CBG vs CBC what’s the difference?

Both cannabinol (CBN) and cannabichromene (CBC) are are types of cannabinoids which are the active compounds in cannabis. However, CBG is not actually a cannabinoid but rather an acid precursor to THC, CBD, CBC, etc.

CBG is found widely throughout the plant kingdom because it’s biosynthetic pathway has been conserved through natural selection. The CBG cannabinoid can eventually be converted into either CBD or CBG gummies by adding water across the double bond on its third carbon atom. This forms a terminal carboxyl group which is ultimately metabolized into either CBD or CBC by carboxyesterase enzymes present in the cytoplasm of cells lining the walls of capillaries.

 

However CBG is never found in high concentrations because it’s biosynthesis ends with CBG. The enzymes that would be necessary to convert CBG into CBD or CBC are not present in humans, which is why cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabichromene carboxylic acid (CBCA) are typically found so much more abundantly than their carboxylated counterparts.

 

Both cannabinol (CBN) and cannabichromene (CBC) are types of cannabinoids which are the active compounds in cannabis. However CBG is not actually a cannabinoid but rather an acid precursor to THC, CBD, CBC, etc. Cannabinol (CBN), on the other hand, is already active as a cannabinoid due to its long side-chain which fits perfectly into the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptor sites.

Cannabinol (CBN), on the other hand, is already active as a cannabinoid due to its long side-chain which fits perfectly into the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptor sites. Therefore cannabinol (CBN) exerts effects that are opposite of those discovered for cannabidiol (CBD). While CBD has been shown to be non-psychoactive, cannabinol (CBN) is known to have mild psychoactive properties because it activates both CB1 and CB2 receptors with larger efficiency relative to CBD or THC. This means that cannabinol’s (CBC) legal status as a recreational cannabis compound falls somewhere between that of CBD and THC.

 

Cannabichromene (CBC) is another lesser known cannabinoid found in cannabis which has recently been shown to be an antagonist at the CB2 receptor. Cannabichromene (CBC) as well as cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG) and other less common cannabinoids such as cannbicyclol (CBL), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabitriol (CBT), etc. are what we call “minor cannabinoids”. These minor cannabinoids all belong to a larger class of compounds called the “terpenophenolic” class, because they’re biosynthesized from terpene building blocks by the plant.

 

Cannabichromene (CBC) is another lesser known cannabinoid found in cannabis which has recently been shown to be an antagonist at the CB2 receptor. Cannabidiol (CBD), on the other hand, is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that looks somewhat similar to cannabinol (CBN). CBD does not activate either CB1 or CB2 with high efficiency, but it does still bind with both receptors in vivo and exert numerous effects in both humans and animals. CBD’s legal status as a recreational cannabis compound falls somewhere between that of THC and cannabinol (CBN). It would be best described as being only slightly psychoactive relative to THC.

 

Interestingly cannabichromene (CBC) shows almost none of the psychoactivity that is observed in cannabichromene (CBC). Instead it exerts its activity through the inhibition of an enzyme which degrades endogenous fatty acid amides, such as anandamide, at a much higher concentration than THC. This means that cannabichromene (CBC) usually only shows up in trace amounts when cannabis is tested for cannabinoids and yet it can still produce significant effects on pain threshold. Recent scientific research suggests that this cannabinoid may provide even greater pain relief and anti-inflammatory action than either CBD or THC while also providing antimicrobial benefits like cannabinol (CBN).

 

This means that cannabichromene (CBC) usually only shows up in trace amounts when cannabis is tested for cannabinoids and yet it can still produce significant effects on pain threshold. Recent scientific research suggests that this cannabinoid may provide even greater pain relief and anti-inflammatory action than either CBD or THC while also providing antimicrobial benefits like cannabinol (CBN).