Written by Joshua Sosin

The cannabis plant is mind-blowingly complex. It’s made up of hundreds of different chemical compounds that give it its unique effects. Many of these compounds are cannabinoids, which interact with your body’s endocannabinoid system to produce the psychedelic effects that you feel when you get high.

You’re probably already familiar with cannabinoids like THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and cannabidiol (CBD), but these are far from the only compounds that the cannabis plant produces.

Today, we’re highlighting CBGA (cannabigerolic acid), sometimes called the “mother of all cannabinoids.” It’s a pivotal part of the chemical structure of the cannabis plant — and a pivotal part of your life if you’re a weed fan.

Let’s take a look at the structure and functions of CBGA, along with its impact on your journey with cannabis.

Table of Contents

• What Is CBGA?

  • CBGA and Other Cannabinoids

  • Everything You Need to Know About Decarbing

• CBGA’s Unique Properties

• CBGA Research: What We Know, What We Don’t

• Is CBGA Legal?

• FAQs About CBGA

• CBGA Products: What To Try

What Is CBGa?

CBGA (cannabigerolic acid) is a unique cannabinoid that acts as the chemical precursor to multiple other compounds — including several that you already know and love.

Without CBGA, there wouldn’t be any THC, CBD, or CBC, three of the most powerful and popular cannabinoids in the world.

CBGA is the acid form of CBG (cannabigerol), and it turns into CBG when it goes through a process called decarboxylation (“decarbing”). Decarbing occurs when certain cannabinoids are exposed to heat. This process kicks into high gear when you light a joint or bong.

CBGa and Other Cannabinoids

CBGA is produced by the trichomes of the cannabis plant — hairlike outgrowths that are loaded with cannabinoids and aromatic, flavorful terpenes. These resinous glands produce CBGA to lay the groundwork for multiple other cannabinoids.

During the life cycle of the cannabis plant, CBGA interacts with specific enzymes to produce all of the following cannabinoids:

• THCa (Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid): THCa is the chemical precursor to THC, and it’s the main psychoactive component in cannabis. While THCa doesn’t have psychoactive effects in its raw form, it can get you powerfully high once it’s exposed to heat via decarboxylation.

• CBDa (Cannabidiolic Acid): CBDa is the chemical precursor to CBD, and it’s non-psychoactive like THCa. However, unlike THC, CBD doesn’t produce any psychoactive effects. Instead, it’s known for its calming, grounding properties.

• CBCa (Cannabichromenic Acid): CBCa is the chemical precursor to CBC (cannabichromene), a less-common minor cannabinoid that, like CBD, isn’t psychoactive.

All three of these cannabinoids start out as CBGa, which says a lot about the importance of CBGa in the world of cannabis cultivation.

Learn more about cannabinoids from the Mood blog.

Everything You Need To Know About Decarbing

We already mentioned decarboxylation in brief, but it’s an important aspect of the process that turns CBGa into other cannabinoids.

While introducing cannabis flower to heat is the fastest way to decarb it and produce its psychoactive effects, decarbing also happens naturally. As the cannabis plant matures, CBGa breaks down and (basically) gives birth to other cannabinoids like THCa.

The level of decarboxylation in cannabis when it’s harvested depends on how long the plant is allowed to mature. At a certain point in the natural decarbing process, certain cannabinoids like THC start to degrade — lowering the psychoactive potential of the plant.

For this reason, the growers who source the weed that we sell in the Mood Shop are extremely careful and precise with the timing of their harvests. At the point of harvest, CBGa has converted into THCa and other powerful cannabinoids, but these compounds haven’t degraded to the point of reducing the plant’s potency.

Learn about the connection between decarbing and edibles from the Mood Blog.

CBGa’s Unique Properties

CBGa often gets overshadowed by the cannabinoids that it produces — especially THC.

However, current research tells us that there are plenty of reasons to get excited about CBGa. Here’s some of what we know about the plant’s unique properties:

• CBGa is an abundant source of antioxidants. Antioxidants are molecules that balance out the effects of oxidative stress in your body. They’re also abundant in fruits, vegetables, and many other whole foods.

• CBGa may have an impact on metabolism. According to current research, CBGa seems to have a unique effect on certain enzymes that regulate metabolism. The same goes for THCv (tetrahydrocannabivarin), a cannabinoid that is sometimes referred to as “diet weed.”

• CBGa seems to also have antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. For this reason, researchers are looking into the cannabinoid’s potential therapeutic benefits for treating infections.

It’s worth noting that at the present moment, CBGa isn’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration or considered a treatment for any disease. Still, it’s fascinating to explore its potential benefits and see how it might be used in the future.

Browse our wide selection of premium cannabis flower in the Mood Shop. Use the code “FIRST20” to get 20% off your first order.

CBGa Research: What We Know, What We Don’t

Now, you know some of the potential benefits that researchers have identified in CBGa, but it’s important to mention that scientists are still taking baby steps when it comes to fully understanding this cannabinoid.

One of the reasons that CBGa research is still limited is because of the cannabinoid’s volatile state within the Cannabis Sativa plant. Since CBGa turns into other acidic cannabinoids when decarboxylation starts, researchers only have a narrow window of time to isolate and extract CBGa for close examination.

Since it’s extremely difficult to get large amounts of CBGa in its raw form, scientists are looking into ways to create the cannabinoid in a lab for further research — and for use in cannabis products.

Is CBGa Legal?

CBGa doesn’t have psychoactive effects on its own, so it’s not considered a controlled substance in the eyes of the federal government.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that products that contain CBGa, including gummies, cannabis flower, and more, can vary in their legality. It all depends on the Delta-9 THC content of the product.

According to the Farm Bill, which was passed in 2018, cannabis products are considered hemp (and are legal) if they fall below the threshold of 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight. Any product above this threshold is classified as marijuana, which is federally illegal in the USA.

All the cannabis products in the Mood Shop, including our tinctures, concentrates, and more, fall within the limits of the Farm Bill and are third-party tested for quality, safety, and consistency.

When you order from the Mood Shop, you can have peace of mind knowing that your weed is coming from a trustworthy, legal source.

Learn more about the legal status of cannabis from the Mood Blog.

How To Try CBGa

The best way to experience CBGa is by smoking flower.

When you light up a joint or use another smoking apparatus to enjoy some weed, you kickstart the decarboxylation process and turn CBG into psychoactive cannabinoids like THC.

These are some of our top recommendations for calming flower with high CBG content.

Slurricane

With 24.22% THCa content, Slurricane is a high-potency strain with invigorating scents of lemon and mint. An Indica-dominant hybrid, it’s a California-grown crossbreed of two plants that are naturally high in CBGa: Do-Si-Dos and Purple Punch.

Get 1g of Slurricane flower for only $13. Subscribe to save 15%.

Sub Zero

This calming THCa flower is ideal for when you want to take the edge off. Grown in Oregon, it’s a crossbreed of Oreoz and Super Boof strains.

A 60/40 Indica-dominant hybrid, Sub Zero has notes of tangy cherries, skunky diesel, and rich chocolate. It’s a soothing strain best for PM use.

Get 7g of Sub Zero flower for only $93. Subscribe to save 15% on your order.

Rainbow Runtz

Experience pure relaxation with this Indica-dominant hybrid, a crossbreed of Skittlez and Do-Si-Dos plants grown in California. With scent notes of diesel candy, tropical pine berry, and grapefruit honey, it’s a flavorful medium-potency strain that produces total chill.

1g of Rainbow Runtz costs only $15. Use the code “FIRST20” to save 20% on your first order.

Looking for something stronger? Head to Mood to browse our full selection of premium high-potency cannabis products.

Prices subject to change.