CBD has been in the news consistently over the past few years and can be considered almost a household name now. The shift has begun to other cannabinoids now, like CBN (cannabinol), CBC (cannabichromene), and CBG (cannabigerol). We know what CBD Isolate is, but what is Cannabigerol Isolate?
The market is full of different forms of cannabis, but the purest form comes in a crystallized powder known as Isolate. Cannabigerol Isolate is a 99% pure compound that has been isolated from CBG that can be added to carrier oils, food, and other items.
In this article, we'll go over:
- What CBG is
- What CBG Isolate is
- How CBG Isolate is extracted
- How to use Cannabigerol Isolate
- Where to buy CBG Isolate
Cannabigerol is a cannabinoid that has not been studied extensively. However, it is known to be non-psychoactive. It can have therapeutic effects for those looking for relief from physical pain or anxiety without the high associated THC.
What is CBG?
Israeli Professor Raphael Mechoulam dedicated his life to medical cannabis research. He is credited with discovering CBG, specifically CBGA - the acid form of CBG - in the 1960s. Mechoulam and his partner, Yehiel Gaoni, were able to isolate cannabigerol from whole-plant extracts of cannabis plants. This would prove to be a major breakthrough in cannabinoid research.
Cannabigerol is one of over 100 different identified cannabinoids and has been shown to have many medical benefits such as relief of chronic pain, arthritis, and anxiety. The "mother of all cannabinoids" is CBGA (cannabigerolic acid), which can be found in raw cannabis plants. It’s the precursor to all other cannabinoids and has since been rightfully dubbed as such.
CBGA breaks down into three main cannabinoids: tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolic-acid (CBDA), and cannabichromenic-acid (CBCA). These compounds will shed their carboxyl group once exposed to heat or light in a process known as decarboxylation; THCA becomes THC, CBCA becomes CBC, and CBDA becomes CBD. These cannabinoids are now in what is known as their active forms.
Because these cannabinoids stem directly from CBG, they share many of the same qualities and properties. Even though THC technically comes from CBG, it is a non-psychoactive compound; it does not contain THC or get you high.
What is CBG Isolate?
Cannabinoid isolation typically involves purifying cannabinoids from other compounds like terpenes, waxes and chlorophylls to create an end product with only one type of cannabinoid molecule.
To make CBG Isolate, CBG is first extracted from hemp plants. This extract is then refined and processed into the purest form of cannabigerol available on the market, cannabigerol isolate. The final product, a white crystalline powder over 99% purity, can then be added to a carrier oil to make CBG oil or used in other ways to make different cannabinoid-rich products.
CBG Isolate contains only the CBG cannabinoid; no other cannabinoids, terpenes or plant matter is present. It is odourless and tasteless, and as such, can be added to many different cannabinoid products without affecting the final flavour or scent.
How is Cannabigerol Isolate Extracted?
CO2 extraction is the industry standard way to extract CBG, but it's expensive and industrial. CO2 gets pumped into a chamber with pressurized at 75psi as it cools down to reach -56C degrees. This method yields a pure final product of very high quality.
CO2 becomes a supercritical fluid at this stage in the process, which means it’s somewhere between being liquid and gas. The CO2 is then passed through an enclosed chamber where cannabinoids and terpenes are extracted by “solvent-like” properties of pressure - without destroying them! This extraction method is called Supercritical CO2 Extraction (SCOE). There's also Subcritical CO2 Extraction that uses lower pressures and less expensive machinery, but the yields are also much smaller.
Ethanol extraction is a more cost-efficient but equally effective method of extracting the cannabinoids from hemp plants. Ethanol extraction involves applying ethanol directly to the plant material to extract the cannabinoids. The ethanol is then commonly evaporated at a later date, leaving no solvent behind. While there is much debate on the safety of using ethanol solvents to extract cannabinoids, it has been proven to be a safe and effective method.
The only downside to ethanol extraction of cannabigerol Isolate is that it often extracts chlorophyll. This can lead to a bitter-tasting end product and is frequently stripped out in a different process.
Benefits of Cannabigerol Isolate
CBG has been found through research to have many benefits and properties that are being studied in the cannabis community.
A major discovery about CBG is its ability to inhibit cancer cells from spreading throughout the body, while inducing cancer cell death. There are still many studies being done on this cannabinoid, but some believe it could even be more effective than CBD and THC at fighting cancer because of how little CBG needs to be used to work effectively.
Research suggests that CBG is neuroprotective and an antioxidant and antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory; this cannabinoid might also help with gastrointestinal disorders as Crohn's disease or IBD. CBG could be beneficial to those who have cancer by reducing nausea or providing relief from arthritis pain. Still, more research needs to be done before fully understanding all that it can potentially do.
Some studies point to CBG as a potential treatment for depression as well. It's also believed that it can boost the production of the endocannabinoid Anandamide and mimic SSRI medications. Anandamide naturally increases dopamine levels and regulates certain functions like appetite, mood, and sleep cycles.
How to use Cannabigerol Isolate
CBG Isolate is a concentrated form of CBD that can be ingested directly, vaped or sprinkled into food and beverages. It also has many cosmetic uses, such as lotions and creams.
You can create your own cannabinoid oils by adding CBG Isolate to a carrier oil, or make CBG gummies at home. Because it doesn't have any flavour or scent, you can fully customize the end product.
Where to buy CBG Isolate in Canada
Because CBG Isolate is a relatively new product to hit the Canadian market, there are only a few shops right now that are carrying it. Check out this post here for more detailed information on where to buy CBG oil and CBG Isolate in Canada.
Final thoughts on Cannabigerol Isolate
CBG is a cannabinoid that we are just starting to research and understanding it fully is going to take some time.
Early studies have shown promising results in its applications for various conditions such as anxiety and arthritis pain, but more research is needed. As for its side effects and interactions with medication, not much has been determined yet.
Stay tuned for future articles, where we will go more in depth on CBG as more information about it becomes available.
Great read!
Thanks!
Oh, this is so helpful! I bought some a bit ago and it’s just been sitting in my cabinet. Thanks!
Keep your eyes peeled, we’ll be writing about how to make your own products at home with it soon!