Top 5 Strains with CBG (Cannabigerol)

Why look at high CBG flower strains? Cannabigerol (CBG) is one of many fascinating cannabinoids being widely discovered and used in new ways by cannabis aficionados and others who are interested to experience its effects. CBG hemp flower is becoming more popular among cannabinoid enthusiasts for its unique properties. Keep reading for more information about this unique, scarce and exciting cannabinoid, and the top strains that have been developed to deliver its benefits.

Brief background on CBD and hemp-derived cannabinoids.

2018 Farm Bill

Skip ahead if you are familiar with CBD 101, the Farm Bill, and all of that. If not, here’s what you need to know about CBD (Cannabidiol) and cannabis legality, etc. All cannabinoids are derived from cannabis flower, a single plant that is responsible for illegal marijuana and legal hemp. The amount of Delta-9 THC, the main psychoactive substance in cannabis, existent in the plant material determines the federal-compliance of the final product.

For instance these smokeable CBD hemp flower strains contain less than .3% of Delta-9 THC, but up to 20% total cannabinoids. The non-psychoactive cannabinoid called CBD is one of the most prominent and has a bevy of beneficial qualities that you no doubt have heard about by now. To learn more about how cannabinoids work with human biology, check out the article: Cannabis and the Endocannabinoid System.

A New Path

With this new federal-compliance benchmark of .3% THC, hemp was removed from the list of Schedule 1 substances in the 2014 Farm Bill. This ushered in a wave of long-desired research into the cannabis plant and the many compounds it contains. The simple but crucial change in the legal status of hemp has been a huge step forward by allowing research into the medical and wellness benefits of cannabis, and CBG specifically.

What is Cannabigerol (CBG)?

Cannabigerol is sometimes called the “mother of cannabinoid stem cells” because CBG is one molecule containing many different cannabinoids, including CBD and CBDE. CBG can also be found in young hemp plants that have just 3–4 weeks of flowering. They’re taken out when the hemp plants matures and transform into another cannabinoids, which usually are completed at week 6. This compound was previously considered minor cannabinoids and is now found in less than 1% concentration in full-bred marijuana strains.

Why is CBG an important cannabinoid?

The endocannabinoid system of the human body is a complex cell-signaling system which is integral for maintaining health. Endocannabinoid receptors are found throughout the body, including in the brain, immune cells, connective tissues, glands, and organs. A 2018 study indicates that CBG is a regulator of endocannabinoid signaling (4), so it may have a small part to play in almost all of human physiology.

Remember that research into cannabis is a relatively new frontier. While much more is needed, the recent findings from what is currently available mean that scientists are on the right track.

Why is CBG so scarce?

CBG is abundant in developing cannabis as the precursor to other cannabinoids but it can be rare in the end product—why is this?

Cannabigerolic acid (CBGa) is the precursor of cannabigerol (CBG) and is responsible for creating most downstream synthesized cannabinoids like THC and CBD (3). Because of this CBG is lovingly called the “mother of all cannabinoids,” but since most of the CBGa is converted into cannabinoids, traditionally there is very little left in the plant upon harvest and use. Therefore CBG has a high production cost and it can actually take thousands of pounds of biomass to yield a small amount of CBG isolate (1).

Are high CBG flower strains legal?

CBG rich strains are federally legal according to 2014 Farm bill, as long as the flower has less than .3% Delta-9 THC.

CBG Flower – What does it feel like?

Some people describe the effects of CBG flower strains as relaxing and energizing while still feeling soothing euphoric in the body. High CBG strains can enhance and intensify the effects of the combination of the two cannabinoids found in cannabis flower. The best CBG flower will bring soothing effects feeling without being sedative, and may increase focus. Uplifting effects are one of the most common reported feelings from CBG hemp flower.

Additional Effects

The effect of CBG flower is somewhat subtle, but more apparent than in CBD flower. In addition, high CBG strains can have increased effects when combined with CBD and notably THC bud. This is a common effect that comes with CBD bud: Initially it might seem contradictory but CBG flower is capable of giving you calming effects without really feeling sleepy.

The top companies for CBG flower

How do you determine the top five flower strains with CBG? We first need to look at the companies who are working with the plant’s genetics, to understand why and how these strains came about and why they outperform others. We’ll look at three major innovators in the CBG space, and the top five CBG strains they’ve given us.

Oregon CBD Seeds

Oregon CBD Seeds is the company that introduced the first pure CBG flower strain to North America in 2017 (7). As research and progress continued, in 2018 it was speculated that the mass farming of cannabinoids could all be done with farming industrial hemp for CBG, because CBG would only need to have the right synthase added to it to make it THC, CBD, or CBC (8).

After three years of lab work and field testing, they produced two initial strains that had a big impact on the industry in 2020: White CBG, and Stem Cell. Later the company released their Sour G CBG.

High Grade Hemp Seed

High Grade Hemp Seed from Colorado is another company that put much effort into CBG flower and hemp flowers, and partnered with the original developer of Matterhorn CBG, Matthias Ghidossi, founder of Swiss Cannabanoid, to make it available in the United States.

Ghidossi worked with geneticists and pharmaceutical companies to cultivate, trial-test, and register this strain. High Grade Hemp Seed field tested Matterhorn for two years and currently offers it as a prime strain for commercial production (11).

Sunbelt Seeds

Sunbelt Seeds out of Georgia is the third company we’ll discuss who produce a top-rating CBG strain called The Grail CBG. The company went through a lengthy phenotype selection process to create a stable pest resistant strain suitable that has been tested for multiple climates and flourished everywhere (12).

High CBG Strains

The more powerful high-CBG varieties typically have white tints and are less moisturizing and slippery compared with other cannabis flowers. The flavors of these high CBG hemp flower strains vary from spicy, pepper, earthy, nutty, spicy and citrus. This list some of the most popular CBG strains available now. You’d see that many strains of CBG flower have the term “white” in their names in order to distinguish between other types of hemp flower.

White CBG

Oregon CBD Seeds started with the strain called “The White” which is an industry leading cannabinoid producer, and converted it to a pure CBG flower phenotype, bred for increased terpene and resin production. The plants grow vigorously with large frosty flowers and huge colas. A creamy-lemon aroma and terpene profile make this a sativa leaning strain that is associated with a sense of calm, clarity and focus without any grogginess or sleepiness. Capable of producing up to 20% CBG while staying below .3% total THC (9). White CBG is by far one of the most popular high CBG strains in the cannabis industry. It typically has exceptionally high CBG content.

Stem Cell

Referencing its nature as the precursor to other cannabinoids, CBG flower has also been called the “stem cell cannabinoid” and that’s perhaps what inspired the name of this strain, also from the initial offerings from Oregon CBD Seeds. It was specifically developed for biomass production and extraction. As CBG hemp flower became more popular, Stem Cell became a heavy contender in cannabis industry.

This strain has very little terpene content which allows it to be mass harvested, since the trichomes don’t gum up the equipment like stickier buds do. Another result is that very little odor is produced so this strain is useful for situations that require stealth (9). Averaging 16% CBG with .11 THC.

Sour G CBG

Sour G CBG flower is one of Oregon CBD’s latest hemp flower strains. It’s lineage comes from Sour Diesel, but it is mostly sour in name only. It produces large, dominant, but slightly less dense flowers than the White CBG.

It is a shorter statured plant but still produces solid yields of tasty, crystal-covered flower. It’s a high CBG yielding plant capable of producing upwards of 20% CBG, with averages in the 13-16% range. While not an overpowering aroma, the nose is mainly citrus, diesel, earthy, and peppery (14).

Matterhorn CBG

This strain began from Carmagnola lineage, an Italian sativa strain of hemp flower used mainly for fiber (10). It boasts a 15% CBG level with a very low average of .09% THC. Great for extraction but also very smokeable, Matterhorn has a hoppy lemon and lime profile and has proven itself to be a consistent, stable, and reliable choice for CBG (11).

The Grail CBG

The Grail CBG strain was developed over a 5 year period utilizing a wild hemp variety that has then been crossed and back crossed multiple times per year for 5 years to make a stable high-CBG plant that can reach up to 10 feet tall.

Averaging a 15-17% CBG content with very low THC. This hemp flower grows well in diverse climates and is known for easy harvesting. It is another producer strain that is also smokaeable, with a profile similar to others in this list: soft citrus with lingering aromas of fresh hops (13).

The best CBG flower for you

With strong market interest, and more new research underway, expect to see more and more CBG strains and products on shelves in the future. Geneticists will continue to cross-breed high-CBG cannabis into interesting hybrids that combine feature sets from other strains. If you’re interested in exploring the benefits of CBG, we suggest you do your own research, try a few strains, and share your favorite with a friend.

Alternatives

If you aren’t into smoking or vaping CBD hemp flower, there are lots of options out there for you. High quality CBD gummies, oils, and more are available everywhere with all sorts of options these days. Just remember to purchase from a reputable brand that maintains a tight chain of custody and uses third party testing to ensure safety and potency. Most importantly have fun experimenting!

Disclaimer – Information is provided for educational purposes. It does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice or medical advice. We attempt to be accurate and up to date but the legality of cannabinoids and the science of cannabis is evolving. The author is neither a lawyer or a legal expert, nor a doctor or medical expert. You should check with your local authorities and medical providers before buying or using any products

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal to send CBD related products through the mail?

Yes, but even though these products are federally-compliant, individual states may have their own regulations about purchasing or using hemp-based products, and these are subject to change. You should check your state and local rules before ordering. We ship nationwide.

What does “hemp-derived” mean?

Hemp-derived means made from hemp, sometimes also referred to as industrial hemp. The 2018 Farm Bill (see next section) established new federal legal definitions and rules for hemp, including that hemp and “and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis” may be used for production, sales, transport, and use.

Are hemp products safe?

Yes, hemp and hemp derived products are safe when they are produced with proper and safe practices. Look for a product’s COA. A certificate of analysis (COA) is a document attesting to a product’s laboratory analysis and testing for cannabinoids and adulterants.

What is a COA?

A certificate of analysis (COA) is a document attesting to a product’s laboratory analysis for cannabinoids and in some cases adulterants, heavy metals and pesticides.It is a useful tool for cannabis producers and customers to ensure quality and trust.