Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabigerol (CBG) are all cannabinoids. They all come from the same plant (Cannabis sativa), and they have also been studied extensively and highlighted for their potential health benefits. But can you take them together? Just as importantly, will taking them in combination provide any notable effects, and should you expect any side effects?
THC, CBD, and CBG: The Basics
The main reason that someone would take THC, CBD, and CBG together is that they want to combine the effects and benefit from something known as the entourage effect, which suggests that a balance of multiple cannabinoids and terpenes can enhance the individual benefits.
The entourage effect, and by definition the aforementioned cannabinoids, has been studied for its effects on everything from insomnia to anxiety, pain, and mood disorders.
You should also consider the individual effects of these compounds.
For instance, all three can provide benefits to individuals suffering from chronic pain. They have a soothing, anti-inflammatory effect that combats inflammation in the body and could provide significant relief.
Some users also report that CBD and CBG make them tired and help them to relax. The effect is usually quite mild, and others take CBD/CBG throughout the day. But the addition of THC—assuming the dose is high enough—will definitely relax the user and may even make them drowsy.
THC can also produce a strong “high”, as well as side effects like anxiety and paranoia. If you want to avoid these effects, look for small-dose THC products made from hemp. For instance, Relief Mints contain 2.5 mg of THC, which falls into the “therapeutic micro-dose” range and is short of the 20mg and above often required for a user to get “high”.
The Dose in Plants and Full-Spectrum Extracts
We mentioned that THC, CBD, and CBG are all contained within the cannabis plant. Modern strains of cannabis are usually bred to produce high amounts of a specific cannabinoid, whether it’s high-CBD and low-THC to comply with federal regulations or high-THC to produce cannabis. However, even these specialty plants still contain all of the other cannabinoids.
Let’s look at a few examples.
First, Sour Space Candy, a high-CBD strain that contains around 15% CBD and less than 0.3% THC, with little consideration for other cannabinoids:*
- 150 mg CBD per gram of flower
- 5 mg THC per gram of flower
- 5 mg CBG per gram of flower
As for cannabis strains, we can use a strain of Sour Diesel as an example:
- 212 mg THC per gram of flower
- 0.50 mg CBD per gram of flower
- 5 mg CBG per gram of flower
*These numbers were taken from certificates of analyses (CoAs). They are averages, as the actual numbers can vary greatly by strain and product.
That sounds like a lot, right? Well, it doesn’t paint the whole picture.
Keep reading to discover why.
The Dose for Full-Spectrum Extracts
A full-spectrum product is an extract that contains all of the cannabinoids found in the hemp plant, along with the terpenes that provide many of the flavors. This means that if you use a full-spectrum, federally legal hemp product, you’re getting something that contains CBD, CBG, and THC, with the latter constituting less than 0.3% by weight.
One of the strongest of these products that we found in our research contained the following doses per serving:
- 22 mg CBD per serving
- 0.8 mg THC per serving
- 0.5 mg CBG per serving
The Best Way to Take THC, CBD, and CBG Together
Taking the above into consideration, you could be forgiven for thinking that hemp flowers are the best option if you don’t want the THC high while cannabis flowers are best if you do. The flowers certainly contain the highest concentration by weight.
Disregarding the potential harms of smoking for a moment, you have to consider that a lot of those cannabinoids are destroyed during the heating process, and unless you’re holding that smoke in your lungs for a long time, not all of what remains will be absorbed.
It’s thought that at least 60% of cannabinoids aren’t ingested when smoked, and the number is slightly less for vaping. If you’re new to cannabinoids, it’s also unlikely that you’ll be smoking as much as a gram. At best, you may consume 0.5 grams, which gives us numbers more like the following:
Sour Space Candy CBD
- 30 mg CBD per dose
- 1 mg THC per dose
- 1 mg CBG per dose
Sour Diesel THC
- 42.4 mg THC per dose
- 0.10 mg CBD per dose
- 1 mg CBG per dose
The full-spectrum extract provides a more consistent dose, but it’s not very balanced and is heavily geared toward CBD, with only trace amounts of the other two.
If you want to consume CBD, THC, and CBG in a potentially beneficial dose that doesn’t exceed federal requirements, Mr. Moxey’s Relief Mints would be a far more effective option. Each mint contains exactly 2.5 mg of all three cannabinoids. It’s a better balance than the above options and with much more of the supporting cannabinoids.
Summary: What You Need to Know About Taking THC, CBD, and CBG Together
Many prescription and herbal substances have contraindications. St. John’s Wort is a prime example. Slated as an herbal antidepressant for years, it has become the bane of many a doctor’s life as it negatively interacts with a whole host of medications. And it’s not the only one. Grapefruit can inhibit the absorption of countless substances, and many of the things you buy over the counter could cause dangerous side effects when taken together, including aspirin and ibuprofen.
So, you should always check when combining herbal remedies or substances. In this case, however, there is nothing to worry about. Not only are these cannabinoids found together in their natural state, but they are very well tolerated even when taken in extract form and in large doses.
Still, caution is advised if you don’t have any experience with cannabinoids and, therefore, don’t know how you will react. We also recommend contacting a healthcare professional before taking any combination of cannabinoids if you have a preexisting health condition, take prescription medication, or have a history of health problems.
