Ultimate Guide To CBG

By now, most people familiar with hemp have heard of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) and their effects, but did you know there are many similar compounds in hemp? A lesser-known cannabinoid called cannabigerol (CBG), while not present in large quantities in most strains, is nonetheless worth learning about for a number of reasons.

How CBG Is Made

CBG is derived from young hemp plants because they contain higher amounts of CBG than fully developed plants.

Some strains of hemp like White CBG, Stem Cell CBG, and Sour G CBG also have higher CBG content than other strains. These strains are specifically cultivated to produce higher quantities of CBG.  

Both CBD and THC start as CBGA, an acidic form of CBG. This is why younger hemp plants contain higher concentrations of CBG.

This is also why CBG is one of the most expensive forms of hemp.

Benefits

Research is relatively sparse regarding the therapeutic benefits of CBG when compared to the apparent wealth of information available on THC and CBD within the hemp science community. But there are early studies linking the compound to a whole host of potential therapeutic uses, such as:

• Treating glaucoma, through its vasodilator and neuroprotective effects.
• Decreasing inflammation, as seen in animal models of inflammatory bowel disease.
• Combatting Huntingdon’s disease, again through its neuroprotective effects.
• Inhibiting tumor growth, in animal models of colorectal cancer.
• Killing drug-resistant bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Will CBG Get You High?

No, CBG will not get you high. CBG is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid much like CBD. In fact, in brain-chemistry terms, CBG is what’s known as an antagonist because it interferes with the trippy high created by THC. That’s not a bad thing.

In fact, it underscores the danger of producing strong weed strains with ultra-high THC concentrations because, without CBG, it’s entirely possible to go from buzzed to bad trip in just one drag.

BUT WAIT.

Silverline Hemp has created a line of CBG products that gives you all the benefits – WITH a “high”.

What Is Delta-8 CBG

Delta-8-THC grows in small amounts on hemp plants naturally, but commercial extractors are using selective breeding and molecular isolation to extract concentrates that are abundant in Delta-8-THC and other rare cannabinoids. It is also a psychoactive cannabinoid; in other words, it will get users “high,” though reportedly in a manner distinct from Delta-9 THC. 

According to the National Cancer Institute, Delta-8-THC exhibits “lower psychotropic potency” than Delta-9-THC, and could even bind to the brain’s CB receptors (which are responsible for how the brain receives cannabinoids) differently than does Delta-9-THC.

Thanks to the federal government’s Schedule I classification of hemp though, clinical studies of the medical benefits of the plant are limited, and research into rare compounds found inside the plant are even more restricted.

Is Delta-8 CBG Legal?

Delta 8 THC has a scary name due to everything we’ve been trained to think over the past 90 years regarding Delta 9 THC, but Delta 8 THC is federally legal and legal in most states in the USA thanks to H.R. 2: The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, also known as the 2018 Farm Bill.

The 2018 Farm Bill specifically made all derivatives, isomers, and cannabinoids in hemp legal, provided the final product has less than 0.3% Delta 9 THC. For reference, delta 8 THC is an isomer of CBD, a derivative of hemp and CBD, a cannabinoid found in hemp, and is ultimately contained in our extracts with less than 0.3% Delta 9 THC.

We often get asked about the Federal Analogue Act, which is part of the Controlled Substances Act, because Delta 8 THC is listed. This is where the 2018 Farm Bill is especially helpful, as it also includes an amendment to the Controlled Substances Act, explicitly removing all tetrahydrocannabinols found in hemp.

Certain states have chosen to classify Delta 8 as illegal. View the chart below.

So is Delta-8 Legal In My State?

Well that depends on which state you’re in. Check out the list below.

Alabama: Delta 8 is legal in Alabama

Alaska: Delta 8 is illegal in Alaska

Arizona: Delta 8 is illegal in Arizona

Arkansas: Delta 8 is illegal in Arkansas

California: Delta 8 is legal in California

Colorado: Delta 8 is illegal in Colorado

Connecticut: Delta 8 is legal in Connecticut

Delaware: Delta 8 is illegal in Delaware

Florida: Delta 8 is legal in Florida

Georgia: Delta 8 is legal in Georgia

Hawaii: Delta 8 is legal in Hawaii

Idaho: Delta 8 is illegal in Idaho

Illinois: Delta 8 is legal in Illinois

Indiana: Delta 8 is legal in Indiana

Iowa: Delta 8 is illegal in Iowa

Kansas: Delta 8 is legal in Kansas

Kentucky: Delta 8 is legal in Kentucky

Louisiana: Delta 8 is legal in Louisiana

Maine: Delta 8 is legal in Maine

Maryland: Delta 8 is legal in Maryland

Massachusetts: Delta 8 is legal in Massachusetts

Michigan: Delta 8 is legal in Michigan

Minnesota: Delta 8 is legal in Minnesota

Mississippi: Delta 8 is illegal in Mississippi

Missouri: Delta 8 is legal in Missouri

Montana: Delta 8 is illegal in Montana

Nebraska: Delta 8 is legal in Nebraska

Nevada: Delta 8 is legal in Nevada

New Hampshire: Delta 8 is legal in New Hampshire

New Jersey: Delta 8 is legal in New Jersey

New Mexico: Delta 8 is legal in New Mexico

New York: Delta 8 is legal in New York

North Carolina: Delta 8 is legal in North Carolina

North Dakota: Delta 8 is legal in North Dakota

Ohio: Delta 8 is legal in Ohio

Oklahoma: Delta 8 is legal in Oklahoma

Oregon: Delta 8 is legal in Oregon

Pennsylvania: Delta 8 is legal in Pennsylvania

Rhode Island: Delta 8 is illegal in Rhode Island 

South Carolina: Delta 8 is legal in South Carolina

South Dakota: Delta 8 is legal in South Dakota

Tennessee: Delta 8 is legal in Tennessee

Texas: Delta 8 is legal in Texas

Utah: Delta 8 is illegal in Utah

Vermont: Delta 8 is legal in Vermont

Virginia: Delta 8 is legal in Virginia

Washington: Delta 8 is legal in Washington

West Virginia: Delta 8 is legal in West Virginia

Wisconsin: Delta 8 is legal in Wisconsin

Wyoming: Delta 8 is legal in Wyoming 

In other words, Delta-8 is illegal in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, Rhode Island, and Utah.  In all other states, it is legal but bear in mind that this is subject to change if state legislators determine that it should be classified as a controlled substance.  Therefore, before taking Delta 8, you should always check with your state laws, as laws regarding hemp are prone to sudden change.

Legal Disclaimer*

Credits:

This article was put together with the help of these sources:

• https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/what-is-cbg-cannabinoid
• https://www.analyticalcannabis.com/articles/cbg-vs-cbd-what-are-the-differences-312232
• https://www.verywellmind.com/cannabigerol-cbg-uses-and-benefits-5085266
• https://honestmarijuana.com/cbg/
• https://www.westword.com/marijuana/delta-8-thc-wtf-is-it-and-what-can-it-do-for-you-10528117
• https://www.3chi.com/is-delta-8-thc-legal/
• https://www.binoidcbd.com/blogs/news/delta-8-thc-where-is-it-legal-list