CBG isolate is pure cannabigerol (CBG extract) from the cannabis sativa plant that comes in a crystallized or powder form. It’s used to make CBG products such as CBG gummies, CBG capsules, and CBG oil.
But while CBG has a variety of therapeutic benefits by itself, it’s most beneficial when taken in combination with other cannabinoids. For this reason, products made with full-spectrum CBG extracts or cannabinoid combinations tend to be more effective than products made with CBG isolate.
In this article, we’re going to break down what CBG isolate is, what it’s used for, and the benefits and effects it has to offer.
What Is CBG Isolate?
CBG isolate is pure cannabigerol (CBG) extracted from the cannabis sativa plant (hemp is a variant of cannabis sativa containing less than 0.3% THC by dry weight).
While the extraction processes used to make it aren’t perfect, CBG isolate tends to be about 98-99% CBG.
CBG isolate commonly comes in either a crystal or powder form, although it’s always made into powder before being used in products.
Cannabigerol is one of 100+ cannabinoids that naturally occur in the hemp plant. Compared to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), it’s far scarcer. As a result, CBG isn’t as popular or widely used as these other cannabinoids.
However, recent research suggests CBG has a variety of potential therapeutic use cases, including for pain, inflammation, anxiety, stress, ADHD, and nausea.
This has led to CBG products – many of them made with CBG isolate – becoming more popular. More companies are making them, and more people are buying them.
What Is CBG Isolate Used For?
CBG isolate is used for two main purposes:
- Making CBG products: The production of CBG isolate is often just a single step in the larger process of making products like cBG gummies or oils. Product manufacturers will first make CBG isolate from hemp, then add it to other ingredients in gummy, oil, or topical mixtures to create a finished product that you can buy and use instantly.
- Homemade formulations: Besides being used to make CBG products like you might buy online, you can use CBG isolate to make homemade products (more on this in the “how to use” section) or other formulations. CBG isolate powder can be mixed into foods and drinks for oral consumption, or it can be mixed with skincare products to make a product for topical use. Many people also mix CBG powder into their cannabis/hemp flower to get a more uplifting effect profile.
How Is CBG Isolate Made?
Producing CBG isolate – pure CBG – requires harvesting hemp plants high in cannabigerolic acid (CBGa), the precursor to CBG, extracting full-spectrum cannabinoid and terpene resin, and then isolating CBG from the other compounds in this resin extract.
All cannabinoids in hemp start out as CBGa. As the plant matures, CBGa is primarily converted into THCa (which becomes THC) and CBDa (which becomes CBD), but a small amount of it also turns into CBG and other cannabinoids.
This means that to make CBG isolate, hemp plants are harvested while they are young and still contain higher levels of CBGa (this CBGa is converted into CBG through decarboxylation).
Cannabinoid and terpene resin are extracted as a full-spectrum extract from this hemp. Then, CBG is isolated from all the other compounds through a process known as chromatography, in which the extract is washed several times with a solvent pure CBG is all that’s left behind.
Benefits & Effects of CBG Isolate
While CBG is most beneficial when taken in combination with other cannabinoids, CBG isolate still has very significant therapeutic potential. Here’s a bit about the benefits and effects of CBG isolate:
Therapeutic benefits
Research has found CBG to be beneficial in the following main areas:
- Inflammation & pain: A 2021 research review found that a combination of CBD and CBG may have inflammation-reducing effects [1].
- 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 [2].
- 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 [3].
- 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 [4].
- 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 [5,6].
- 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 [7].
Effects
CBG is not psychoactive in the sense that THC is; it won’t get you high. However, CBG does create noticeably uplifting effects. Specifically, many people report feeling energy, focus, and mental clarity after taking CBG.
CBG is often compared to caffeinated coffee; it is energizing and alertness-boosting, rather than inebriating or impairing.
For this reason, many people use CBG during the day to support mental and physical comfort and performance.
Is CBG Isolate Powder Legal?
Yes, CBG isolate is legal in powder form as long as it is made from hemp plants.
The 2018 Farm Bill made hemp and hemp-derived compounds federally legal. Hemp is a variant of cannabis sativa containing less than 0.3% THC.
The laws are not very specific, however, the most common interpretation of the Farm Bill is as follows:
- To be considered hemp, the plant itself must contain less than 0.3% THC by dry weight
- To be considered hemp products, finished products crafted from hemp plants must contain less than 0.3% THC by weight
Because CBG isolate is both made from hemp and contains less than 0.3% THC in its final form, it is federally legal.
How to Use CBG Isolate Powder
You can use CBG isolate powder in several different ways:
- Edibles: CBG isolate powder can be incorporated into foods and beverages. And because CBG isolate powder doesn’t need to be decarboxylated, you can mix it into cold or hot drinks without needing to do any prep beforehand.
- Topical Application: CBG isolate powder can be mixed with lotions, salves, or other topical products for application on the skin. This is a good method if you only need the physically relaxing properties of CBG for specific areas on your body, rather than needing the mental effects, too.
- Smoking: CBG isolate powder can be mixed with crushed THCA flower (hemp flower) and then made into pre-rolls to create a more uplifting, energizing version of your favorite strains.
Note that CBG edibles, CBG topicals, and CBG flower are also sold in the form of finished products if you aren’t interested in buying CBG isolate powder and making your own products at home.
Conclusion: Full-Spectrum CBG Is Better
While CBG isolate is frequently used to make CBG gummies, oils, and other products, the fact remains that CBG is most beneficial when taken in combination with other cannabinoids.
This phenomenon is known as the entourage effect; cannabinoids like CBG are most beneficial when taken alongside other cannabinoids and terpenes. After all, these compounds occur together in their natural state.
Because of this, if you’re shopping for CBG products for therapeutic purposes, be sure to look for full-spectrum or broad-spectrum CBG products to see the best results.
What Is CBG Isolate: Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions our customers frequently ask us about CBG isolate:
What is CBG isolate good for?
CBG isolate is good for making CBG products, as well as for making products at home by mixing CBG with foods, drinks, or topical products.
Is CBG more powerful than CBD?
From an effects standpoint, CBG is more powerful than CBD. CBG creates noticeable feelings of energy and alertness, whereas CBD renders relaxation in a more subtle way.
How does CBG make you feel?
CBG will make you feel focused and alert, yet calm. Many people compare the effects of CBG to those of caffeinated coffee.
Is CBG an upper or downer?
CBG is generally considered more of an “upper,” due to its energizing, uplifting effects.
Sources
[1] Robaina Cabrera, Carmen Lorena & Keir-Rudman, Sandra & Horniman, Nick & Clarkson, Nick & Page, Clive. (2021). The anti-inflammatory effects of cannabidiol and cannabigerol alone, and in combination. Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 69. 102047. 10.1016/j.pupt.2021.102047.
[2] Cuttler, C., Stueber, A., Cooper, Z. D., & Russo, E. (2024). Acute effects of cannabigerol on anxiety, stress, and mood: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, field trial. Scientific reports, 14(1), 16163. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66879-0
[3] Gyires, Klára, and Zoltán S Zádori. “Role of Cannabinoids in Gastrointestinal Mucosal Defense and Inflammation.” Current neuropharmacology vol. 14,8 (2016): 935-951. doi:10.2174/1570159×14666160303110150
[4] Kaufmann, R. Nano-processed CBG/CBD effect on pain, adult attention deficit hyperactive disorder, irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome. Int J Complement Alt Med. 2021;14(6):235–240. doi: 10.15406/ijcam.2021.14.00567
[5] More, Sandeep Vasant, and Dong-Kug Choi. “Promising cannabinoid-based therapies for Parkinson’s disease: motor symptoms to neuroprotection.” Molecular neurodegeneration vol. 10 17. 8 Apr. 2015, doi:10.1186/s13024-015-0012-0
[6] Valdeolivas, Sara et al. “Neuroprotective properties of cannabigerol in Huntington’s disease: studies in R6/2 mice and 3-nitropropionate-lesioned mice.” Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics vol. 12,1 (2015): 185-99. doi:10.1007/s13311-014-0304-z
[7] Rock, Erin M et al. “Interaction between non-psychotropic cannabinoids in marihuana: effect of cannabigerol (CBG) on the anti-nausea or anti-emetic effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in rats and shrews.” Psychopharmacology vol. 215,3 (2011): 505-12. doi:10.1007/s00213-010-2157-4
