Long before high-CBG cannabis seeds became widely available, two brothers in Oregon were pioneering the genetics that would help establish an entirely new sector of the cannabis industry.
Today, CBG-dominant cannabis is a recognized category, with seed banks around the world offering CBG-rich varieties. But the development of commercially viable, high-CBG seeds was a significant scientific and agricultural challenge that few breeders had successfully addressed.
At the forefront of this work were Seth and Eric Crawford, the brothers behind our companies, Oregon CBD and GTR Seeds.
Through years of selective breeding, cannabinoid analysis, and scientific research, the Crawford brothers developed some of North America's earliest commercially viable high-CBG cannabis genetics. Their work helped transform CBG from a relatively obscure cannabinoid into a commercially important agricultural crop.
The Challenge of Breeding High-CBG Cannabis
To understand the significance of the Crawford brothers' achievements, it's important to understand why CBG-dominant cannabis was historically so uncommon.
Cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) is a central precursor in cannabinoid biosynthesis. In most cannabis plants, specialized enzymes convert CBGA into other cannabinoids, including THCA and CBDA.
As a result, mature cannabis flowers typically accumulate relatively little CBGA because much of it has been converted into other compounds.
Although CBG-dominant cannabis plants had been identified in scientific research, reliable seed varieties capable of producing uniform, high-CBG crops were largely unavailable to commercial growers.
Developing these genetics required more than finding an unusual plant. Breeders needed to understand how CBG-dominant traits were inherited, stabilize their expression, and combine them with the vigor, uniformity, and agricultural performance necessary for commercial cultivation.
This was the challenge Seth and Eric Crawford set out to solve.
The Crawford Brothers' Breakthrough in CBG Genetics
Seth and Eric Crawford founded Oregon CBD in 2015 with a focus on scientific cannabis breeding and the development of commercially valuable cannabinoid profiles.
Their early work involved identifying rare genetic traits and using controlled crosses to develop new varieties with predictable cannabinoid production.
In 2016, Eric Crawford conducted a breeding experiment involving cannabis plants with unusual cannabinoid characteristics. Among the resulting offspring, the team identified plants exhibiting a Type IV cannabinoid profile, characterized by the accumulation of CBGA rather than predominantly THCA or CBDA.
These plants provided foundational material for Oregon CBD's high-CBG breeding program.
Through additional selection and breeding, the Crawford brothers developed CBG-dominant genetics with remarkably low THC production.
By 2017, our breeding program had developed what we identify as North America's first pure CBG line, along with early CBG-dominant autoflowering genetics.
Their achievements gained further recognition as Seth Crawford presented the program's findings at scientific and cannabis industry conferences.
Among the most remarkable results was a CBG-dominant plant exhibiting an approximately 100:1 CBG-to-THC ratio, demonstrating the potential to produce substantial concentrations of CBG while maintaining extremely low THC levels.
These breakthroughs laid the groundwork for the development of reliable, commercially available high-CBG cannabis seeds.
From Rare Genetics to Commercially Viable CBG Seeds
Discovering a plant with an unusual cannabinoid profile is only the beginning of developing a successful seed variety.
For commercial growers, consistency is essential. A seed variety must produce plants with predictable cannabinoid expression, vigorous growth, desirable flowering characteristics, and sufficient uniformity to perform reliably across agricultural environments.
The Crawford brothers recognized that high-CBG cannabis would only become commercially important if growers could access dependable seed genetics.
Their breeding program focused on developing feminized CBG seeds and F1 hybrid varieties that combined CBGA-dominant cannabinoid production with practical agricultural characteristics.
This was an important advancement for hemp cultivation.
Rather than depending on individual clones or highly variable seed populations, farmers could establish large plantings of CBG-dominant cannabis using purposefully developed seed varieties.
The exceptionally low THC concentrations associated with these genetics also provided a valuable advantage for licensed hemp growers concerned about regulatory compliance.
By making high-CBG cultivation more predictable and scalable, the Crawford brothers helped establish the foundation for a commercial CBG hemp industry.
White CBG and Stem Cell CBG: Foundational High-CBG Varieties
The Crawford brothers' pioneering breeding efforts ultimately contributed to the development of some of the most recognizable CBG genetics in commercial cultivation.
White CBG
White CBG became one of Oregon CBD's foundational CBG-dominant varieties.
Known for its resinous flowers, high CBG production, and extremely low THC concentrations, White CBG demonstrated that CBG-rich cannabis could produce commercially desirable flower while maintaining a distinctive cannabinoid profile.
Its combination of agricultural performance and cannabinoid production helped make it an important variety for both CBG flower and biomass cultivation.
Stem Cell CBG
Stem Cell CBG became another cornerstone of the breeding program.
Developed with an emphasis on strong cannabinoid production, plant vigor, and agricultural productivity, Stem Cell CBG helped demonstrate the commercial potential of purposefully bred CBG-dominant cannabis.
The variety also became the subject of published scientific research examining how different chromosome numbers influence cannabis characteristics.
Together, these genetics helped establish high-CBG cannabis as a practical crop rather than simply an unusual cannabinoid expression.
Advancing the Science of CBG Breeding
An important aspect of Seth and Eric Crawford's work has been their commitment to scientific research and collaboration.
Their early CBG breeding efforts contributed to peer-reviewed research investigating the genetic mechanisms responsible for CBGA-dominant cannabis.
A study published in 2021 examined a genetic marker associated with CBGA dominance, documenting aspects of Oregon CBD's original breeding program and advancing the scientific understanding of CBG-rich cannabis.
Additional research involving Stem Cell CBG explored differences between diploid, triploid, and tetraploid cannabis plants, contributing to the broader understanding of chromosome manipulation in cannabis breeding.
These studies demonstrate how the Crawford brothers' work extended beyond commercial seed production.
Their genetics became valuable research material, helping scientists better understand cannabinoid inheritance, cannabis breeding, and the genetic characteristics responsible for specialized cannabinoid production.
The Crawford brothers were not simply developing new products. They were contributing to the scientific foundation of modern cannabis breeding.
Continuing Innovation in High-CBG Cannabis Seeds
The early breakthroughs in CBG breeding established a foundation for continued innovation at Oregon CBD and GTR Seeds.
What began with the development of rare CBG-dominant genetics has expanded into a diverse breeding program producing feminized F1 hybrids, autoflowering varieties, and triploid CBG seeds.
Triploid cannabis plants contain three sets of chromosomes rather than the two found in conventional diploid plants.
This difference substantially reduces fertility, helping minimize unwanted seed formation when plants are exposed to pollen.
For commercial CBG growers, reduced fertility can offer an important advantage by helping protect flower quality and marketability.
GTR Seeds has continued building upon its foundational CBG genetics with triploid versions of established varieties, including White CBG Seedless and Stem Cell CBG Seedless, along with additional CBG-rich releases selected for distinctive aromas, flower quality, and agricultural performance.
These developments reflect the same breeding philosophy that guided the Crawford brothers' earliest work: identify valuable genetic traits, understand their inheritance, and develop reliable seed varieties that make those traits accessible to growers.
The Lasting Impact of Seth and Eric Crawford on CBG Genetics
The modern CBG cannabis industry looks dramatically different from the market that existed when Seth and Eric Crawford began their breeding work.
Today, growers can purchase CBG seeds from numerous suppliers, and CBG-dominant cannabis is cultivated for smokable flower, cannabinoid extraction, and other commercial applications.
But the development of reliable, commercially viable high-CBG genetics was not inevitable.
It required breeders willing to explore uncommon cannabinoid profiles, invest in years of genetic selection, and develop seed varieties capable of performing at an agricultural scale.
Seth and Eric Crawford were among the pioneers who helped make that possible.
While CBG-dominant cannabis had been identified in scientific literature before their work, the Crawford brothers played a significant role in bringing high-CBG genetics into commercial seed production.
Their contributions helped demonstrate that CBG-rich cannabis could be bred for consistent cannabinoid expression, low THC production, and reliable agricultural performance.
Their achievement wasn't simply identifying plants that produced CBG. It was helping turn rare CBG genetics into dependable cannabis seeds that growers could cultivate commercially.
That legacy continues today through GTR Seeds and Oregon CBD, where the same commitment to scientific breeding and genetic innovation drives the development of new cannabis varieties.
From the original CBG breeding breakthroughs to today's advanced feminized and triploid genetics, the Crawford brothers' work has helped shape the modern high-CBG cannabis industry.
Explore GTR Seeds' collection of high-CBG cannabis seeds and discover the genetics developed by the breeders who helped pioneer commercial CBG cultivation.
