Why is CBG so expensive?

CBG and Other Cannabinoids

CBG is one of more than 120 identified cannabinoid compounds found in the plant genus cannabis. It is the non-acidic form of cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). All other cannabinoids (THC, CBD, etc.) are developed from CBG.  

CBGA is the first cannabinoid that form in the trichomes of a hemp or cannabis plant. During plant growth, certain enzymes could break CBGA down into the three more well-known 'major' cannabinoids, they are CBDA (Cannabidiolic acid), THCA (Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid), CBCA (Cannabichromenic acid), and etc. And also very small amounts of CBG can amongst a host of more than 120 other 'minor' cannabinoids such as CBNA, etc. 

Extract CBG Efficiently

To extract CBG efficiently, you should begin while the plant is still growing. As CBGA is the first cannabinoid to show up in young hemp or cannabis plants, there is a very difficult to harvest the plants and ensure a financially viable yield. 

CBG is most prevalent in young plants at about 6 weeks into the 8-week flowering cycle. At this point, CBG levels are at their highest because it has yet to be converted into other cannabinoids. This is the optimum time to harvest and process the plant. By harvesting before other cannabinoids have developed, you're seizing the perfect moment to capitalize on the highest concentration of CBGA.

CBG is called a "minor cannabinoid", because it's present in less than 1% by weight of most harvested cannabis strains. Even if you harvest at the height of CBGA production, the levels of CBG will be quite low. As a plant matures, it produces more cannabinoids and less CBG. Harvesting a plant early to capitalize on CBG production means that there is a lower proportion of CBD, THC, and other cannabinoids. 

Ultimately, this scarcity of the compound makes CBG a 'high end' and expensive product to produce and sell. But its rising popularity in the marketplace makes CBG a cannabinoid worth exploring and adding to your end-product portfolio.

Challenging 

The issue of CBG scarcity posed a challenge to breeders. Breeders have started to experiment with cross-breeding and genetic manipulation to create strains that yield higher amounts of CBG in mature plants. This means that the extraction of CBG is quickly becoming more efficient to extract, resulting in a more affordable end-product for consumers.