Skip to main content
Psychedex
Article

Cannabigerol Facts

Cannabinoid; Cannabinoid; Cannabinoid CB1 receptor partial agonist

Description

CBG (cannabigerol) is a cannabinoid of the terpenophenol class. It acts on the brain's cannabinoid system and serotonin receptors, but with too little potency at any single target to produce intoxication or euphoria.

Subjective effects include anxiety reduction, stress relief, and mild improvement in verbal memory.[1] The experience is defined by what it lacks — no intoxication, no perceptual changes, no euphoria, no cognitive impairment.

CBG produces no known physical dependence, and no lethal dose has been established in any species. The primary risk signal is chronic liver damage observed in rats at low doses[2] — though human liver cells ranked CBG as the least toxic among tested cannabinoids.[3]

Dose and durationby route · individual sensitivity varies

Oral(mg)
Thresholdnot recordedLightnot recordedCommon20 – 20 mgStrongnot recordedHeavynot recorded

Starts in 30 – 90 minLasts 4 – 6 hours

Body and dependence

Acute toxicity
Low
Chronic toxicity
Moderate
Physical dependence
None
Psychological dependence
Negligible
Withdrawal
None recorded
Compulsive redosing
Negligible

Tolerance

Builds
None
Fully resets after
Not recorded

Effectslikely at a common dose

Body
none likely · 7 possible
Thinking
none likely · 1 possible
Feeling
none likely · 2 possible

Who shouldn't take it

Absolute
Pregnancy and lactation; Pediatric use
Relative
Hepatic impairment; CYP-metabolized medications

Combinations60 recorded

Dangerous (11)
Ketamine, DXM, PCP; Opioids; GHB, Baclofen; GHB, GBL; Ibogaine; Local anesthetics; MAOIs; NDRIs (Wellbutrin); Salvia, Ibogaine; SNRIs; Synthetic cannabinoids
Caution (33)
See full page: psychedex.org/substances/cbg
Not graded (16)
Not listed never means safe.

Seek help immediately if

Natural cannabis rarely causes a medical emergency — "greening out" is: pale/sweaty skin, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, anxiety or panic, rapid heartbeat, feeling faint — and usually passes with rest.

Seek emergency help for these — far more likely with synthetic cannabinoids ("spice" / K2):

  • Seizures
  • Severe chest pain; very fast or irregular heartbeat
  • Unresponsiveness or extreme drowsiness
  • Severe agitation, aggression, or psychosis
  • Repeated vomiting; difficulty breathing

What to do

  1. Sit or lie them down somewhere calm, cool, and quiet
  2. Reassure them — cannabis panic and "greening out" pass with time
  3. Offer sips of water; a little sugar can help if they feel faint
  4. Recovery position if nauseated, drowsy, or vomiting
  5. Stay with them and monitor
  6. For seizures, chest pain, unresponsiveness, or severe agitation, call emergency services

Natural cannabis "greening out" resolves with rest, calm, and time, with no lasting harm. Synthetic cannabinoids are unpredictable and can cause seizures, cardiac events, kidney injury, and severe agitation that needs emergency care.

988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFireside Project: 62-FIRESIDE

Version r1 · Not medical advice

References

  1. [1]
    ^Cuttler C, Stueber A, Cooper ZD, Russo E (2024) Acute effects of cannabigerol on anxiety, stress, and mood: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, field trial — Scientific Reports doi:10.1038/s41598-024-66879-0
  2. [2]
    ^Polanska HH, Petrlakova K, Papouskova B, Hendrych M, Samadian A, Storch J, Babula P, Masarik M, Vacek J (2023) Safety assessment and redox status in rats after chronic exposure to cannabidiol and cannabigerol — Toxicology doi:10.1016/j.tox.2023.153460
  3. [3]
    ^Gao X, Campasino K, Yourick MR, et al. (2024) Comparison on the mechanism and potency of hepatotoxicity among hemp extract and its four major constituent cannabinoids — Toxicology doi:10.1016/j.tox.2024.153885
Print version
Report an issue