Much is said about CBD and Delta 9, and all the benefits that these two cannabinoids bring to the human body, promoting balance, homeostasis. But what we are seeing more and more are the studies and practical applications of other cannabinoids in and out of sport. Of course, we still have a long way to go, with a lot of research, scientific validation and empirical and theoretical contributions within this scientific context; however, many advances have already been made in this direction; and I’m happy to be able to share that with you in this month’s column.

Shall we start with CBG? Often referred to as the “mother of all cannabinoids” as the “most popular” compounds (Delta 9 and CBD) originate from cannabigerol, CBG is known to be a powerful anti-inflammatory and even acts as a hunger stimulant, perfect for anyone suffering from eating disorders or other eating related issues. Cannabigerol or CBG is found at levels below 1% in plants, i.e. in very low concentrations. This happens because CBGA is transformed into Delta 9A and CBDA and these, when in contact with heat and ultraviolet light, are transformed into Delta 9 and CBD.

At the end of this process, the plant is left with a remainder of CBGA, which can be decarboxylated into CBG. There is even some evidence available to show that it can help maintain bone and tissue integrity throughout the body. Similar to CBD, due to its non-psychoactive nature, it can be added to the daily routine, without worrying about the excess of medication due to the addition of a new compound to the body, if the doctor sees this approach as coherent. Cannabigerol is actually a CB1 receptor antagonist, which means that the CBG will actually help to limit the active effects a patient feels from the Delta 9 they may consume. Within sports, CBG has been widely used in post-training, especially for its anti-inflammatory properties. There are some reports of using CBG as a pre-workout as well, where users share about increased focus during exercise and a greater pain tolerance.