What Is CBGA?
CBGA (cannabigerolic acid) is the first cannabinoid a cannabis plant makes, and the major cannabinoids, including THC and CBD, all start out as CBGA. Enzymes turn most of it into the acid forms of THC, CBD and CBC, and whatever is left over becomes CBG with heat or time.
Think of CBGA as the plant’s raw material. Cannabis builds it by joining two smaller molecules, olivetolic acid and geranyl pyrophosphate, and then three enzymes go to work. One turns CBGA into THCa, one into CBDA and one into CBCA (Gülck and Møller, Trends in Plant Science, 2020). Any CBGA the enzymes don’t convert stays behind, and with heat or age it loses a small acid group and becomes CBG. That’s why most plants carry so little CBG, often under 1% of dried flower, and why growers breed special high-CBG hemp to get enough of it. Research on CBGA itself is early. In a 2021 study in mice bred to model a severe childhood epilepsy, CBGA reduced some seizure types but made others worse at high doses (Anderson et al., British Journal of Pharmacology).
In practice, you won’t find many products sold as pure CBGA, and there’s no human dosing research for it yet. Where it does show up is in a few blends, like our CBG Tincture, which pairs 20 mg of CBG with 5 mg of CBD and 5 mg of CBGa in every half-dropper serving. If you want the better-studied option, CBG is the one with human data. A 2024 placebo-controlled trial found that a single 20 mg dose of CBG lowered self-rated anxiety in 34 adults without making anyone feel high. Our take: treat CBGA as a supporting player in a blend, not the reason to buy it.
Frequently asked questions
What Is CBGA?
CBGA (cannabigerolic acid) is the first cannabinoid a cannabis plant makes, and the major cannabinoids, including THC and CBD, all start out as CBGA. Enzymes turn most of it into the acid forms of THC, CBD and CBC, and whatever is left over becomes CBG with heat or time.
What's the difference between CBG and CBGA?
CBGA is the raw acid form the plant makes, and CBG is what CBGA becomes after heat or time strips off its acid group. Nearly all the human research is on CBG, including a 2024 trial of a 20 mg dose, while CBGA has only been studied in labs and animals. Most products, ours included, list CBG as the main cannabinoid.
Does CBGA get you high?
No, CBGA doesn't get you high. It's a non-intoxicating cannabinoid acid, in the same family as CBDA, and the 2024 trial of CBG, the form CBGA turns into, found no intoxication at a 20 mg dose. As with any hemp product, start with a low dose and check the lab report for THC content.
Why is there so little CBG in cannabis?
There's so little CBG because the plant converts most of its CBGA into the acid forms of THC, CBD and CBC before any of it can become CBG. That usually leaves CBG under 1% of dried flower, so CBG products come from specially bred high-CBG hemp. It's also the main reason CBG costs more than CBD.
What does research say about CBGA?
Research on CBGA is early and mostly in animals and cells. A 2021 mouse study of a severe childhood epilepsy found CBGA reduced some seizure types but worsened others at high doses, so it isn't a simple story. There are no human trials on CBGA yet, which is why we point people to CBG, the better-studied form.
For more detailed information, read What Is CBG.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. TribeTokes products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult a healthcare professional before using cannabinoid products, especially if you take prescription medications.