Minor Cannabinoids, Major Potential

What the MoreBetter Study Reveals About CBG and Chronic Pain

For most of the last decade, two cannabinoids did all the talking. THC and CBD became household names, anchored thousands of products, and shaped how the public understands cannabis. But a quieter, more interesting story has been unfolding in research labs and real-world studies — one centered on the so-called minor cannabinoids, and on cannabigerol (CBG) in particular.

New findings from a study supported by our research partner MoreBetter, published in the peer-reviewed journal Clinical Therapeutics, add fresh weight to a question that matters to millions of people: what role might minor cannabinoids like CBG play in how we understand and manage chronic pain? The study didn't just confirm that cannabinoids show promise — it compared distinct formulations head to head and surfaced some genuinely useful nuance about which cannabinoid combinations did what.

At 23rd State, we've built our brand on a simple principle: let the evidence lead. So when research like this lands, we read it closely — not for marketing soundbites, but because it informs how we think about formulation, function, and the future of the category. CBG isn't an afterthought in our products; it's a deliberate choice. Both Fresh Press (1:1) and SHAKE (3:1) are built with a ratio of CBG and THC, and the science emerging around minor cannabinoids is a big part of why.

Here's what the MoreBetter study found, what the broader body of CBG research tells us, and how all of it connects to the way we formulate.

Meet the Minor Cannabinoids, and Why CBG Stands Out

The cannabis plant produces more than a hundred distinct cannabinoids. THC and CBD are simply the most abundant, which is why they got famous first. Everything else — CBG, CBC, CBN, CBDV, THCV and the rest — gets filed under the umbrella term "minor cannabinoids." The label refers to quantity, not significance. Many of these compounds are present in trace amounts in the mature plant, yet they carry distinct pharmacological profiles that researchers are only beginning to map in detail.

CBG occupies a special place in this lineup. It's often called the "mother of all cannabinoids," and the nickname is earned: CBG's acidic form, CBGA, is the chemical precursor from which THC, CBD, and several other cannabinoids are synthesized as the plant matures. In other words, the headliners start their lives as CBG. Because the plant converts most of its CBGA into other compounds during growth, very little CBG typically remains at harvest — which historically made it scarce and expensive to isolate. Advances in cultivation and extraction have changed that, and CBG has stepped out of the shadows.

What makes CBG compelling from a wellness and research standpoint is its mechanism. Unlike THC, CBG is non-intoxicating — it doesn't produce a "high." But it's pharmacologically busy. Research reviews describe CBG interacting with both CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, as well as with TRP channels and alpha-2 adrenoceptors — signaling pathways involved in inflammation, mood, focus, and the perception of pain. That broad and somewhat unusual receptor activity is exactly why scientists keep circling back to CBG as a candidate worth studying on its own terms, rather than treating it as a bit player in a THC-dominant blend.

For consumers, the practical takeaway is that CBG behaves differently from the cannabinoids they already know. It's a clear-headed compound, frequently associated in early research and user reports with focus and a sense of restorative balance — qualities that complement rather than compete with THC.

Inside the MoreBetter Study: A Closer Look at the Research

The study published in Clinical Therapeutics was a collaboration between researchers at the University at Buffalo, the University of Michigan Medical School, and MoreBetter, the real-world evidence platform we partner with. It was designed as a randomized controlled trial with three active comparison groups — meaning every participant received a real cannabinoid formulation, and the researchers compared outcomes across them.

The trial enrolled 164 adults living in California, all of whom had prior experience with cannabis, and all of whom were managing one of three chronic pain conditions: fibromyalgia (64 participants), osteoarthritis of the knee and/or hip (75 participants), and rheumatoid arthritis (25 participants). These aren't abstract diagnoses — they represent some of the most common and stubborn sources of long-term pain, conditions that often resist conventional treatment and erode quality of life.

Over a 12-week period, participants were randomly assigned to take one of three oral capsule formulations, each built around a different cannabinoid combination:

Formulation 1 paired 12.5 mg of CBD with 12.5 mg of THC — a balanced blend of the two best-known cannabinoids.
Formulation 2 combined four compounds: 10 mg of THCA, 10 mg of CBDa, 5 mg of CBG, and 3 mg of CBC — a minor-cannabinoid–forward blend that included CBG.
Formulation 3 consisted of 10 mg of CBD and 10 mg of CBDa, two non-intoxicating cannabinoids.

Throughout the study, participants used an app-based system to log their symptoms, reporting on pain, mental health, cognitive functioning, and physical functioning through validated questionnaires. This app-supported, self-documented approach is a hallmark of MoreBetter's real-world research model: rather than relying solely on a single clinic visit, it captures how people actually feel as they live their lives over the course of weeks. That methodology matters, because chronic pain is lived day to day, not measured in a single snapshot.

It's worth being precise about one thing: this study evaluated oral capsule formulations in a structured clinical setting — not beverages, and not any specific commercial product. We're sharing it because of what it reveals about cannabinoids and pain science, not because it tested anything you'll find on our shelf.

What the Findings Mean for Chronic Pain

The headline result was encouraging across the board: participants reported significant improvements across nearly all measured symptoms — including pain, sleep, and mental health — and those improvements spanned all three chronic pain conditions. Cognitive function was the one domain where the researchers did not observe significant change, which is itself a useful and reassuring data point: the formulations were associated with symptom relief without a corresponding hit to clarity.

But the more interesting story lives in the differences between the formulations. The three blends did not perform identically, and the variation gives clinicians and formulators something concrete to work with rather than a one-size-fits-all conclusion.

Two findings stand out. First, the formulations differed in their effect on sleep disturbance — a meaningful detail, since poor sleep and chronic pain feed each other in a vicious cycle, and breaking that loop can change everything for a patient. Second, and most relevant to the minor-cannabinoid conversation: participants who took Formulation 2 — the blend that contained CBG, alongside THCA, CBDa, and CBC — reported reductions in neuropathic pain intensity. Neuropathic pain, the burning or shooting discomfort that comes from nerve dysfunction, is notoriously difficult to treat and often responds poorly to standard medications. Seeing a CBG-containing, minor-cannabinoid blend associated with relief in that specific category is exactly the kind of signal that makes researchers want to study these compounds further.

The research team also drew a practical conclusion that's easy to overlook: for people who don't want to feel intoxicated, non-intoxicating cannabinoids like CBD and CBDa may offer a useful path to symptom relief. That insight — that effect and intoxication can be partly decoupled — sits at the heart of why minor cannabinoids are such an active area of study, and why a clear-headed compound like CBG draws so much interest.

A note on interpretation, because honesty is part of being evidence-forward: this was a multi-cannabinoid study, and CBG was one of four compounds in Formulation 2. The findings don't isolate CBG as a single cause of any single outcome, and no one should read them that way. What the study does do is strengthen the broader case that thoughtfully combined cannabinoids — including minor ones like CBG — are worth taking seriously in the context of chronic pain, and that the differences between formulations are real and worth understanding.

CBG and Pain: The Broader Body of Science

The MoreBetter study doesn't stand alone. It joins a rapidly growing body of research that has been building a mechanistic and clinical case for CBG, and reading the study against that backdrop is what makes it meaningful.

On the laboratory side, a 2025 study from Yale researchers identified that CBG — along with CBD and CBN — reduced the activity of a protein central to transmitting pain signals in the peripheral nervous system. That's significant because it points to a concrete biological mechanism by which non-intoxicating cannabinoids might influence pain, and because the researchers framed these compounds as potential alternatives to treatments limited by side effects, dependency risk, and diminishing returns over time.

Preclinical animal research has added further detail. Studies in rodent models have reported that CBG can modulate CB2 receptor expression in the spinal cord and attenuate neuropathic pain responses, and that chronic CBG dosing meaningfully reduced nerve-related pain sensitivity in models of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy — notably, without producing tolerance or significant adverse events over the testing window. These are early-stage, animal-model findings rather than human clinical conclusions, and they should be read as such. But they line up strikingly well with the neuropathic-pain signal seen in the MoreBetter trial, and that kind of convergence across very different study types is what gives a hypothesis legs.

There's a human dimension, too. A widely cited 2021 survey of patients who used CBG-predominant cannabis preparations found that a majority rated CBG as superior to their conventional medications for managing chronic pain, alongside reported benefits for mood and sleep — and most respondents described a favorable tolerability profile. Survey data has real limitations and can't establish cause and effect, but it captures something the lab can't: lived experience, at scale.

Taken together, the mechanistic, preclinical, survey, and now controlled-trial evidence form a coherent throughline. None of it is the final word, and reputable researchers are careful to call for larger and longer human trials. But the direction of travel is clear, and CBG has firmly graduated from curiosity to serious subject of study.

Why 23rd State Builds With CBG

We're a hemp beverage company, not a pharmacy — and we're deliberate about that distinction. We don't make medical claims, and we won't tell you a drink is a treatment. What we will tell you is why we make the formulation choices we make, because that transparency is core to who we are.

23rd State was founded on the conviction that cannabis products should be evidence-forward, beautifully made, and honest about what they are. That philosophy shows up in everything from our commitment to batch testing and lab transparency to the way we read studies like this one. When the research community pays sustained attention to a compound — across mechanism, animal models, patient surveys, and controlled trials — we pay attention too.

CBG earned its place in our products on the merits. As a non-intoxicating cannabinoid frequently associated with focus and a restorative, clear-headed quality, it complements THC in a way few other compounds do. Where THC brings the relaxation and mood lift people associate with a great social beverage, CBG adds a dimension of balance and clarity. That pairing is the whole idea: a beverage that elevates a moment without flattening it, designed for adults who want a considered, functional alternative to alcohol.

It's also why we don't bury CBG at a token dose. In our flagship product, Fresh Press, CBG appears in equal measure to THC — a true 1:1 ratio of 10 mg THC to 10 mg CBG. That's a formulation decision rooted in the belief that minor cannabinoids deserve to be more than label decoration. As the science around CBG continues to mature, we think brands that took it seriously early will look prescient — and we'd rather lead that conversation than follow it.

Fresh Press and SHAKE: CBG in Every Sip

So where does all of this land in a glass? In two products we're genuinely proud of.

Fresh Press is a first-of-its-kind, pear cider–inspired hemp beverage infused with 10 mg of THC and 10 mg of CBG per 12 oz can. Crisp, refreshing, and completely alcohol-free, it pairs a familiar, sophisticated cider profile with a dual-cannabinoid formulation built for both enjoyment and function. Because the infusion is water-soluble and fast-acting, Fresh Press delivers a smooth, controlled experience without the long wait associated with traditional edibles — making it a natural fit for a daily ritual, a social gathering, or a quiet evening of unwinding. It's low in calories, free of artificial additives, and designed to slot effortlessly into a modern lifestyle.

SHAKE takes a different, more playful form. It's the world's first cannabis-infused edible glitter drink enhancer — flavorless, food-safe drops that bring THC and CBG to any beverage you choose, from sparkling water to an elaborate mocktail. A few drops add a mesmerizing shimmer in colors like Emerald Green, Cosmo Pink and 24K Gold, transforming an ordinary drink into something that looks as elevated as it feels. Like Fresh Press, SHAKE uses water-soluble hemp-derived cannabinoids and is built around the same THC-plus-CBG philosophy, with every batch lab-tested for quality and compliance.

What ties them together is intent. Both products are an approachable, alcohol-free way to enjoy a thoughtfully formulated cannabinoid blend — one that reflects the brand's evidence-forward point of view and its conviction that minor cannabinoids like CBG belong in the conversation. They're made for celebration, for connection, and for the everyday moments in between. (For adult use only. Must be 21+ to purchase.)

To be clear once more: these are beverages and beverage enhancers meant for enjoyment by adults, not therapeutic products, and nothing in the research above was conducted on them. We share the science because it shapes how we think and formulate — and because we believe our customers deserve to understand the why behind what they're drinking.

The Bigger Picture: Evidence-Forward Cannabis

The cannabis beverage category has a credibility opportunity in front of it. As the space matures and consumers grow more discerning, the brands that earn lasting trust will be the ones that ground their choices in real research rather than hype. That's the bet 23rd State is making, and it's why our partnership with MoreBetter matters so much to us.

Real-world evidence — the kind MoreBetter specializes in, capturing how people actually respond over weeks of everyday life — is exactly what this industry needs more of. Controlled trials like the one in Clinical Therapeutics move the science forward, and the steady accumulation of findings on minor cannabinoids is gradually turning anecdote into understanding. CBG is a perfect example of that arc: a compound once dismissed as a trace curiosity, now the subject of serious, multi-method scientific inquiry.

We don't have all the answers, and we won't pretend to. What we can promise is that we'll keep reading the research, keep formulating with intention, and keep being honest about both what the science shows and what it doesn't yet. That's what evidence-forward actually means.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CBG? CBG, or cannabigerol, is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. It's often called the "mother of all cannabinoids" because its acidic form is the chemical precursor to THC, CBD, and several other compounds. Unlike THC, it doesn't produce a high, and it's frequently associated in research and user reports with focus and a sense of balance.

What did the MoreBetter study find about chronic pain? The study, published in Clinical Therapeutics, followed 164 adults with fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis over 12 weeks as they took one of three cannabinoid capsule formulations. Participants reported significant improvements across pain, sleep, and mental health, and the blend that included CBG was specifically associated with reductions in neuropathic pain intensity. You can read the research here.

Did the study test Fresh Press or SHAKE? No. The study evaluated oral capsule formulations in a clinical research setting. It did not test any 23rd State product. We share it because it informs our broader understanding of cannabinoids, not because it assessed our beverages.

Is CBG intoxicating? No. CBG is non-intoxicating and does not produce the "high" associated with THC. This is part of what makes it interesting to researchers studying symptom relief without intoxication.

How much CBG is in 23rd State products? Both Fresh Press and SHAKE are formulated with a 1:1 ratio of 10 mg THC to 10 mg CBG, making CBG a co-headliner rather than a trace ingredient.

Will CBG help with my pain? Research into CBG and pain is promising but still developing, and much of the strongest evidence comes from preclinical and survey studies. Our products are beverages intended for enjoyment by adults 21+, not medical treatments. If you're managing a health condition, talk with a qualified healthcare provider about your options.

Read the research

The full study is available in Clinical Therapeutics: View the study on ScienceDirect →

This article is provided for educational purposes and reflects emerging research; it is not medical advice. 23rd State products are crafted for adults 21 and older and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Cannabinoids may interact with medications and affect individuals differently — please consult a healthcare professional before use, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, managing a medical condition, or taking prescription medication. Hemp-derived products are sold in compliance with applicable law. Must be 21+ to purchase. Please consume responsibly.

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