice.

Research on rodents revealed that CBG stimulated the appetite of some mice and caused them to eat up to 2 times more food than usual.

Interesting but unexplored effects of CBG9

At the moment, the cooperation of CBG9 with ECS remains a subject of research. CBG9 is unlikely to be psychoactive or may have a mild psychoactive effect on some people comparable to HHC. However, for the time being there is a lack of data to confirm/disprove this information.

On Reddit, some users are already discussing their experiences with CBG9. For example, one of them said that CBG9 felt like a psychedelic variant of CBG. Uplifting, energizing with a slight "stoned" feeling.

Another user described his experience as feeling nothing at all after taking CBG9 gummies, and with pre-rolls (pre-packaged joints) he felt like he was smoking large amounts of leaves from regular cannabis.

The evidence to date suggests that derivatives of cannabinoids generally have a similar type of effect to their precursors (parent compounds) but higher potency.

In practice, this means that the cannabinoid H4CBD, for example, acts as a 'boosted' version of CBD. In view of this theory, the effects of CBG9 are therefore expected to be similar to those of CBG, but probably more intense.

These are the effects:

  • Neuroprotective
  • Antibacterial
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Analgesic

However, no study has yet confirmed the properties attributed to CBG9.

Possible side effects of CBG9

There are currently no studies evaluating the possible side effects of CBG9.

Research on CBG to date suggests that it is a well-tolerated substance, similar to CBD. However, further research is needed to confirm this information.

Side effects are especially likely at high doses. Some individuals may experience unpleasant manifestations such as:

  • dry mouth
  • Nausea
  • Fatigue
  • diarrhea

 

A woman is sitting on a couch and experiencing nausea, which may be a side effect of CBG9

The intensity of these effects will depend on the health status, body proportions, immunity, sensitivity, tolerance and age of the user, as well as the dose and efficacy of the product.

Possible additional risks

Experts generally accept the view that natural cannabinoids are safe for medical and recreational use. However, there is some concern that (semi)synthetic cannabinoids may be contaminated with heavy metals or other undesirable and potentially dangerous substances. Experts point out that at the moment it is often not possible to document the purity and safety of the products.

Related to this is the complex legislation regarding cannabinoids worldwide. The current situation is that until cannabinoids and their derivatives are regulated, it remains entirely up to users to assess the potential risks and benefits of these substances.

And as these compounds are currently unregulated and generally in a 'grey legal zone', there is a certain risk that products containing potentially harmful substances will enter the market.

 

Scientist verifying the quality of CBG9 products in the lab

For this reason, it is important to always check the composition of the product and whether it contains unsuitable additives, fillers and toxins. If you want to buy a cannabis product, always request a third-party lab analysis and rely on trusted and vetted companies.

For some vendors, you can directly find a "Certificate of Analysis" (COA) for each product, if it is not available, don't delay and ask for one.

CBG9 product range and safety

CBG9 products commonly available on the market include:

 

Canntropy CBG9 liquid Marionberry kush in 85% CBG9 concentration

As we have already discussed, the information about the effects of CBG9 is based on the knowledge about CBG. Currently, there is a lack of studies to evaluate how CBG9 works and whether the products are safe.

In the absence of clinical studies, it cannot yet be confirmed with certainty that the use of CBG9 is risk-free, as every substance naturally carries a risk of side effects.

Conclusion: is CBG9 a (semi)synthetic cannabinoid?

It is stated that CBG9 is a variant of CBG. There are currently differing opinions as to whether or not it is actually found in the cannabis plant.

If CBG9 is present in the cannabis plant, it is likely to be present only in trace concentrations, so commercially available products will be produced, as with other minor cannabinoids (e.g. HHC, THCB, THCJD), from more readily available precursors such as CBD.

This brings us to the question of whether or not CBG9 is a (semi)synthetic cannabinoid. As direct extraction from cannabis would not only be economically challenging but also would not cover commercial production, CBG9 is derived from other cannabinoids and is therefore referred to as a (semi)synthetic cannabinoid.

 

Author: Buds for Buddies

 

   

Photo: ChatGPT, Shutterstock

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