In this guide, you will learn more about cannabigerol, known as CBG, the potential health benefits of this cannabinoid, how to decarb CBG flower, and how to make CBG oil at home following a simple oil infusion process.
What Makes CBG Oil Amazing
The cannabis plant has dozens of active compounds that each have a unique effect on our bodies. While compounds like CBD and THC are well-known, there are many more that are still being studied.
Today, we are going to examine one of these compounds, cannabigerol, or CBG.
I recently noticed a sharp increase of interest in CBG from my Well With Cannabis Facebook Community members.
So, what makes CBG so special, and how does it affect our bodies?
CBG is thought to have some serious health benefits, including treating eye problems, fighting inflammation, and even protecting our bodies against cancer.
We'll explore each of these benefits in more detail below.
Read on to learn what cannabigerol is, how you can use it, and get step-by-step instructions for making your own CBG oil at home.
Of course, if you want the benefits of CBG oil without making it yourself, I also offer pre-made CBG oil for sale in my shop.
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Ingredients You Will Need
- CBG Flowers - To make a CBG oil at home, you must start with a cannabis flower with CBGA, the precursor to CBG, already present. You can purchase this from your local dispensary or purchase CBG flower from my online shop here.
- Lecithin, optional: lecithin is a natural emulsifier that will help keep opposing ingredients bound together, like water and oil. If you're new to working with lecithin, you can learn more about adding lecithin to edibles here. If needed, you can purchase liquid sunflower lecithin or powdered sunflower lecithin here. This ingredient is optional.
- Carrier Oil Of Choice- There are many oil options to choose from. Unsure what to pick? Check out my guide to understanding the many different types of cannabis oils here.
Alternate Carrier Oil Options for Making CBG Oil:
- MCT oil
- Coconut oil
- Olive oil
- Hemp seed oil
- Butter to make homemade CBG Cannabutter
- Sunflower oil
- Avocado oil
- Grapeseed oil
- or any other liquid cooking oil you desire
Note: a complete list of ingredients with amounts and printable instructions is located in the recipe card below.
Step-By-Step Process With Photos
While you can get detailed instructions in the printable recipe card below, these step-by-step photos will help outline the process and get you ready for infusing.
Step 1 - Prepare a Water Bath
The goal is to create a water bath that stays at approximately 180-190° F for the cooking process.
The printable instructions in the recipe card below are for using a crockpot. The images shown here are for a sous vide setup. Choose whichever option you prefer.
Step 2 - Decarb The CBG Flower
While the water bath is heating in the crockpot, measure and decarb the CBG flower in the oven at 220° F for 60 minutes.
Click here for a full cannabis decarboxylation tutorial, if needed.
Step 3 - Prepare The Jars for Immersion
Evenly divide the decarbed CBG flower and MCT oil between the mason jars you plan on using.
*If you plan on using sunflower lecithin, add it to the mason jars now.
Step 4 - Place the Jars in the Water Bath
Carefully place the jars into the water bath. Place the lid on the crockpot and leave it alone to infuse for 4 hours.
After 4 hours, carefully remove the lid, followed by the jars from the hot water. Set them aside to cool.
Step 5 - Prepare To Strain
Whether it be a paper filter and funnel, cheesecloth, French press, or a simple coffee filter, you will want to set up a straining station to separate the plant matter from the oil.
Step 6 - Strain The Flower From The Oil
Once cool enough to handle, strain the prepared oil with your method of choice.
You can save the leftover cannabis pulp for use in future recipes.
Step 7 - Store In A Tincture Bottle
Then return the prepared cannabis oil to whatever jar you would like to store it in, we use a small amber tincture dropper bottle.
Step 8 - Test Your New Product
Store the prepared CBG oil in a cool, dry place. It will last longer if stored in the refrigerator and even longer if stored in the freezer.
How to Determine The Dosing
Want to calculate the dosage of your cannabis edibles and homemade cannabis recipes?
While a calculator is no replacement for lab testing, this tool has been designed to help you get a more accurate guesstimate of the potency of your cannabis infusions and extractions.
Unlike other calculators available online, this calculator aims to provide more accuracy by accounting for the losses associated with decarboxylation, infusion oils, or extraction solvents used.
More Information On Cannabigerol (CBG)
Cannabigerol (CBG) is one of the dozens of cannabinoids found in cannabis plants.
Each of these cannabinoids interacts with the human endocannabinoid system (ECS), creating a host of powerful effects.
CBG often gets confused with its more famous cousin, CBD. While they are thought to have similar effects, there are some distinct differences.
CBG, in fact, is the precursor to other cannabinoids, like THC, CBD, and CBC.
Unlike THC, which is a psychoactive cannabinoid, both CBD and CBG are non-intoxicating and won't alter your state of mind.
But unlike CBD, which is a major cannabinoid, CBG is traditionally found only in trace amounts in cannabis plants.
With cannabis currently a popular industry, plant breeders are experimenting with breeding cannabis plants that have higher concentrations of certain cannabinoids, like CBG.
In nature, CBG may only appear in concentrations around 1%, but breeders have gotten that concentration to 10% or above.
The Benefits of CBG
While the jury is still out on the direct effects of CBG, some promising research is currently happening.
Here are some of the things that proponents of CBG are getting excited about.
Additionally, CBG may help with pain and is also thought to have neuroprotective (i.e. it protects the structures in our brain) and anti-bacterial properties, which makes it a powerhouse of health benefits.
- Glaucoma - Did you know that we have cannabinoid receptors in our eyes? Over time, the nerves in our eyes can start to wear out, causing a condition known as glaucoma. Glaucoma can cause pain, patchy vision, or blurred vision. Cannabinoids like CBG lower intraocular pressure, helping those with glaucoma find relief.
- IBD - Inflammation is thought to be the root cause of many health problems. Inflammatory bowel disease and related conditions like Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis have painful symptoms that affect patient's daily lives. Still, studies like this one published in Biological Pharmacology show that CBG can reduce some of the inflammation caused by these conditions.
- Cancer - while the link between cannabis use and cancer has been a hot topic for decades, CBG, in particular, is being studied in Cells Journal for its potential therapeutic properties. While cannabis is often used to treat chemo-related nausea, research suggests it can do much more for cancer patients.
How to Decarb for CBG
While you may be familiar with the traditional decarboxylation process for making traditional THC cannabis-infused oils, it is slightly different for making CBG-infused oil.
You'll want to decarb your CBG flower at a low temperature, 220 degrees Fahrenheit, for one hour (60 minutes).
Decarbing at a higher temperature or for a longer period may damage the compound, which means you may not get your desired results.
It may help to thoroughly preheat your oven so you can be sure that your cannabis is being decarbed at the proper temperature.
It's difficult to effectively tell the concentration of CBG without lab testing. It may take a little experimentation to find out what works best for you.
Notes and Expert Tips
As with all cannabis infusions and extractions, there are always extra tips and tricks that can help you achieve the best outcome.
Can I Use a Different Carrier Oil?
You can absolutely use a carrier oil other than the MCT oil called for in the recipe below. It is important to keep in mind that you should choose an oil that suits your needs and your desired final product outcome.
MCT oil is great for making a sublingual infusion, but it does remain liquid at room temperature.
MCT oil has also been known to cause digestive distress in some individuals, so be sure to read my guide to making an MCT oil infusion first.
Frequently Asked Questions
CBG flower can be brand new to even the most seasoned cannabis consumer, so here are some of the most common FAQs from my Well With Cannabis Facebook Community.
You can purchase CBG flowers from our shop, complete with 3rd party lab testing so you know exactly what is in your flower.
There will always be folks who don’t want CBG flower because it does not contain a lot of THC, but that is the reason many people DO want to consume CBG flower. Many people want to enjoy the benefits of cannabis without the high. CBG flower is the solution that allows you to do that.
With the passage of The Farm Bill in late 2018 came the legalization of hemp, or cannabis that contains less than 0.3% THC. Hemp-derived CBG is now Federally legal, but it is important to check with your local state and city regulations to ensure the legality of consuming hemp flower. Some states have their own ban on buying, selling, or possessing CBG hemp flower, even if it contains less than 0.3% THC.
Yes, you may want to consider making a small test batch before making a larger batch to see if homemade CBG oil is the right option for you.
This recipe calls for 14 grams of CBG flower and 8 ounces of MCT oil, which will yield a large batch.
If you want to make a smaller batch first to see if CBG oil infusions are right for you, use this ratio guide below:
Use An Infusion Machine For Your Edibles
If the process of decarboxylating and infusing your cannabis edibles seems like too much work, a cannabis infusion machine is a perfect solution for you!
Cannabis-infusion machines are countertop devices that do all the work for you by decarboxylating and infusing your butters, oils, and more.
The most popular machines on the market today include LEVO Infusion Machines and Ardent Cannabis Infusion Machines.
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How to Make CBG Oil (Cannabigerol)
Ingredients
- 8 ounces MCT oil
- 14 grams CBG-dominant cannabis flower
- ½ teaspoon liquid sunflower lecithin optional
Instructions
- Lay a clean tea towel down on the bottom of the crockpot. This will create a buffer between your mason jars and the crockpot, potentially preventing any jar from moving or cracking during cooking.
- Fill your crockpot with enough warm to hot water to cover the top of the mason jars you plan on using by an inch to create a water bath.
- Place the digital instant-read thermometer into the water. Start the crockpot heat on high. When a temperature of 185°F is reached, turn the crockpot to low.
- While the water bath is heating in the crockpot, measure and decarb the CBG-dominant cannabis flower in the oven at 220° F for 60 minutes. Click here, for a full decarboxylation tutorial, if needed.
- Evenly divide the MCT oil between the mason jars you plan on using. You can either use pint-sized or half-pint-sized jars; it's you're preference; just be sure they fit in your crockpot. No matter the size, be sure to leave a ½ inch headspace from the top.
- If you plan on using sunflower lecithin, add it to the mason jars now.
- Evenly divide the decarbed CBG flower between the MCT oil-filled jars. Wipe the rim of the jars with a clean towel and place the lid on. Tighten the metal ring to finger-tip tightness; it does not have to be tightened all the way. Do not tighten too tightly.
- Once the water bath has reached a temperature of 185° F, carefully place the jars into the water bath.
- Place the lid on the crockpot and leave it alone to infuse for 4 hours.
- After 4 hours, carefully remove the lid, followed by the jars from the hot water. Set them aside to cool.
- Once cool enough to handle, you will want to strain the cannabis oil through a paper filter and funnel, cheesecloth, or French press to separate the plant-matter from the infused MCT oil.
- Save the leftover cannabis pulp for use in future recipes. Then return the prepared CBG oil to whatever jar you would like to store it in, like an amber glass jar with a dropper.
- Store the prepared CBG oil in a cool, dry place. It will last longer if stored in the refrigerator and even longer if stored in the freezer.
Notes
- Temperature Control: The water bath does not need to stat perfectly at 185° F the entire time. Any temperature between 170°-190°F is OK.
- Safety First: I recommend you sanitize your jars by keeping them submerged in the 185° F crockpot for 10 at least minutes. This step is not necessary, but good practice for safety and hygiene.
- Floating Jars: Sometimes the mason jar will float when placed in the water bath. This is no need for concern, simply put something heat and water safe over the top of the jar to weigh it down, a clean rock works well.