Smoking or vaping CBD-rich hemp flower is rapidly becoming one of the most popular ways to use CBD. Inhaling CBD offers quick, intense effects, and CBD flower is one of the simplest and most natural types of CBD products on the market.
Recently, breeders have developed phenotypes of Cannabis sativa that contain high concentrations of cannabigerol (CBG) and low concentrations of every other cannabinoid.
While similar to CBD in certain ways, CBG is entirely unique, and inhaling this cannabinoid in flower form might provide impressive benefits.
What is CBD flower?
CBD flowers are buds from Cannabis sativa plants that have been bred to be high in CBD and low in THC. Every CBD product on the market ultimately comes from CBD flower, but in most cases, CBD-rich hemp is grown outdoors, and it often contains CBD concentrations under 10%.
It’s also possible to produce CBD flower using methods that result in high-potency, artisan buds that are designed to be smoked, not processed into extracts.
This type of CBD flower, also called “smokable hemp,” has exploded in popularity since 2019, and a select group of producers now offer manicured buds, high-potency pre-rolls, and even thick cigars that contain artisan-quality CBD flower.
While the effects of CBD are considerably more potent and immediate when this cannabinoid is inhaled in flower form, CBD flower remains non-intoxicating and non-addictive.
CBD flower is gaining popularity equally among veteran cannabis smokers, dedicated CBD consumers, and new entrants to the market who are on the hunt for the best ways to use CBD.
What is CBG flower?
CBG flower is essentially the same thing as CBD flower but with the dominant cannabinoids switched. Like CBD flower, CBG flower contains less than 0.3% THC, and certain hemp producers offer high-quality, artisan forms of CBG flower.
It took over 10 years to breed CBD flower to produce its current maximum concentration of approximately 25%. It will likely be just as long until CBG flower is available at similar potencies.
Currently, the most potent strains of CBG flower contain around 15% CBG, but that’s still plenty of potency to discover the benefits of cannabigerol for yourself.
Differences between CBD and CBG
From a chemical perspective, CBD and CBG are relatively similar. In fact, it’s possible to make the argument that CBG is similar to almost every other cannabinoid due to its origins.
CBG is the decarboxylated form of cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). This carboxylic acid turns into CBG when exposed to heat, but it can also transform into tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabichromenic acid (CBCA), or a variety of other cannabinoid precursors when exposed to certain enzymes.
Even though CBD and CBG have shared origins, that’s not to say these two cannabinoids are the same. In fact, CBD and CBG have remarkably distinct chemical structures, and they interact with the body in unique ways.
Research into CBD has primarily centered around this cannabinoid’s potential to prevent epilepsy, reduce chronic pain, and treat affect disorders like anxiety and depression. Studies into CBG, on the other hand, have examined this cannabinoid’s potential to relieve gastrointestinal conditions and offer antimicrobial benefits.
In terms of perceived effects, CBD and CBG each provide non-intoxicating, calming benefits. People who have smoked both cannabinoids, however, can note clear differences between their effects.
While CBD is strongly relaxing to the point of being almost sedative, CBG tends to provide a somewhat energetic state of mental calm.
Which type of hemp flower is right for you?
People who are attempting to treat specific illnesses or disorders might be better off choosing one particular type of hemp flower or another.
CBD flower, for instance, is remarkably popular among people with chronic pain or anxiety. Consumers are more likely to choose CBG flower, on the other hand, if they suffer from gastrointestinal conditions like irritable bowel disease (IBD) or Crohn’s disease.
For relatively healthy individuals who simply want to explore the full potential of the Cannabis sativa plant, it would be ideal to try both CBD flower and CBG flower.
As the more developed product, CBD flower offers incredible potency and variety. As a newcomer to the industry, however, CBG flower is an exotic option that the hemp community is only now starting to discover.
For a truly unique experience, try using CBD flower and CBG flower at the same time. Procure buds of both varieties, grind them together, and enjoy the power of the entourage effect as CBD and CBG blend in your body to provide boosted benefits.
