Marijuana & CBGA

Rare Cannabinoids are here to stay

Cannabis (the God plant) is a storehouse for pharmaceuticals, some of which have been widely utilized and researched for their analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anxiolytic, anticancer, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, and antidepressant properties. Some of these cannabis-bound pharmaceuticals (i.e., cannabinoids and terpenes), mimic the activities of neurotransmitters (endogenous molecules which control cognitive activities) to bring about an enhanced & centered “sense of well-being” or, as scientists refer to it, “homeostasis.” 

While the world is going agog with the numerous therapeutic potentials of Cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabinol (CBN), and cannabigerol (CBG), the scientific community is discovering the bioactive potentials of neglected rare cannabinoids.  Although these cannabinoids, like CBGA, CBDA, THCA, CBGVA, THCV, and CBV, exist in relatively low concentrations in Types I-III of the God plant, several years of plant breeding have produced a Type IV plant which retains its stem cell acids to produce these rare cannabinoids commercially for the first time in human history. 

This groundbreaking discovery opens an entirely new market for using rare cannabinoids like CBGA to create better sleep, kinder thoughts, and a general sense of well-being based on the ubiquitous therapeutic activities CBGA creates when introduced to the mammalian endo-cannabinoid immune system. 

The cannabis market has enjoyed huge growth, with the market cap expected to hit $75 billion in 2030; rare cannabinoids like CBGA, THCA, CBGA: CBG, and THCV are predicted to supplant CBD and THC in the production of several therapeutic benefits some of which have been reported in research. See our report on the therapeutic potentials of CBGA.  

Research has shown that CBGA possesses a better antioxidant activity than CBG, the most antioxidant cannabinoid in the cannabis plant. It has been estimated that the antioxidant activity of CBG is more potent than that of Vitamins A, C, and E. There are also reports on how CBGA may displace CBD in serving as a choice medication for epileptic seizures. The authors reported how CBGA provided a more potent anticonvulsant activity than CBD and could interact with clobazam to potentiate its anticonvulsant activities. This could provide new insight into the treatment of epilepsy and managing the seizures associated with it. 

Rare cannabinoids like CBGA are not just good for creating neutral forms of cannabinoids that mimic the activity of endocannabinoids and neurotransmitters; their mimetic structure allows them to specifically bind to receptor sites so it modulates their activities. They also achieve this at lower doses thus, suggesting a higher bioavailability when compared with their neutral counterparts. 

The entourage effect

There are over 450 compounds in the cannabis or marijuana plant. 

They are classified as cannabinoids, complex sugars, and terpenes. These compounds can interact independently or in a consortium to provide the much-needed therapeutic benefits the God plant has to offer mammals. The cannabinoids, for example, come from CBGA, which has an olivetolic acid ring (CBGVA comes from divarinic acid). The arrangement of atoms in the cannabinoids allows them to mimic endogenous compounds like anandamide and 2-AG (the body’s natural bliss). 

Note that every cannabinoid (major or rare) possesses a unique activity or behavior at the binding site of receptors which, if explored, can offer a vast array of benefits. CBGA,, when used collectively, can influence the activity of both its neutral form counterparts as well as the “bliss switch” molecules our brains produce to regulate mood, appetite, and sleep among a host of other physiological activities of mind and body.

For instance, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of CBG is increased when combined with CBGA. There are also reports on how combining CBGA with other cannabinoids can enhance the body’s excellent ability to fight disease: CBGA and CBVA, the two mother cannabinoids, have shown an excellent level of anticancer properties such that researchers world-wide are exploring how their profound therapeutic properties can create a cancer drug which stops malignant cells from replicating altogether.

Cannabinoids, besides mimicking the bliss switch molecules anandamide and 2-AG, can modulate the binding affinity of each other to control what happens at the binding site. For instance, CBD has been reported to limit the psychoactive potentials of THC. 

The motherly role of CBGA does not end at serving as a precursor molecule for the formation of other cannabinoids; it has already been shown to be a leading example of how the entourage effect works, by improving the bioavailability of other compounds.  Although there is limited information on CBGA’s complex metabolism, the available research shows CBGA improves the activity of other cannabinoids. This may be attributed to the carboxyl and phenolic groups present in the molecule. So far, combining CBGA with other cannabinoids has shown excellent results, and this can go a long way in not just improving cannabis research but also opening new doors to cannabis research. 

Everything becomes better with CBGA.

Rare cannabinoids possess a vast array of benefits that make them better at producing therapeutic benefits. First, they require a lesser dosage, they exhibit more bioavailability, are better at producing faster results, and above all, there is little to no side effect.  CBGA makes everything better. It’s the essence of the God plant and must be studied  for what it can offer in terms of healing all forms of oxidative stress so homeostasis becomes the norm.