Ethan Russo, MD on Emerging Research and Therapeutic Potential of CBG: A Webinar from CReDO Science

On August 7th, 2024, Ethan Russo, neurologist, medical researcher, and founder of CReDO Science, presented a deep dive into research of cannabigerol (CBG), which Dr. Russo considered “the biggest up and coming cannabinoid” and stated that its use is becoming more prevalent, especially in the Western US. The hour-long webinar was presented by CReDO Science, sponsored by MM411 and GCNC, and a link to the recording will be temporarily available for registrants.

To begin the webinar, Dr. Russo discussed the first isolation of CBG in 1964 by Professors Raphael Mechoulam and Yehiel Gaoni, who called it the “primary product and a missing link in the formation of Cannabis constituents. Conversion into cannabidiol, tetrahydrocannabinol, and cannabinol is biogenetically plausible.” He also discussed the many properties of CBG, explaining research that demonstrated its anti-anxiety and anti-fungal effects, its use in reducing pain and intraocular pressure, its cytotoxic effects for certain cancers, and more. He also noted other plants that contain CBG.

The first research article on CBG, “Survey of Patients Employing Cannabigerol-Predominant Cannabis Preparations: Perceived Medical Effects, Adverse Events, and Withdrawal Symptoms,” was published in 2021 and co-authored with Carrie Cuttler, Ziva D. Cooper, Amanda Stueber, Venetia L. Whiteley, and Michelle Sexton. This study, Dr. Russo explained, was one of the first to study the effects of CBG in humans. He described the methods, demographics, products used, and use patterns. “We were surprised at the number of different conditions that came out of 127 patients, and basically it was about 30,” he noted. He also explained the significance of the results, the perceived efficacy of CBG versus conventional medicine, the few adverse effects and withdrawal symptoms, and survey conclusions. The results from this survey suggested that CBG could be safe for randomized control trials, he noted, which is what led to the second research article discussed in the webinar.

The second study, “Acute effects of cannabigerol on anxiety, stress, and mood: a double‑blind, placebo‑controlled, crossover, field trial,” was published July 15, 2024 and co-authored with Carrie Cuttler, Amanda Stueber, and Ziva D. Cooper. Notably, this study included a certificate of analysis (COA) for the product used. Dr. Russo explained the study design and placebo preparation, and each step in the assessment, demographics, cannabis use patterns, and eligibility requirements for participating. He highlighted significant results from the study, including the subjective state ratings on anxiety: “this is quite unusual to have a generous effect on anxiety with people not really feeling different otherwise, in other words, not because they're sedated and can't worry. So this is really different than with conventional anti-anxiety medicines.”Dr. Russo explained limitations of the study and summarized the conclusions.

The presentation ended with comparisons between CBG and THC and between CBG and CBD, plus some of Dr. Russo’s projections on the economic prospects of CBG.

CReDO Science co-founder and chief operation officer Nishi Whiteley moderated the Q&A session at the end of the webinar, which covered over a dozen questions submitted by participants. Topics included the dosages that were recommended for participants, CBG’s effect on memory, full spectrum versus pure CBG, the effects of inhaled versus oral consumption, drug interactions, and more.

Also read: Ethan Russo, MD discusses the research on the synergy of THC and D-limonene from a study that found vaporized D-limonene reduces THC-induced anxiety.