CBG Confirmed as Non-Intoxicating Even at High Blood Concentrations
Comprehensive testing in mice confirmed cannabigerol (CBG) produces no intoxicating effects via any route of administration, even at high blood concentrations — supporting its growing use in wellness products.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
CBG showed no cataleptic, hypothermic, anti-nociceptive, or locomotor effects at any tested blood concentration or route of administration (oral, intraperitoneal, intravenous), confirming it lacks THC-like intoxicating properties.
Key Numbers
Blood sampling at 10 min, 30 min, 1h, 3h, 6h, 12h, 18h, and 24h post-administration. Tested oral, intraperitoneal, and intravenous routes. Quantified by HPLC-MS/MS.
How They Did This
Pharmacokinetic profiling of CBG via oral, intraperitoneal, and intravenous administration in C57BL/6Crl mice with blood sampling at 8 time points, plus pharmacodynamic testing for catalepsy, hypothermia, pain response, and locomotion.
Why This Research Matters
CBG is increasingly marketed in wellness products, but its pharmacology has been poorly characterized. This study confirms CBG won't produce a high even at concentrations exceeding what consumers would achieve, providing a safety baseline.
The Bigger Picture
As the cannabis market diversifies beyond THC and CBD, minor cannabinoids like CBG need proper pharmacological characterization. Confirming CBG's non-intoxicating status supports informed consumer choices and regulatory decisions.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Mouse pharmacology may not perfectly translate to humans. Therapeutic effects (like anxiolytic potential) were not the focus of this study. Does not assess long-term safety.
Questions This Raises
- ?What therapeutic benefits does CBG actually provide?
- ?How does CBG interact with THC or CBD when used together in full-spectrum products?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Thorough preclinical characterization across multiple routes and endpoints, though mouse-to-human translation has inherent limitations.
- Study Age:
- Recent study addressing the growing need for pharmacological data on minor cannabinoids entering the consumer market.
- Original Title:
- Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cannabigerol (CBG) in the C57BL/6Crl mouse.
- Published In:
- Frontiers in pharmacology, 16, 1672098 (2025)
- Authors:
- Zagzoog, Ayat(6), Halter, Kenzie, Ha, Nini, Jones, Alayna M, Andres, Rachel, Kim, Andy, Michel, Deborah, Alcorn, Jane, Laprairie, Robert B
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08017
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
Can CBG get you high?
No — this study tested multiple routes of administration and blood concentrations and found zero intoxicating effects. CBG does not produce the catalepsy, hypothermia, or locomotor changes characteristic of THC.
What is CBG used for?
CBG has shown promising properties including potential anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects in preliminary research, but its therapeutic applications are still being established. This study focused on confirming its safety profile.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08017APA
Zagzoog, Ayat; Halter, Kenzie; Ha, Nini; Jones, Alayna M; Andres, Rachel; Kim, Andy; Michel, Deborah; Alcorn, Jane; Laprairie, Robert B. (2025). Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cannabigerol (CBG) in the C57BL/6Crl mouse.. Frontiers in pharmacology, 16, 1672098. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2025.1672098
MLA
Zagzoog, Ayat, et al. "Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cannabigerol (CBG) in the C57BL/6Crl mouse.." Frontiers in pharmacology, 2025. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2025.1672098
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cannabigerol (CBG) ..." RTHC-08017. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/zagzoog-2025-pharmacokinetics-and-pharmacodynamics-of
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.