Cannabis Begins it's Medicinal Benefits with Cannabigerolic acid (CBGa)

CBGa is Cannabis in the Raw

All cannabinoids start out as cannabigerolic acid (CBGa). Eating raw fresh cannabis that contains CBGa has medicinal benefits with different effects than other cannabinoids. As a result of it's non-psychoactive nature CBGa can be consumed in larger quantities than THC.

Fresh and raw cannabis typically breaks down CBGa into other cannabinoids quickly after harvest. Some industrial hemp strains have shown to have CBGa that doesn't convert to other cannabinoids. It has been speculated that these strains hold a recessive gene which doesn't allow this conversion. If a strain has a high CBGa content then smoking it will add heat and change it to CBG.(Source)

CBGa has been found to interact with a different cannabinoid receptor than THC. Ruth Ross from the University of Aberdeen found that CBGa was an antagonist for the cannabinoid receptor GPR55. She found that CBGa and CBDa were 2-4 times stronger in affecting GPR55 than CBD and CBG.(Source) GPR55 has shown to target inflammatory pain, neuropathic pain and aid in bone development.(Source)

Dr. William Courtney ,a leading physician advocating the use of raw cannabis, says:

“If you heat the plant, you get decarboxylated THCa – THC, and you will have psychoactive effects with only 10mg of THC. If it is not heated, you can take from 500 to 600 mg of THCa, use it as essential nutrient and enjoy the antioxidant and neuroprotective properties that these high doses offer you.”

In the raw form cannabis gives a powerful dietary component of essential fatty acids, essential aminoacids, fibers, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, carotenoids, terpenes and of course phytocannabinoid acids. (Source)

Source:

http://www.medicaljane.com/2013/08/03/cannabigerol-cbg-is-a-minor-cannabinoid-with-major-impact/

http://www.jbc.org/content/287/1/91.full.pdf

http://grantome.com/grant/NIH/R01-DA023204-08

http://www.alchimiaweb.com/blogen/dr-courtneys-raw-cannabis-juice/

The Differences Cannabis Raw, Heated or Aged

The Differences Cannabis Raw, Heated or Aged

Different cannabinoids are created when the flower is exposed to UV light, aging, oxidation and heat. Each cannabinoid has unique medicinal effects.

Cannabis is unique in that it is the only plant able to produce cannabigerolicacid (CBGa). The first cannabinoid the cannabis plant produces in raw form is CBGa. Cannabis synthesizes through natural enzymes to change CBGa into three main cannabinoid branches. CBGa is in an unstable form and typically is converted to other cannabinoids quickly. These three cannabinoids types are tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCa), Cannabidiolic acid (CBDa) and Cannabichromenic acid (CBCa).

Heat changes cannabinoids into THC, CBD, CBG and CBN. This conversion process is created by losing a carbon dioxide molecule (CO2). In this state they are thought to be in a neutral form. When a strain has a high CBGa content smoking it will add heat and change it to CBG.

Raw or heated cannabis can turn into different cannabinoids when it has oxidation and age. THCa with oxidation will change to CBNa. Aged THC will change into CBN or Tetra8 THC. When aged CBC will turn into CBL. Raw CBCa turns into CBLa over time.