A recent study found that cannabigerol (CBG) which is derived from the cannabis plant can help to effectively reduce anxiety and stress. The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports and included researchers from Washington State University in the US. The study found that it can help in improving memory. Dried leaves from the cannabis or marijuana plant are smoked or chewed for euphoric effect. Psychoactive substances present in the plant include cannabinoids, from which CBG and cannabidiol (CBD) are derived.

In many countries, including high-income ones, the medicinal use of cannabis is legal, such as in treating chronic pain or nausea due to chemotherapy, however, legalising recreational cannabis is being debated around the world. The study’s authors, including those from Washington State University, said that with CBG use increasing in popularity and producers making “bold, unsubstantiated claims of its effects”, the clinical trial evidence they have provided could inform both consumers and the scientific community.

For the study, the researchers analysed the baseline levels of anxiety, stress and mood of 34 individuals over two virtual meetings. The participants then consumed either 20 milligrams (mg) of CBG or a placebo, following which their anxiety, stress and mood, along with the effects of intoxication were re-assessed.

A week later, the procedure was repeated, this time with the participants consuming the product alternative to the one previously taken. The authors wrote in the study wrote, “Relative to placebo, there was a significant main effect of CBG on overall reductions in anxiety as well as reductions in stress at (20, 45 and 60 minutes after consumption).”

They also found significant improvements in memory, with the participants recalling more words after taking 20 mg of CBG than after taking a placebo. The researchers said that CBG did not impair cognition, movement or other adverse effects commonly related to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.

The participants were also found to report low intoxication and minimal changes in symptoms like dry mouth, sleepiness and increased appetite. However, the researchers cautioned that the results need to be interpreted carefully, citing study limitations, including modest use of CBG, timing of assessments and their remote nature (conducted over video conferencing).

Carrie Cuttler, an associate professor of psychology at Washington State University and corresponding author said, “We need to avoid claims that CBG is a miracle drug. It's new and exciting, but replication and further research are crucial.

“Ongoing and future studies will help build a comprehensive understanding of CBG's benefits and safety, potentially offering a new avenue for reducing feelings of anxiety and stress without the intoxicating effects of THC.”

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