Longmont-based High Grade Hemp Seed, Swiss firm to develop CBG strain

HGH Seed Inc., a Longmont hemp-genetics firm doing business as High Grade Hemp Seed, is working with Switzerland-based Swiss Cannabinoid SAGL to develop new hemp strains with high yields of the cannabinoid CBG.

CBG, like THC and CBD, is a chemical compound derived from the hemp plant. As CBD products have increased in popularity, hemp-seed technology companies have sought new genetic-manipulation techniques to create plant varieties that yield high levels of other types of cannabinoids such as CBG.

While research on CBG is still in its infancy, proponents of the chemical claim it has unique benefits that could prove therapeutic for sufferers of ailments such as Huntington’s Disease and glaucoma.

“At High Grade we have focused our breeding program and partnerships to ensure farmers can grow proven, strong and diverse genetics,” High Grade CEO Bodhi Urban said in a prepared statement. “That’s one of the reasons we decided to work with Swiss Cannabinoid as a true genetics partner. Paving the way in CBG has been a logical next step — both in advancing the agricultural industry and also in improving the availability of CBG products to U.S. consumers.”

High Grade and Swiss Cannabinoid’s newly developed CBG-heavy hemp strain is called Matterhorn.

“We chose to focus on CBG due to its powerful efficacy in early trials. Over the past few years, more and more research has been conducted to understand the value of CBG,” Swiss Cannabinoid founder Matthias Ghidossi said in a statement. “The early results of clinical testing in Europe are creating a lot of excitement in the fields of science and medicine.”