Personalized Medicine Powered by Cannabinoids, a CBG story

Life is full of interesting juxtapositions. One that I find most interesting in my life is thinking about my experience working in pharmaceuticals and my transition to the cannabis industry. When I worked in a pharma lab, which functioned as the dispensary for the company, I held the DEA controlled substance license, all the while being a closeted cannabis consumer.

We worked on several diseases and focused on pain, neurodegeneration, and cystic fibrosis (CF) targets. As our research progressed on CF, we found small-molecule drugs for specific phenotypes (presentation of a person’s genetics) that work in various combinations based on the patient's genotype (genetics). At the time, it was a relatively new concept called personalized medicine, where researchers tailored the therapeutic method to the patient for specific disease factors.

We had a Schedule II DEA controlled substance license, which meant that we couldn’t use THC, CBD, or other cannabinoids for our research. But even if we could have, that may only have led to synthetic cannabinoids or cannabinoid-like small-molecule therapeutics. 

These discoveries could be beneficial, but why wouldn’t we just take the naturally occurring cannabinoids and utilize them in different combinations based on a person’s specific needs? This is my dream vision of personalized medicine for cannabis. Finding the right therapeutics and breeding plants for patients, rather than creating the compounds in a lab. But I also see the benefits of the latter and am in favor of both existing; let’s just not lose the power of the plant.

There are so many exciting cannabinoids that we can combine in different ways and I firmly believe that there are combinations out there that will unlock treatments for severe diseases. Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the most well-known cannabinoids that has some exciting potential for neurological issues. Now, more researchers are studying to get answers. The study with the NFL on CBD and traumatic brain injury is an encouraging sign of progress.

Cannabinol (CBN) is another popular cannabinoid that has research shown benefits insomnia, though THC is also beneficial and more cost-effective to produce. CBN is one of the most popular combinations with THC in edibles because who doesn’t love a gummy before bed? 

But the cannabinoid that I am the most excited about and is becoming increasingly common in edibles at dispensaries is cannabigerol (CBG). CBG is the mother of all cannabinoids, meaning chemists can derive any other cannabinoid from CBG. That’s powerful.

I started hearing more about CBG about two years ago and early information was that it had anti-inflammatory properties, including gut health, and that it helped with anxiety without psychoactivity. Around a year and a half ago, I bought some gummies with CBG and decided to try them when going through some gut distress. It turned out I had appendicitis so they didn’t totally solve that problem but my whole experience throughout my illness wasn’t too bad, so maybe they helped some. I decided to keep taking them after I left the hospital and after doing some of my research to see what other benefits there might be, I decided taking CBG was going to start being part of my wellness routine.

Six months before I had appendicitis I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease which is an autoimmune thyroid disorder that causes my thyroid to overproduce hormones. There are CB receptors in the thyroid. After several issues with pharmaceuticals, seeing several different doctors, and a rollercoaster for about 10 months, my thyroid began producing typically without any pharmaceuticals or other intervention. What might be contributing to my healthy state is the RSO tablet of CBG which I now take daily.

It’s hard to know, but I want to share this story. I also think it’s important to share that my doctor knows what I am doing and is okay with it as long as I feel good and get bloodwork showing that I’m healthy. Western medicine has a long way to go when it comes to cannabis but finding a doctor that you can be open and honest with is so important. 

I will also say that I do personally notice a decrease in my level of anxiety when I’m consistently taking CBG and also acute anxiety relief when I take a THC/CBG gummy (but I do attribute some of that to the THC). When it comes to anxiety, there’s a recent study on CBG that was very exciting.

The study included 32 participants and was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, which means that there was a group that took CBG and a group that took a sugar pill. Neither the subjects nor the people running the study knew which was which. 

It’s an excellent scientific study used to research potential medicines, something we haven’t been able to do much of because of the DEA-controlled scheduling. With the farm bill loophole and potential rescheduling (and even descheduling) more research can and will occur, and data from good studies will emerge.

To summarize what the study found, it showed that the CBG taken demonstrated a decrease in anxiety and stress and also improved memory without psychoactive effects. All of this is very exciting and tracks with my personal experiences. SSRIs and other anti-anxiety medications have several side effects and utilizing CBG in this space could be huge. 

However, the thing that I find the most exciting and has massive potential is early evidence that CBG increases appetite without getting high. Using cannabis to combat the gnarly effects of chemotherapy and to improve appetite in HIV/AIDS patients is not only one of the most potent benefits of the plant but also a large part of the history of cannabis during prohibition. The one issue is that not everyone who needs appetite stimulation can or wants to get high. If we can tap into that same ability without the psychoactivity with CBG, that could be game-changing.

I’m excited about CBG. I take it daily and think it benefits me, but before I conclude, I want to give you more caution. One of the reasons why we need research and people shouldn’t just start playing guinea pigs with themselves (like I do) is because these are potent compounds that affect many parts of our bodies. We have CB receptors in the brain, throughout our bodies, in our hormone-producing organs, lots of places. And though what you are doing for one thing may be beneficial, it could have consequences elsewhere.

Quality matters. My preference is to avoid chemically-derived cannabinoids when possible (I take plenty in edibles, drinks, etc but if a natural option exists, I take it), which is why I take an RSO tablet of CBG. Someone makes it from the whole plant, and I know the farm where the one I take comes from. It’s sun-grown in northern California by some excellent cultivators.

The cannabis plant has been used in cultures all over the world to treat so many different ailments. The anecdotal evidence for cannabis as medicine is enormous, but it will take lots of research to discover precisely how humans can fully harness the power of cannabinoid medicine. Medicine is personal; we are all different, and, in my opinion, personalized cannabis medicine has the potential to change and improve a lot of people’s lives. Hopefully, we can come together in the right way.