CBC vs. CBG: Differences, Benefits & Comparison

Cannabichromene (CBC) and cannabigerol (CBG) are both naturally-occurring cannabinoids in the cannabis sativa plant. CBC creates few to no mental effects but tends to be physically relaxing, while CBG is known for its noticeably energizing and uplifting mental properties and physically relaxing benefits. 

In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of CBC and CBG and talk about how the two cannabinoids compare for use with anxiety and pain. We’ll also look at how CBC and CBG compare to CBN. 

What Is CBC?

Cannabichromene (CBC) is one of more than 100 naturally occurring cannabinoids found in the cannabis sativa plant (hemp is a federally legal variant of cannabis sativa containing less than 0.3% THC). 

Unlike THC, CBG is non-psychoactive and won’t produce a high effect. In fact, anecdotal evidence suggests CBC has fewer mental effects than most other commonly-taken cannabinoids, such as THC, CBG, CBN, or CBD. 

Instead, it renders benefits by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system in other ways.

Research suggests CBC may have therapeutic potential for use cases like inflammation, pain, and brain health.

What Is CBG?

Cannabigerol (CBG) is one of more than 100+ naturally occurring cannabinoids in the cannabis sativa plant.

While CBG is non-psychoactive, it tends to render noticeable feelings of mental energy, clearheadedness, and focus by interacting with the CB1 receptors in the endocannabinoid system.

Research suggests CBG has a variety of potential therapeutic benefits; it’s been studied for pain, inflammation, anxiety, and many other use cases.

Benefits of CBC

Research suggests CBC may have therapeutic potential for the following use cases:

• Pain and Inflammation: In a 2010 study, CBC expressed significant anti-inflammatory properties, which increased when it was combined with THC [1]. In another study looking at the analgesic (pain-reducing) properties of CBC and CBG on rats, CBC demonstrated these properties to a significant degree [2].
• Brain Cells: In a 2013 study on mice, CBC had a positive effect on neural stem progenitor cells (NSPCs), a cell essential to healthy brain function [3]. NSPCs became more viable when in the presence of CBC, indicating CBC may promote brain homeostasis.
• Acne: Research on CBC for acne found that it exhibited strong anti-inflammatory properties while also suppressing excessive lipid production in sebaceous glands [4]. 
• Depression: A study exploring the entourage effect found that CBC, when combined with THC and CBD, produced antidepressant-like effects [5].
• Cancer: A 2006 study looking at the effects of cannabinoids on cancer growth found that CBC was the third-most potent (after CBD and CBG) at inhibiting cancer cell growth [6].

It is important to mention that, while early research on CBC is promising, it’s not an FDA-approved treatment for any condition and is not intended as a cure, treatment, or prevention for any disease.

Benefits of CBG

Research suggests CBG may have therapeutic potential for the following use cases:

• Inflammation & pain: A 2021 research review found that a combination of CBD and CBG may have inflammation-reducing effects [7]. 
• Weight loss: A 2021 study found that CBG may reduce appetite and induce weight loss by blocking the CB1 receptors in the endocannabinoid system [8].
• Skin health: A 2022 study looked at the topical effects of CBG on skin irritation in 20 people. The researchers found that CBG caused improvements in the amount of transepidermal water loss and appearance of redness, both of which occurred less with CBG compared to a placebo [9].
• Anxiety: Recent research suggests CBG may promote mental relaxation and potentially offer support for those with anxiety. A 2024 study found that people who took a 20mg dose of CBG showed fewer signs of anxiety than people who took a placebo [10].
• Stomach & GI health: A 2016 study found that the activation of both CB1 and CB2 receptors (which CBG does) in the endocannabinoid system has beneficial effects on inflammation and pain in the stomach and intestines [11]. 
• Energy & focus: In a 2021 survey, 70.8% of respondents with ADHD saw an improvement in their condition after using products containing a mix of CBG and CBD [12].
• Neurological health: CBG has been studied for use with Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease, two conditions that erode the function of the nervous system and brain. Research suggests CBG may slow the progression of these diseases [13].
• Appetite: A 2016 study concluded that CBG may have therapeutic potential for conditions involving malnutrition due to its appetite-stimulating properties [14]. 
• Eye health: A study found that CBG has vasodilating properties, meaning it may promote ocular blood flow, which keeps the eyes healthy and has a role in minimizing damage to the optic nerve [15].
• Nausea: A 2011 study done on rats found that CBG, by itself, suppressed acute nausea. However, the research also found that CBG may nullify the beneficial effects of CBD on nausea, which means these cannabinoids are most beneficial for nausea if used separately [16].
• Cancer: A 2021 study found that CBG may exhibit anti-tumor properties in certain types of cancer. However, it also acknowledged that more scientific exploration of this use case is needed [17].

As with CBC, it’s important to note that, while early research on CBG is promising, it’s not an FDA-approved treatment for any condition and is not intended as a cure, treatment, or prevention for any disease.

CBC vs. CBG: How They Work In The Body

Both CBC and CBG render benefits and effects by interacting with your endocannabinoid system (ECS). 

The ECS is a receptor system in your body responsible for regulating your vital functions – including mood, pain and inflammatory response, and sleep-wake cycle – and maintaining mental and physical homeostasis, or balance. 

There are two main types of receptors in the ECS:

• CB1 receptors are primarily found in the central nervous system and are responsible for regulating how cannabinoids affect the brain.
• CB2 receptors are found in tissues throughout the body. They’re primarily responsible for regulating how cannabinoids affect the body.

CBG interacts with both receptors, creating physical benefits and noticeable mental effects. 

However, CBC doesn’t bind to either type of receptor. Instead, it interacts with other receptors linked to pain perception, such as TRPV1 and TRPA1. 

Through this interaction, CBC may increase levels of the body’s natural endocannabinoids, like anandamide, which is associated with a decrease in discomfort. 

So despite CBC’s lack of affinity for the CB1 receptors (and the associated lack of mental effects you feel after taking it), it’s able to render major therapeutic benefits in other ways. 

Overall, while CBC and CBG work very differently with your body’s endocannabinoid system, both interact in a variety of ways that result in therapeutic benefits. 

CBC vs. CBG for Anxiety

CBG tends to be more effective than CBC at promoting mental relaxation and addressing anxiety. 

This is because it interacts heavily with the CB1 receptors in your body, thereby creating noticeable mental effects of energy, focus, and clearheadedness. 

CBC, on the other hand, tends to promote physical relaxation and support overall health in different ways. While physical discomfort can contribute to anxiety, it’s a subtler sensation than the emotions associated with anxiety. For this reason, CBG is generally the better option. 

CBC vs. CBG for Pain

CBC and CBG may be equally effective at promoting physical comfort and mobility, as both cannabinoids interact with receptors in your body that are related to pain perception. 

CBC and CBG both interact with TRPV1 and TRPA receptors, which play a role in pain perception.

The comparative efficacy of CBC and CBG for pain hasn’t been researched, so it’s hard for us to say which is better for this use case. 

Both are viable options; choose CBG if you also want its energizing, uplifting, yet non-psychoactive mental effects, while CBC is a better choice if you only want the physical relaxation without the mental side.

CBC vs. CBG vs. CBN: How Do They Compare?

We’ve discussed how CBC and CBG compare. But how do these two cannabinoids compare to cannabinol (CBN), another naturally-occurring cannabinoid?

CBC vs. CBN

CBC promotes physical relaxation without mental effects, while CBN creates a slightly sedative, deeply relaxing mental effect along with similar physical benefits. 

While CBC isn’t psychoactive, CBN is – it creates a head high effect roughly ¼ as strong as that of THC. 

Generally, CBC is best for physical discomfort and general therapeutic support, while CBN is better for sleep and nighttime physical discomfort. 

CBG vs. CBN

CBG and CBN offer many of the same benefits, but with very different effects. 

Both cannabinoids have therapeutic potential for physical discomfort and mental relaxation, but CBG is energizing and uplifting, whereas CBN is calming and slightly sedating. 

As a result, both cannabinoids may be viable for use cases like pain and anxiety, but CBG is better for daytime use while CBN is better at night. 

Conclusion: Which Cannabinoid Is Better For You?

Compared to CBG (and especially CBD and THC), CBC isn’t as well-researched. 

But the studies we do have so far indicate that CBC has quite a few therapeutic benefits, including for pain, inflammation, brain health, and skin conditions. 

It’s true, too, that CBC and CBG may work best when taken together. This is the entourage effect in action: cannabinoids render more therapeutic benefits when combined than in isolation. 

Either way, you can’t go wrong with these two alt-cannabinoids: both have major benefits, and researchers are discovering more about them every day. 

Want to learn more about cannabinoids? Check out our article on CBG vs. CBN. 

CBC vs. CBG: Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some questions our customers frequently ask us about the differences between CBC and CBG.

What is the difference between CBG and CBC?

CBG tends to be uplifting and energizing, while CBC renders few noticeable mental effects but instead promotes physical comfort. 

Is CBG or CBC better for sleep?

Neither CBG nor CBC is noticeably relaxing (in the sense of getting ready for bed); instead, a cannabinoid like CBN (sedative effects) or CBD (mentally relaxing effects) is a better choice. 

What is CBC good for?

Potential therapeutic use cases of CBC include pain, inflammation, brain health, cell health, and acne. 

Can you take CBC and CBG together?

Yes, you can take CBC and CBG together – they may even work better this way. CBG provides physical relaxation and mental clarity, while CBC addresses inflammation. Combining them could offer more well-rounded relief, especially for physical discomfort. 

Sources

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