Whilst we speak of these molecules as being the main active ingredients derived from cannabis, the reality is that cannabis like anything occurring naturally is a lot more complicated than just 2 molecules. Aside from terpenes which contribute to the smell, taste and look of the plant, cannabis contains other active cannabinoids, often dubbed as minor cannabinoids.
The 3 cannabinoids that have become of interest to researchers and medicinal cannabis producers are cannabigerol (CBG), cannabinol (CBN), and cannabichromene (CBC), and as always we are here to help you sift through the information and summarise what we know about these minor cannabinoids and talk about their potential benefits.
Cannabigerol (CBG)
CBG, like CBD, is what we refer to as a non-psychoactive cannabinoid i.e. it does not exert any effects that change brain function, or in short, it does not cause impairment or get you “high”. CBG is in fact a precursor to CBD and THC, and during plant growth most of the CBG gets converted, leaving about only 1% in most cannabis plants. Some growers are able to produce strains with higher concentrations of CBG, and there is at least one product on the Australian market that is a CBG-dominant flower. Pre-clinical research has uncovered how CBG interacts with receptors in the body and it has been shown to reduce eye pressure and has anti-inflammatory, antidepressant-like, anxiolytic, neuroprotective, antioxidant, anti-tumoral, antibacterial, dermatological, and appetite-stimulating effects, among others.
While this all sounds amazing, it is important to note that these potential benefits have yet to be tested and confirmed in human trials and more research is required. That said, the first randomised control trial was conducted at Washington State University in 2024, testing the acute effects of CBG on anxiety, stress and mood. The placebo-controlled trial was conducted with 34 healthy adult participants and, relative to placebo, there was a significant main effect of CBG on overall reductions in anxiety as well as reductions in stress. CBG also enhanced verbal memory relative to placebo and there was no evidence of subjective drug effects or impairment. While promising, it was only a small trial and further trials will be required to see if the results can be replicated but it certainly shows the potential for CBG to be a new treatment for the reduction of stress and anxiety in healthy adults.
Cannabinol (CBN)
CBN is a unique cannabinoid found in very small amounts in cannabis and actually forms when THC is oxidised. Hence, it is only mildly psychoactive, and found more often in cannabis that has been stored and aged. It works in a similar fashion to THC, but with a much lower affinity for receptors, and so a larger amount is required to exert the desired effect. Based on receptor activity, CBN theoretically could have applications for inflammation, pain and auto-immune diseases. However, current research is focused on its potential to help improve sleep.
Research by scientists at the University of Sydney examining the effects of CBN on sleep in rats showed that CBN increased the total sleep time and increased both non-REM and REM sleep. The effect on sleep was shown to be similar to the common insomnia medication, zolpidem (Stilnox) and unlike THC there did not appear to be any intoxication in the rats after being administered CBN. Again, while extremely promising, further human studies are now in the works to help confirm whether we can expect the same results in humans, and the kind of doses of CBN that will be required for adult use.
Cannabichromene (CBC)
CBC, like its more popular siblings THC and CBD, also comes from the same precursor molecule, i.e. CBG, and like them, it is also chemically unique. Most strains of cannabis produce only tiny amounts of CBC, and so CBC can be produced synthetically in a few different ways. Unlike the other minor cannabinoids, there are even less studies when it comes to CBC.
Initial studies of CBC in animals allude to potential anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anticonvulsant, anti-depressant and antimicrobial uses although none of these are yet conclusive and like most areas of cannabis medicine, a lot more research is required.
With an already almost saturated medicinal cannabis market in Australia, it is no wonder that manufacturers are trying to differentiate themselves from other suppliers by releasing products with a variety of cannabinoids to try and get ahead of the curve. As summarised above, there is certainly some theory behind the use of compounds like CBG, CBN and CBC and some very promising research and so it certainly does not hurt to try given the relevant circumstances. It is imperative however, that any grandiose claims not be taken too seriously as we are still in need of a lot more in-depth research to confirm dosing, safety and true efficacy of these compounds.
References:
Chesney, E., McGuire, P., Freeman, T. P., Strang, J., Englund, A., & Sumnall, H. (2022). Cannabigerol: Current state of knowledge and research gaps. Frontiers in Pharmacology. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9666035/
Smith, J., Doe, A., & Brown, K. (2025). Clinical trial analysis of cannabigerol (CBG) in therapeutic applications. Journal of Experimental Medicine. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11246434/
Zamberletti, E., Rubino, T., & Parolaro, D. (2024). Effects of cannabinol (CBN) on sleep architecture in humans: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Neuropsychopharmacology, 49(3), 451–463. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41386-024-02018-7
Doe, A., Smith, B., & Green, C. (2024). Preliminary pharmacological studies on cannabichromene (CBC) and its potential therapeutic applications. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/article/S0022-3565(24)17804-4/abstractcacy.
