CBG found to reduce anxiety and enhance memory in clinical trial

Alongside CBD and THC, cannabigerol (CBG) is thought to have its own therapeutic effects, including potential anti-anxiety and antidepressant benefits, although the clinical research in this area is limited so far.

In a previous survey 51% of those using CBG said they were doing so to manage anxiety, with 78% claiming it was more effective than conventional anxiety medications. 

Now findings from a new clinical trial support these claims, with CBG demonstrating efficacy in reducing anxiety and stress, as well as enhancing verbal memory when compared to a placebo.

In the double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover field trial, leading cannabinoid researchers, Carrie Cuttler, Amanda Stueber, Ziva D. Cooper  and Ethan Russo examined the acute effects of CBG on anxiety, stress, and mood. They also looked at whether CBG produces any side-effects or motor and cognitive impairments as with other intoxicating cannabinoids such as THC.

In total, 34 healthy participants were recruited for the study and given a CBG tincture composed of 10 mg/ml CBG, 0.89 mg/ml CBGA, 0.35 mg/ml β-caryophyllene (0.51 mg/ml total terpenoids) with less than 0.001 mg/g of THC and CBD. 

Each participant completed two test sessions, with a one-week washout period in between, in which they provided ratings of anxiety, stress, mood, and subjective drug effects prior to administration in a series of standardised questionnaires.

After analysis, the researchers found that CBG had a ‘significant main effect’ on subjective ratings of anxiety, representing a 26.5% reduction in anxiety levels, as well as a ‘significant effect’ on subjective stress ratings.

While the study failed to demonstrate any antidepressant effects, according to the authors, CBG was found to significantly enhance verbal memory.

“We hypothesized that CBG would not impair memory, but our finding that CBG significantly enhanced verbal memory was unexpected,” they state.

According to scores recorded through the Driving under the influence of drugs (DRUID) app, CBG did not produce any cognitive or motor impairments, while participants reported no intoxicating effects.

“Results of this double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over field trial indicate that 20 mg of hemp-derived CBG reduces subjective ratings of anxiety and stress in healthy cannabis-using adults in the absence of motor or cognitive impairment, intoxication, or other subjective drug effects,” the authors conclude.

“CBG may represent a novel option to reduce stress and anxiety in healthy adults.”