Glass House Brands and UC Berkeley Collaborate on Hemp Research and Development

LOS ANGELES- Glass House Brands Inc., a vertically integrated cannabis company, has entered into a collaboration with the University of California, Berkeley, to conduct research on hemp. The partnership will focus on areas such as medicinal product development, hemp genetics improvement, market analysis, supply chain sustainability, and the application of artificial intelligence in cultivation and production. ​

The collaboration also intends to assess data-driven approaches to hemp policy and regulation, aiming to reduce uncertainty for hemp growers in California. Research efforts will explore potential treatments targeting coronaviruses, pain, sleep disorders, inflammation, and cirrhosis.

In 2024, Glass House Brands obtained a hemp license and has been engaged in growing and testing hemp for research and development purposes. The company’s dedicated hemp R&D greenhouse has the capacity to produce up to 240,000 pounds of biomass annually. ​

Kyle Kazan, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Glass House Brands, stated that the collaboration with UC Berkeley is intended to enhance the company’s ability to navigate legislative uncertainties in the hemp industry and prepare for future business scaling. He also noted the potential for Glass House to become one of the largest hemp cultivators in the United States, contingent upon developments in the Federal Farm Bill and state-level regulatory alignment. ​

Orrin Devinsky, MD, Medical and Science Advisor to Glass House’s Board of Directors and a Professor of Neurology, Neuroscience, and Psychiatry, expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with UC Berkeley’s research faculty to develop new treatments aimed at improving the quality of life for individuals with disabling disorders. ​