CBGA: What Is This Phytocannabinoid?
Cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) may not be as well known as Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or Cannabidiol (CBD), but without it, those more famous cannabinoids would not exist at all. In fact, some of the cannabinoids we are most familiar with, like THC and CBD, are only possible because of CBGA.
But how does this cannabinoid acid transform into the more than 100 phytocannabinoids found in the plant? Read on to learn more about CBGA, how it works, and how laboratories test for it.
In this blog, you will learn:
How CBGA was discovered
The role CBGA plays in phytocannabinoid development
How cannabis laboratories test for CBGA
What is CBGA?
CBGA is the acidic precursor of Cannabigerol (CBG). CBGA develops early in a young cannabis plant and sets the stage for the development of other key cannabinoids found in the plant.
CBGA was discovered by Israeli researchers, including the famed Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, in the 1960s. CBGA and CBG are non-intoxicating compounds. They are also not on the list of banned substances within the United States, occupying a similar space as CBD.
CBGA is unique, though, in that it provides the foundation for much of the plant’s cannabinoid profile. As the plant matures, CBGA converts into the three major cannabinoid lines: Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), and Cannabichromenic acid (CBCA).
Like CBGA converts to CBG, these cannabinoid acids convert to the more well-known active cannabinoids THC, CBD, and CBC, when introduced to heat or in the plant as it is dried and cured.
Acidic vs. active cannabinoids
To understand CBGA, it is essential to first define the distinction between “acidic” and “active” cannabinoids. Acidic compounds like CBGA are the base form of the cannabinoid and can be found in the plant’s natural state. Acidic cannabinoids will not elicit the same effects associated with their active forms (such as THC or CBD) when consumed, though.
The process of converting acidic cannabinoids to their active forms is known as decarboxylation, and it occurs naturally over time. However, decarboxylation can be sped up by heating the cannabis to a certain temperature, which prompts acidic cannabinoids to convert into their active forms more quickly.
This can be done in a number of ways, including vaporization, decarboxylation in an oven or a dedicated device, or a flame from a lighter. However, if the cannabis product is not exposed to that kind of heat, the acidic cannabinoids will remain in a greater proportion than the active forms. When it comes to THCA and THC, a greater proportion of THCA would mean minimized intoxication would be felt.
How CBGA behaves in the body
CBGA works with the body’s endocannabinoid system by interacting with the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the endogenous cannabinoid system. Research also suggests that, when present together with other cannabinoids, the effects of CBGA could be augmented in an “entourage effect”. The entourage effect is a term that describes how cannabinoids react and change when present alongside other cannabinoids and terpenes.
The benefits of CBGA
CBGA is not only desirable for its conversion into more well-known cannabinoids; it also carries potential therapeutic benefits of its own.
Research into CBGA remains new, so the benefits and the range of potential side effects are still under investigation. However, studies suggest that CBGA may exhibit some anti-inflammatory properties, reduce oxidative stress within the body, may increase appetite, and may play a role in the impact of certain diseases on the body, including glaucoma and Huntington’s disease.
How labs test for CBGA
Testing for CBGA is part of a process called phytocannabinoid profiling, which screens a cannabis sample for all the phytocannabinoids contained within it, both acidic and active.
This process is performed with a technology called high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The HPLC process does not use heat, because that process would decarboxylate cannabinoid acids and therefore result in an inaccurate profile. Instead, HPLC uses a solvent and UV targeting to analyze an individual compound. HPLC enables analysts to see not only how much of each compound is present, but in which proportions compared with other cannabinoids.
Is testing for CBGA required in New Jersey?
It is not a question of whether CBGA testing is required in New Jersey, but if phytocannabinoid profiling as a whole is required in New Jersey. Phytocannabinoid profiling is definitely a requirement under New Jersey rules.
While the requirements for the in-development adult use program are not fully finalized, the New Jersey Medical Cannabis program requires cannabis products to be tested for potency with a phytocannabinoid profile test performed, and other adult use programs across the U.S. require this testing as well.
CBGA: Where it all begins
In many ways, CBGA is the “origin story” of phytocannabinoids. While it may not steal the spotlight in the same way as THC and CBD, CBGA plays a key role while holding many purported benefits of its own. Both for customers seeking a product high in CBGA and for regulators who require phytocannabinoid profiling, detailing the amount of CBGA in your product is of great import before your items head to the dispensary.
Cannabis testing laboratories like True Labs for Cannabis in New Jersey are ready and equipped to offer precisely that, as well as a series of other cannabis testing services designed to prove product integrity, safety, and compliance.