Remember when the world of cannabis was simple? You may have seen a recent slew of new cannabinoids on the market as a recent addition to your beloved CBD and THC. The hemp plant has never been simple. Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, which made hemp-derived compounds such as cannabidiol (CBD), legal growers have had a field day exploring the over 100 cannabinoids found in the plant. Among the hemp-derived cannabinoids (aside from CBD) that have been federally legalized are CBG, CBN, and CBC. Let’s find out more about these latest welcomes to the cannabinoid family.
CBG
CBG was the first cannabinoid to make a splash and perhaps rival CBD. Cannabigerol (CBG) is derived from cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), also known as the “mother of all cannabinoids.” THC, CBG, and CBD begin as CBGA and are degraded into their final forms after exposure to light and heat. CBG is found in minimal concentrations in cannabis, usually less than 1%. Due to this, CBG is considered to be very rare. Benefits it can help include:
- Cancer
- Appetite disorders
- MRSA bacterial infections
- Gut inflammation
- Huntington’s disease
- Bladder dysfunctions
CBN
CBN is formed when THC degrades in a plant due to age, heat, or oxygen exposure. This cannabinoid is only found in trace concentrations. Cannabis that is young or freshly dried will have a low CBN level, but the CBN content will increase as it ages. CBN is a mildly psychoactive cannabinoid known to have intoxicating properties. However, studies show that it is just one-fourth as effective as THC. While you will not find CBN on its own, CBN oil is often paired with other cannabinoids to get its beneficial effects. Benefits include
- Calming/Sedation (when paired with THC and CBD)
- Immunosuppressive property’s
- anti-inflammatory
- pain relief (When combined with CBD)
- Help Bone loss
CBC
Cannabichromene (CBC) is the degradation of cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) by heat or UV light. It does not make you high. Like CBN oil, this cannabinoid works best when combined with others. The benefits are:
- Anti-inflammatory (Combined with THC)
- Help promote healthy brain functioning
- Antidepressant properties
While CBD can be taken as it is, the others CBG, CBC, and CBN work best when blended with their leaders in the hemp/cannabis market. Therefore, you will often see them combined with CBD or THC for the ultimate healing effect when buying.