Monthly Archives: August 2021

NEW YORK, Aug. 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Endoca, the leading organic CBD brand, has announced title sponsorship of a Times Square takeover on National CBD Day, presented by Sublime Communications powered by Five Tier, Inc.

Endoca will be showcased on the iconic Times Square billboards at the "crossroads of the world" to celebrate the day and recognize that Endoca's all natural, premiumquality CBD products harness the pure power of nature to aid in sleep, muscle recovery and stress. The program will spread to social media channels throughout the day encouraging users to like, comment, and share the brand's vision of providing optimal wellness.

"At Endoca, we believe nature makes the best formulas and our innovative hemp extracts provide powerful, effective and safe CBD products that create synergy and balance in the body," said CEO and Founder Dr. Henry Vicentry. "Our primary goal is to make CBD in all homes throughout the world by 2030. It will have a place in the home just like salt and garlic - and Endoca is the premium brand of choice."

Nicole Enslein, Founder and CEO of Sublime Communications commented: "We are so excited to launch this program for Endoca on National CBD Day. The power of nature and the power of our media platform in partnership with Five Tier will ensure Endoca is on the tips of everybody's tongues as the CBD market continues to expand and the brand campaign evolves over the coming months."

The placements will run on National CBD Day, Sunday, August 8, 2021. People are encouraged to visit endoca.com.

About EndocaFounded in 2010, Endoca was one of the world's first CBD oil companies to start selling CBD products online, including CBD oils, capsules, and creams. Endoca has a state-of-the-art laboratory, in compliance with pharmaceutical regulations and is regarded as the pioneer in the CBD industry as its products are made with 100% chemical-free ingredients, free from fillers or any hidden extracts. Endoca is dedicated to promoting overall well-being for every individual by unlocking the true power of nature through high-quality products.

About Sublime CommunicationsSublime Communications is a certified women-owned and operated full-service marketing and communications agency that has spent decades providing Fortune 500 brands with global reach. The Sublime team of creative marketers has earned multiple industry awards for its impact campaigns that have led to exponential company growth across cross-channel platforms. Leveraging data-driven analytics and insights, Sublime offers a full spectrum of services encompassing brand strategy and positioning, creative development, media buying, digital marketing, web design and development, research, and media/influencer relations.

For more information about Sublime, please visit http://www.sublimecommunications.com.Facebook, Instagramand LinkedIn.

About Five Tier Inc.Five Tier is the world's leading Connected Media platform providing fast, affordable, comprehensive solutions for clients of all sizes that enable efficient, effective growth.

Five Tier has been featured on CNBC, Bloomberg, CheddarTV and NPR as well as in Forbes, Consumer Reports, and the New York Times. For more information, please visit fivetier.com

Media Contact:

Robben GoldDirector of Communications, Five TIer Inc.[emailprotected]844.282.4376

Michelle MoskowitzChief of Staff, Sublime Communications[emailprotected] 917.597.0863

SOURCE Sublime Communications; Five Tier, Inc.

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Endoca Takes Over Times Square for National CBD Day - PRNewswire

FOUNDER SHAUNA LEVY RESPONDS TO MARKET NEED FOR APPROACHABLE AND PURPOSEFUL CANNABIS PRODUCTS FOR WOMEN.

TORONTO, Aug. 9, 2021 /CNW/ --Canadian wellness brand, MADGE AND MERCER, was developed to solve a problem and address a myriad of common issues women face like stress, sleepless nights and brain fog. MADGE AND MERCER offers women custom formulations with high CBD and micro-dosed THC. MADGE AND MERCER's products will be available through the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) on August 10, 2021, with the facial serum being available in September 2021, and in select cannabis retailers immediately after each of the OCS launch dates.

Founded by Shauna Levy, the privately-owned brand uses vegan and natural ingredients for their intentionally designed consumable and topical products every ingredient that goes into a product is hardworking and serves a purpose, with no unnecessary excess. Multitasking women who balance it all can confidently relate.

Shauna Levy, Founder and CEO, struggled with chronic pain and anxiety, and like many women, was reticent to use cannabis. However, once she did, she immediately discovered that high CBD with a micro-dose of THC was the only thing that worked for her. This life and career-changing discovery led her to develop a new product line aimed at helping women. Fueled by her own success, she set out to shatter the cannabis stigma for women over 40 a demographic whose health issues are often overlooked. Perimenopause and menopause remain taboo, with the US$3 trillion wellness industry largely ignoring the needs of women experiencing these hormonal changes. So far, the nascent legal cannabis industry has followed suit: women over 40 have been missing out on the wellness benefits like stress relief of cannabis.

MADGE AND MERCER has created a series of thoughtful and research-backed products that will seamlessly fit into any woman's wellness regimen. "I know what it's like to live with chronic pain while continuing to juggle an increasing number of responsibilities and demands," says Levy, a former design-industry CEO who has a strong professional record of predicting and responding to societal shifts. She launched the Interior Design Show in timing with the 1990's condo boom, back when home design was still largely relegated to professionals. Similarly, through her leadership at the Design Exchange, she made design accessible to a larger audience by directing exhibits with known creatives such as Christian Louboutin and Pharrell Williams.

Now she's applying that same passion and forward-thinking to women's wellness, challenging the way big-player cannabis producers have been neglecting this demographic:

"I want to use what I've learned on my personal wellness journey to help others like me. I'm a woman who personally knows how cannabis can help and I'm doing something about it."

Levy assembled a team of leading health experts and research consultants to develop reliable products that meet women's specific and unique needs. World-renowned dermatologist Dr. Sandy Skotnicki consults on all topical products and Toronto physician Dr. Marni Brooks, whose focus is in cannabinoid medicine, serves as medical consultant, while acclaimed chef Ted Corrado works on edible recipes. Supporting Madge and Mercer with regulatory and product development advice based upon rigorous, science-based consumer-focused innovation is the Morris and Associates Consulting team led by Dr. Shane Morris, Ph.D. in Plant Science and Policy, who has helped bring innovative high revenue cannabis products to market. And finally, the contemporary yet approachable design is led by Megan Oldfield, Field Design Office, known for their work for global brands and creatives.

"From delivering significant relief from chronic pain to easing the symptoms of anxiety, there are numerous health benefits that come with safe cannabis use," says Dr. Brooks. "MADGE AND MERCERis making it so much easier for women to take advantage of these benefits and make meaningfulwellness a daily part of their lives."

MADGE AND MERCERis launching with three premium products.

MM 001 LA CALMAis a lemongrass ginger CBD oil with a total of 1250 mg of CBD and 50 mg of THC that imparts a subtle and delicious flavour (developed in consultation with Chef Corrado) and is made with a healthy and sustainable coconut-derived MCT oil. It is designed to provide calming effects, better focus and noticeable pain relief.

MM 002 EL ALEVIOis a contemporary, non-fussy disposable vape pen that comes in a cool matte sage-green. It delivers 300 mg of CBD and 75 mg of THC with a smooth and minty eucalyptus flavour and almost instantaneous effects.

Finally, MM 004 MOLLIENT is a plant-based facial serum developed closely with Dr. Skotnicki. Formulated with350 mg of CBD, 17 mg of THC, meadowfoam seed oil, oat, vegan squalene and orange peel, the topical (currently the only CBD facial oil in the legal cannabis market in Ontario) is designed with cosmetic ingredients that are anti-inflammatory and help with redness, puffiness and is super moisturizing especially for aging skin.

"Cannabis can elevate a skincare routine. It's known to be healing, rich in antioxidants and can combat inflammation, dryness and free radical damage," says Dr. Skotnicki. "As women age, we know their skincare needs change. We develop our unique formulas to address those needs and provide effective results."

Prices range from $44 to $65MADGE AND MERCER's products will be available through Miss Jones Cannabis Outposts as well as select retailers and through the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) http://www.ocs.cathe week of Aug. 10. The brand can also be found at http://www.madgeandmercer.comand Instagram and Facebook @MadgeandMercer. HI-RES PRODUCT IMAGES WILL BE PROVIDED UPON REQUEST.

For more information please contact:

Burstyn Inc.

Hana Price 416.903.9763 [emailprotected]

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made-and-mercer.png MADE and MERCER

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Premium Wellness Brand MADGE AND MERCER Modern Apothecary Shakes Up The Cannabis Industry - Canada NewsWire

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cornbread Hemp, a USDA-certified organic CBD brand, is challenging the CBD industry by introducing its Flower-Only full spectrum CBD product line in a new video, timed for National CBD Day on August 8. This family-owned CBD startup takes aim at Americas biggest CBD brands by offering consumers a higher quality product than the current industry standard. This viral video, starring Cornbread co-founder Jim Higdon, is its latest call to action.

Watch the video here: Flower-Only - The New Standard of CBD - Cornbread Hemp

Did you know that most CBD oil is garbage? Cornbread Hemp co-founder Jim Higdon asks. The video uses orange juice as a metaphor to educate consumers on the difference between Flower-Only and whole-plant CBD products.

CBD consumers might not like being told that their CBD products are filled with garbage, but we use plain language in our video because CBD industry jargon can be confusing, Higdon said. Orange juice, on the other hand, is simple. Everyone understands orange juice.

Cornbread Hemp pioneered its Flower-Only process by exclusively using the flower of the hemp plant to create its superior CBD products. The current industry standard uses every part of the plant that grows above ground, often called aerial parts on the product label. These extra plant parts have virtually no cannabinoid content and only serve as filler, which makes the final product taste bitter and grassy.

Consumers recognize Cornbread Hemp for its USDA-certified organic products, but our biggest secret is that our organic products are made from Flower-Only full spectrum hemp extract, Higdon added. We want consumers to know that theres finally a better option. CBD just got an upgrade.

About Cornbread Hemp

Founded in 2019, Cornbread Hemp offers CBD oils, CBD creams, and CBD gummies made with their USDA organic, Flower-Only full spectrum hemp extract, which contains the highest legal levels of THC and minor cannabinoids. Additionally, every Cornbread Hemp product has been third-party lab tested and is protected by a tamper-proof seal of authenticity.

Featured in Health Magazine, Healthline, Forbes, Rolling Stone and sold online and in retail locations across the country, Kentucky-based Cornbread Hemp is changing the CBD industry with its commitment to quality, transparency, and customer service.

For more information, visit CornbreadHemp.com and follow @CornbreadHemp on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

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Cornbread Hemp, Family-Owned CBD Startup, Takes Aim at Big CBD With Disruptive Video - Business Wire

National CBD Day helps bring awareness, accessibility, and education to an ever-expanding industry

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 6, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- cbdMD, Inc. (NYSE American: YCBD, YCBDpA), one of the leading, and most highly trusted and recognized CBD companies, is preparing for National CBD Day on Sunday, August 8. Established in 2018 to acknowledge the mounting efforts surrounding the industry, cbdMD is proud to be the founder of this national holiday that continues to help shed light on the many uses, on-going research and benefits associated with hemp-derived CBD.

The CBD industry has continued to grow since the inception of the national holiday, and as a result, millions of people have experienced the wide range of benefits that CBD has to offer. From everyday wellness to better sleep support, among a catalog of other applications, CBD has become a staple in the health and wellness industry. Fortified with countless studies, athlete testimonials and customer verified reviews, CBD products have quickly catapulted to the forefront of everyday health, wellness and beauty products.

"The progress we've seen in just three short years has been nothing short of spectacular," said cbdMD, Inc. Chairman and co-CEO Martin Sumichrast. "I've been involved in a lot of industries, including others within health and wellness, and it seems like CBD speaks to the needs of everyday consumers looking for a way to feel better more than any product in the last decade. We're proud of the progress we've made as a company and an industry, and we're excited to see where the next phase of this journey takes us."

In honor of National CBD Day, celebrated annually on August 8, cbdMD invites everyone to visit http://www.cbdMD.com for exclusive discounts, offers, and educational tools. National CBD Day was founded in conjunction with other related National Holidays including National Hemp Day (February 4), National Hemp Month (July), National CBD Month (January) and National Pet CBD Month (October) to bring awareness to the growing applications of CBD.

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About cbdMD, Inc. cbdMD, Inc. is one of the leading and most highly trusted and most recognized cannabidiol (CBD) brands with a comprehensive line of U.S. produced, THC-free1 CBD products. Our cbdMD brand currently includes over 130 SKU's of high-grade, premium CBD products including CBD tinctures, CBD gummies, CBD topicals, CBD capsules, CBD bath bombs, CBD bath salts, CBD sleep aids and CBD drink mixes. Our Paw CBD brand of pet products includes over 45 SKUs of products including tinctures, chews, topicals products in varying strengths, and our CBD Botanicals brand of beauty and skincare products features 15 SKUs, including facial oil and serum, toners, moisturizers, clear skin, facial masks, exfoliants and body care. cbdMD also owns and operates DirectCBDonline.com, a leading online marketplace that sells over 100 various CBD brands. To learn more about cbdMD and their comprehensive line of U.S. grown, THC-free1 CBD oil products, please visit http://www.cbdmd.com, follow cbdMD on Instagram and Facebook, or visit one of the 6,000 retail outlets that carry cbdMD products.

Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that are based upon current expectations and involve certain risks and uncertainties within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as ''should,'' ''may,'' ''intends,'' ''anticipates,'' ''believes,'' ''estimates,'' ''projects,'' ''forecasts,'' ''expects,'' ''plans,'' and ''proposes.'' These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and difficult to predict. You are urged to carefully review and consider any cautionary statements and other disclosures, including the statements made under the heading "Risk Factors" in cbdMD, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on December 22, 2020 and our other filings with the SEC. All forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, many of which are generally outside the control of cbdMD, Inc. and are difficult to predict. cbdMD, Inc. does not undertake any duty to update any forward-looking statements except as may be required by law. The information which appears on our websites and our social media platforms, including, but not limited to, Instagram and Facebook, is not part of this press release.

1 THC-free is defined as below the level of detection using validated scientific analytical tools. Contacts

Investors: cbdMD, Inc. John Weston, Director of Investor Relations John.Weston@cbdMD.com (704) 249-9515

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cbdMD to Commemorate Anniversary of National CBD Day, Sunday August 8th - Yahoo Finance

CBD is one of more than 60 active compounds found in the cannabis plant. It's used to treat childhood epilepsy, but is also being studied as a way to manage and treat conditions including anxiety, schizophrenia, diabetes , Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis.

However, how much CBD you need for these conditions, or otherwise, is unclear. That's because CBD is not regulated by the FDA and therefore lacks any official dosing guidelines.

That said, preliminary research provides a basic understanding of how much CBD can be effective for certain conditions and groups of people. Here's what researchers know so far about CBD's dosage and effects.

Important: Unlike THC another common compound in marijuana CBD is non-intoxicating and won't make you feel "high."

How much CBD you should take depends on multiple factors like body weight and genetics. Usually finding the right dose comes down to good, old-fashioned trial and error.

However, before experimenting with different CBD doses, you should talk to your doctor since there are no regulated dosing guidelines. Plus, studies on CBD's effects include a wide range of doses, from "lower" doses of 10mg to 100 mg to "higher" doses of 100 mg to 1,500 mg, making it even more difficult to determine the proper dose on your own, says Anthony Ferrari, PhD, the Chief Science Officer of Your CBD Store, a nationwide CBD retail and research company.

How much CBD is in a drop of CBD oil? CBD oil typically comes in dropper bottles with a single drop containing about 0.05 ml. A product's packaging will tell you how much CBD is in the bottle, which can help you determine how much CBD is in a single drop. For example, if a 20 ml bottle containing 2,000 mg of CBD contains 400 drops, then each drop would contain around 5 mg of CBD.

Further muddling the dosing equation is the fact that some CBD products, known as isolates, contain only CBD, while others are "full-spectrum" and contain other cannabinoids, like THC. The additional cannabinoids in full-spectrum formulas might modulate CBD's effects, thus altering how much you need to take, Ferrari says.

Clinical trials on CBD are limited and existing studies use a wide range of doses to treat various conditions. Here's what we know so far:

Studies examining CBD's effects on anxiety use varying doses, typically ranging from 400 mg to 600 mg per day. In a small 2017 study, test subjects reported reduced anxiety after taking a 300 mg dose of CBD.

In a couple of small studies, CBD doses ranging from 600 mg to 1500 mg per day were shown to reduce some symptoms of psychosis due to schizophrenia.

CBD is generally considered to be safe and well-tolerated in doses up to 1500mg per day. While there's a real risk of fatal overdose when using drugs like opiates or alcohol, taking too much CBD is more likely to result in sleepiness and perhaps an upset stomach.

Side effects are typically mild and include:

In rare instances, CBD could cause liver damage. A 2019 animal study found that liver damage occurred when mice were given high doses of CBD the human equivalent of 200 mg of CBD per kilogram of body weight. It's not clear if these findings are applicable to humans.

"If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking any other medications, you should discuss your CBD journey with a primary care physician, Ferrari says. "Everyone experiences the effects of CBD differently and you should always monitor your body's reactions."

Warning: Taking CBD in addition to other medications that cause drowsiness like benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, antidepressants, antihistamines, or alcohol may lead to increased drowsiness, accidental falls, or accidents while driving.

Emerging research suggests CBD is a promising and low-risk treatment for a number of conditions but like all medications, you need to be cognizant of dose. Because there are no regulated dosing guidelines, it's especially important to talk to your doctor before starting a CBD regime.

"Maintaining open communication with your physician is the key to overall success when first incorporating CBD into your routine, especially for those with complicated health issues," Ferrari says.

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How to find the proper CBD dosage for you, according to medical cannabis experts - Insider

We independently source all of the awesome products and experiences that we feature on Thrillist. If you buy or book from the links on our site, we may receive an affiliate commission which in turn supports our work.

We're the first to admit that shopping for CBD products can be a bit intimidating. There are seemingly countless brands out there, with new ones popping up overnight at a steady clip. Sorting the good stuff from the not-so-good stuff can not only be tough, but downright expensive when you consider what you might spend comparing different producers.

So, if you'd like to cut right to the chase and pick up some solid products from a trusted brand while saving a bit of money, we've got you. Our pals at Cornbread Hemp are celebrating National CBD Day a bit early this year (it's August 8, by the way) by offering Thrillist readers a special code that unlocks a 25% discount for new customers.

We've covered Cornbread Hemp a bit before and raved about its Whole Flower Oil for its stress reduction and sleep enhancing benefits. But the brand has been hard at work on a variety of new products over the past year including certified USDA organic gummies and topicals, and has doubled down on its commitment to producing hemp flower-only, full-spectrum CBD offerings. Much of what it makes is also vegan-friendly, including its CBD oils, gummies, and Balm stick.

While we'd certainly advise having a look through the brand's full lineup of products, we've also plucked out some of its best-sellers in case you're looking to see what other users are consistently stocking up on. Here are the items that regularly fly off of Cornbread's figurative shelves:

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Save Big on CBD Oils, Gummies, and More from One of Our Favorite Brands - Thrillist

Christina DeBusk August 5, 2021

People use cannabidiol (CBD) for many reasons. Among the numerous CBD solutions for health care issues, in a 2019 Gallup poll, the main purpose cited for its use was nonspecific pain (40%). This was followed by using it to help relieve anxiety (20%), sleep issues or insomnia (11%), and arthritis (8%).

While easing any of these issues can help improve quality of life, some CBD users credit this cannabis extract with actually saving their lives. Here are seven such stories involving the use of CBD to help resolve major physical and mental health conditions in a life-saving way:

In a June 15, 2021, post, Nashvilles Fox 17 News reported that Macario Morgan was born having 200 seizures daily. Doctors tried to relieve these seizures with seven different medications and by removing almost half of his brain. His mom, a molecular biologist, decided to remove him from all of these meds and use CBD instead. Now she says that her son is a normal 5-year-old boy with no developmental deficits, causing her to fight for a changing attitude toward CBD solutions so people recognize its medicinal value versus connecting it to the stigma associated with marijuana.

On June 5, 2021, Newshub published another story of a child facing major health issues. In this case, it was a 6-year-old boy in New Zealand with epilepsy. Like Macario Morgan, he was experiencing seizures, some of them rather severe and painful. CBD oil seemed to ease these seizures, even allowing the child to sleep through the night. This story made the news because the boys family was having a hard time getting his CBD into the country due to both legislation and the costs of importing this cannabinoid.

A Nov. 20, 2015, story posted by WTMJ-TV out of Milwaukee starts by sharing that Sally Schaeffer lost her daughter in 2014 to a rare form of epilepsy after experiencing seizures every half hour. Schaeffer wanted to keep other children from losing this same battle, which is why she and other mothers and grandmothers were working to lobby for states to legalize CBD. This would make it more accessible to families and, more specifically, children who could benefit from its use.

Forbes shared a story on Aug. 8, 2020, about a documentary called CBD Nation. One of the stories presented involved Rylie Maedler who, at 7-years-old, was diagnosed with a degenerative disease in which tumors started to eat away at her facial bones. Seven years later, and after using cannabis and CBD, Maedlers bones regenerated, making her the only person known to have this occur.

In an April 18, 2019, post on Marie Claires website, Gretchen Lidicker reveals that she had long struggled with anxiety, even as far back as kindergarten. While exercise, meditation, and dietary changes helped, a hot chocolate drink containing CBD was able to ease her anxiety enough to make her want to learn more. So, she took her two science degrees and did her own research, experimenting with different dosage amounts along the way. She also started to play around with different ratios of CBD to THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive substance most commonly associated with marijuana use). Now she uses CBD solutions for other issues as well, such as applying a topical version to help relieve her neck pain from sitting in front of a computer screen for long hours.

On Dec. 10, 2020, Cannabis Health published a story of a man named Adam who was experiencing muscle soreness and fatigue after working out. Typically, he would reach for a pill to deal with the pain but started researching CBD after a colleague shared that it helped his dad deal with knee injury and inflammation. Adam started using it and found positive results, soon realizing that it also helped ease his anxiety and even cleared his skin. CBD made such a huge difference in his life that it has become a regular part of his everyday routine.

On Feb. 9, 2021, Golf 365 shared Chris Bibbys story, which involved placing at a golf open on the European Tour in the late 1990s only to take himself to a motorway bridge several years later in an attempt to commit suicide due to being in constant pain after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. After being unable to get out of his electric wheelchair and cross over the above-road barrier, Bibby started taking CBD, which he credits with not only saving his life but also saving his career.

Cannabidiol is a fantastic compound, but its becoming confusing to the general public, says Antony Llewellyn, founder of cbdporter.co.uk. As the market is widely unregulated, consumers need to make sure they do their research before purchasing CBD products. Make sure they have passed third party lab tests including CBD/THC content.

For more CBD solutions for common (and not-so-common) health care issues go to chiroeco.com/?s=cbd.

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CBD solutions: These 7 people say CBD saved their lives - Chiropractic Economics

CHAMPAIGN Looking for a new career path? Think hemp.

The University of Illinois sees a booming future in hemp-growing.

Dr. D. K. Lee will teach a 400-level online course on hemp cultivation for students, farmers and anyone else who would like to know more about the crop.

There are opportunities for small farmers, small indoor growers and big growers, Lee said. There is so much misinformation. This course is designed to teach students cannabis biology for proper crop-management practices.

After being banned by the federal government in 1970, the industrial production of hemp in Illinois was made legal again in 2018 when the legislature approved it. For several years now, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been promoting the growing of industrial hemp, Lee said.

Hemp is used in hundreds of different products from textiles and construction materials to animal feed and skin care lotions based on cannabidiol oil.

Hemp is used to reinforce concrete and other construction materials. Textile manufacturers use it to produce durable fabric. It is used to make paper. The seed has high protein and high oil concentration, making it very good for animal feed.

I see big opportunities if Illinois approves hemp seed for animal feed, Lee said.

He said he believes that more Illinois farmers will come to use hemp as a crop that they rotate with corn and soybeans.

Another promising use for hemp is making biodegradable plastic. Plastic made from petroleum does not decompose when it is thrown away. The alternative is natural plastic or bioplastic.

Unfortunately, bioplastic does not have the strength of petroleum-based plastic. Reinforcing bioplastic with hemp can give bioplastic the durability that it lacks.

Hemp fiber is very strong. We can reinforce bioplastic with hemp fiber and it would be very beneficial for human society, Lee said.

When farmers today ask him if they should start planting fields of hemp, Lee says he hesitates. There are a number of considerations. Farmers can only grow hemp plants with very low levels (0.3 percent) of THC.

THC is the chemical that gives users the high that recreational marijuana users seek. If a farmers crop in Illinois exceeds the governments very low 0.3-percent THC limit, the whole crop would have to be destroyed.

Another hurdle for Illinois farmers who are considering growing hemp is lack of processing facilities, Lee stated.

Some other states are already processing the fiber. Other states have approved using hemp grain as animal feed, he said. Growing hemp for animal feed is not too much different than current agricultural practice. We can plant the hemp and use a combine harvester for the seed. That is an easy process.

For indoor operations, there are a lot of job opportunities, Lee says. However, there is also a steep learning curve. Growing hemp to produce CBD oil is nowhere near as simple as buying petunia plants to get flowers, Lee said.

It is very complicated particularly if you are growing indoors, he said.

People can currently sign up for Lees online class: Crop Sciences 480: Cannabis Classification and Management Crop Sciences. The class will provide basic information about plant biology, seed selection, fertilization, nutrition, humidity control and the tricky process of light management for indoor growing. The cost for the three-credit class is $1,200.

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U of I to offer hemp course - Alton Telegraph

One question commonly posed to entrepreneurs selling hemp-based products is: Will this get me high? The query could be for any producthemp oil, seed, powder, even a T-shirt made of hemp. The answer invariably is no, which may come as a bit of a disappointment to some. But the question is an indication of the confusion that still surrounds hemp, a plant that is currently fuelling startups and e-commerce in India at an unprecedented rate.

At least once a week, someone will ask, Will I get high with this? Even with paper, soap, with whatever we make. Is soap a code word for something? they ask, says Elston Menezes, one of the founders of Bengaluru-based B.E Hemp, which sells hemp-based products such as soaps, food, stationery and accessories. I then send them a picture of the soap.

Yash P. Kotak, one of the six (initially seven) founders of Bombay Hemp Company (BOHECO), which sells nutrition and personal care products, and its director of business development and media, has had a similar experience. If I wear this shirt, will I get high, thats their question. Its a great ice-breaker thoughno cotton shirt company will get asked that question.

When we first started, says Rohit Shah, co-founder of Hemp Horizons (their products go under the brand name Health Horizons), we got calls from people who would place an order. Then they would ask, Can I put it in a vape and smoke it? Send in discreet packaging. But the audience has evolved from that stigma. Today we see (people of) ages from 25-60 placing orders on our website.

Also read | What makes hemp a superfood?

Hemp products were one of the few categories that benefited during the pandemic. Entrepreneurs say the lockdown gave consumers the space to focus on health. They looked for better experiences with food, nutrition, alternative curative methods and therapeutic products that would help with anxiety and pain relief. They sought more sustainable brands, shifting to vegetarianism and veganism. Once e-sellers overcame issues with supplies and deliveries in the early days, business started picking up.

Both hemp and marijuana come from the Cannabis sativa family of plants. Both have tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC, the psychoactive component which provides the sense of euphoria or intoxication) and CBD (cannabidiol) with many other compounds. CBD is an oil extracted from the leaves, stem and flowers that acts as a painkiller, muscle relaxant and mood enhancer. Regulated industrial hemp plants in India contain primarily CBD and its extracts usually contain less than 0.3% THC, which does not give you a high. Supply is controlled by the government, with only a handful of companies having an Ayush licence to manufacture hemp thats supplied to retailers.

Hemp products from Health Horizons.

Founded in 2017 as a contract manufacturer that supplies to wholesalers and other edible hemp brands, Hemp Horizons has gone from processing 500kg to 4,000kg (of edibles) in 12-18 months. It recently raised 2 crore in seed funding from Mumbai Angels Network and AngelList. Medicinal startup HempStreet got $1 million (around 7.4 crore) in pre-series A funding in February 2020 led by Pharmacon Holdings, a US-based pharma-tech company, and Romain Barberis, a private investor in cannabis in the US and Canada.

Business blossomed during the lockdown, says Jayanti Bhattacharya, co-founder of Bengalurus India Hemp & Co. The first time (lockdown in 2020) was insanesome factories were looted in the north, material got stuck. We had no control and things escalated so fast. But collectively, a lot of our processes fell into place. We came out shining, with no corners cut.

Since 2019, over 50 firms have registered with the word hemp in their names, says Kotak, while Shah says the number of registered startups rose from eight to over 100 in 18 months. Rohit Sharma, president of the non-profit Indian Industrial Hemp Association, put the number at around a hundred as well. Interest in CBD peaked in September last year, according to Google Trends. A lot of people were waiting for companies like ours to see the resulting effect. The first one out of the door is the first to get shot, you know, says Kotak.

According to Shah, roughly seven-eight years into its modern commercial existence, the hemp industry in India is worth $2-3 million. With entrepreneurs evidently ready to brave the odds that come with low awareness, be it among farmers or consumers, and limited production and marketing avenues, Shah optimistically predicts this will grow to $500-700 million over the next few years.

Its the responsibility of any company making hemp products, such as hemp oil, to sell correctly labelled items.

The global hemp industry was estimated at $4.71 billion in 2019, according to the Industrial Hemp Market Size, Share And Trends Analysis report published in February 2020 by US-based Grand View Research. The market is driven by the growing demand for hemp oil and fibres in the automotive, construction, food and beverage, personal care and textile industries, especially in emerging regions such as the Asia Pacific, the report states.

UP IN THE AIR

Indias complicated and enduring connection with cannabis extends through history, mythology and religion. Its mentioned as one of five sacred plants in the Vedas and is a staple during the festivals of Holi and Mahashivratri in north India. We came across a statistic that shows 60% of districts had wild growth of cannabis, says Kotak.

Yet, though the plant originated in the Himalaya and Central Asia, the modern-day cannabis market is only about 30-35 years young. For once cannabis was classified as a synthetic drug in the US, which made it illegal in 1970 and later banned it, it came under the spotlight in India too. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 bans the flowering or fruiting tops of the cannabis plant (ganja) but excludes seeds, stalks and leaves. Bhaang is a paste made from the leaves, so its not outlawed. The confusion, says Shah, is that bhaang was never illegal. It has a religious association and Ayurveda has 190 formulations that have cannabis as a key ingredient. CBD oil does not come under the NDPS Act either.

Through all the ups and downs, however, the unorganised recreational cannabis industry never really faded away. After the NDPS Act, it just slipped under the radar. Shah believes India has about 38 million active recreational users.

Things began looking up again when the US, in a 2018 Farm Bill, decided to allow hemp cultivation, sale, possession and transfer of hemp-derived products. Now, like yoga and golden turmeric, the moment the US brings it back, India jumps on the bandwagon, says Bhattacharya.

Uttarakhand became the first state to permit commercial cultivation of industrial hemp, in July 2018. The Indian Industrial Hemp Association became the first to cultivate hemp legally there. Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan are expected to follow suit but at present Uttarakhand remains the sole local supplier.

Last year, the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) voted to remove cannabis from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. India supported the move, fuelling hope that it would join the global movement to realise the medicinal and commercial potential of cannabis, Forbes reported in April.

Also read | Inside the world of Indian craft chocolate

Sharma says the debate centred on the cases involving actors Rhea Chakraborty and the late Sushant Singh Rajput last year helped revive conversation in the media. Cannabis has been in India for long, he says. The hype is more of an international thing. Cannabis-based homoeopathy and Ayurveda is an age-old practice. Its just an old thing that has been rebranded, like yoga.

However, it becomes the responsibility of any organisation working with hemp and cannabis products to uphold the sanctity of working with this plant by selling licensed, correctly labelled products, emphasises Kotak. Only if you play by the book will you be able to add a moral at the end of the story.

JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN

When India first locked down in March last year, says Menezes, they were thinking of closing B.E Hemp. His two partners had other businesses; he didnt. So he kept going. Soon, with shops shut, they started getting calls for rolling paper. One call turned to five to hundred and a thousand, which kept our company afloat, says Menezes.

They ran out of rolling paper and had to buy from others. That is when they realised it was the best time to pursue the idea of becoming the Amazon of hemp. They developed new products, like a line of hemp soaps. We get a decent number of orders for rolling paper while we have branched to CBD, he adds.

Hemp, which has a short, summer crop cycle and uses just about half the amount of water that cotton does, makes for a sustainable crop. Every part of the plant can be used, for food (nutrient-dense seeds and oils), medicinal use, fibre, paper, fuel, construction (hempcrete), animal food, bedding, even as a biodegradable alternative to plastic, says Bhattacharya.

Hemp seed is supposed to be high in omega 3, 6, 9, vitamin B12, vitamin E, potassium, magnesium, iron, protein and zinc.

Hemp powder can be used to make rotis, pastas, bread, smoothies. Hemp seed is supposed to be high in omega 3, 6, 9, vitamin B12, vitamin E, potassium, magnesium, iron, protein and zinc. Hemp repairs you internally and externallyfrom muscle, skin to internal organs, claims Alysa Decruz, who co-founded Hempwise in Goa with husband Terence Sequeira in 2018.

Its a superfoodon steroids. It helps with chronic ailments, sleep management and arthritis that dont have simple cures. (There are) multiple reasons why its in the forefront, says Shah over the phone from his residence in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. The company is based in the National Capital Region.

For the three Hemp Horizons foundersShah, Kartikey Dadoo and Kanishk Yadavthe inspiration for their company came from what they saw in the US. When they were studying and working there a decade ago, they initially found yoga studios everywhere. Then cannabis made a comebackfor its benefits, not just as recreation. It was an epiphany for us that bhaang should not be a Western product alone. That had us start this, says Shah.

Convincing parents was the first challenge. They asked: Are you going to be a drug dealer? remembers Shah, laughing. The partners started showing their families videos of Baba Ramdevs Patanjali, which spoke of the benefits of cannabis. They shared information about its uses in Ayurveda and Jatiphaladi churan, which has cannabis powder as an ingredient.

Shalini and Jayanti Bhattacharya, co-founders of India Hemp & Co.

About four years ago, Bhattacharyas sister and business partner Shalini, who shuttles between Bengaluru and Barcelona, Spain, developed back pain. They went through the rounds of MRIs, scans, pursued treatment in Ayurveda, acupunctureit didnt help. She had just decided to live with it when someone suggested CBD. I could see the change in her, says Jayanti, who worked in advertising before she turned entrepreneur. In four months, she was fine, with no needles, machines needed. The sisters lead outdoorsy lifestyles and stick to plant-based diets. India Hemp & Co. was the 10th hemp brand to begin in Indiain November 2019, a few months before the first lockdown.

Menezes, who grew up in Kuwait, thought of weed every time he heard of cannabis. He knew about hemp but his perspective changed when a friend from Nepal brought him a hemp wallet that blew his mindhe had never seen one. One of his first thoughts was a question he now parries himself: Will it get me high?

Thats what people have been asking us for the past eight years, he says, laughing. Cannabis is not as bad as people think, then why so much hatred towards it? This has helped me in college with creativity or depressionit has never given me any negative emotion.

Keen to promote every aspect of cannabisindustrial, recreational and medicalhe started by spreading awareness through their portal. They found people were curious about products, so they added items like key chains, wallets, purses and bags, all made of hemp. We started too early in the cannabis industry. It took us a long time and we are still growing, he says.

For others, like Kotak and Decruz, life and work took them to places where they could see hemp all around them. In 2011, Kotak, for example, was working on a social enterprise rural project of solar electrification, visiting villages in north and north-west India where he saw hemp being used for subsistence, for cattle, for food, just as the villagers forefathers had done. The users found no economic value in cannabis, globally a trillion-dollar super-crop.

BOHECO, set up in 2013, spent the first five-six years aligning science and policy, Kotak says. In April 2017, the countrys first research licence was issued, allowing the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine to collaborate with BOHECO in growing cannabis and studying its medicinal properties. They opened their first store in Indiranagar, Bengaluru, this April.

Yash P. Kotak (standing, left), one of the founders of BOHECO, with his team.

Cannabis comes with a preconceived notionyou have to unlearn and relearn about the crop, says Kotak, whose firm started making products in 2018. We launched a 100% hemp shirt. When we did a survey before, we asked about cannabis clothing and people said what came to their mind was a Bob Marley T-shirt. How do you get rid of the clich?

BOHECO, which employs 28 people, pivoted from fabric to health and nutrition from 2019, with BOHECO Life. This led to nearly 100% growth from year 1 to 2, with 42% repeat customers, says Kotak. Their revenue of 4.5 crore in the last financial year was largely an outcome of this change in strategy.

Decruz and Sequeira ran a bed-and-breakfast facility for five years in Manali, Himachal Pradesh, with hemp growing wild everywhere. In 2014-15, they decided to experiment, so they got an oil machine, pressed oil and used it for everythingfood, bathing products, and more. They used hemp for pizzas, dough, salad dressing and made bullet coffee with CBD oil. Hempwise was born after they moved to the village of Parra in north Goa. Their two-room facility on the ground floor of their apartment complex produces items that they used to sell through Friday night marketstill the lockdown earlier this yearand to some cafs and stores.

KNOWING THE PRODUCT

Most hemp entrepreneurs say that apart from policy, awareness is a challenge. Few farmers grow hemp because science has not kept up with policy. They say that finding the right agencies, buying raw material, procuring licences for retail and knowledge about machinery continue to be problem areas. Marketing is tough. Facebook, for instance, does not allow advertising of hemp products. Amazon does not sell them. Supermarket chains like Foodhall and Big Bazaar do not store them. Social media blocks mention of hemp, says Menezes, even while advertising notebooks and beanies. You have to depend on word of mouth, on influencers.

A customer at a BOHECO store,

We never faced any backlash from authorities or people because it was all legal, he says. Most products are sold online, though some are available in stores as well, like BOHECOs in Bengaluru and Saukhyam in Porvorim, Goa, that stocks India Hemp & Co products.

The expectation is that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will soon classify hemp as food. Once the FSSAI comes into play, everything will open up, says Shah. The Great Legalisation Movement India, a non-profit research organisation, is leading a mission to legalise cannabis. The smaller entrepreneurs know that conglomerates like Dabur, Himalaya, Tatas and Patanjali are waiting to jump in.

With cannabis, people think of one thing, says Menezes. We want them to understand that its multifaceted and can expand into 30,000 different, eco-friendly, sustainable products. Besides food, hemp has found its way into gin (Samsara) and vodka. One firm has made motorbike exhaust mufflers with hemp that absorb more carbon, says Shah. Menezes is planning to produce hemp shortsa plan that has been delayed by the pandemic.

During the first lockdown, when people called me, 20 minutes into the conversation the last question would be, Will I get high? When the answer was no, they would say, I will buy it for my mother, says Bhattacharya, laughing. But the questions she faces most often are whether the products are preservative-free, where they are sourced from, and whether people can grow hemp at home. People want to know how to use it. We were making salads but consumers still needed their sambhar, idli, appam and stew. We have gone south, integrated hemp into Indian cuisine, because you cannot make brownies and souffle every day.

I need to do a mosquito repellent because thats so apt for Goa, says Decruz, smiling.

Menezes has plans for franchises. Sequeira wants to create a hemp hub that has a caf, infused food and a four-course meal with a spa for massages. Shah is aware that he is building a category, not a company. Uttarakhand as a Himalayan state had a cultural and social relationship with the plant, says Shah. Technocrats and bureaucrats have grown up around the plant; they have an idea of its uses and potential. But in five years the industry has not grown tremendously because of lack of scientific precedence. For a crop to be a commodity, there has to be significant plant research and science with standardisation. Nevertheless, he predicts, There will not be a single industry left untouched by it.

Hemp users and sellers praise its properties. Decruz mentions a girl who used expensive steroids for hives. It didnt work. With Hempwise soap, her skin cleared. She has seen it work for acne, with wounds, and on pets. Customers also love Sequeiras pesto hemp pastas, one with sun-dried tomatoes and another with basil and vegan Parmesan. With food, he says, I want a full infused menu. Its healthy eating that takes you on a different journey. Make it an experience. But when you get up, you should be able to walk home.

Almost on cue, Decruz quickly makes it clear what he means by adding the company motto: Soak it but dont smoke it.

Arun Janardhan is a Mumbai-based journalist who covers sports, business leaders and lifestyle.

Read more:

The rise and rise of the Indian hemp industry - Mint Lounge

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National CBD Day: Best-in Class TruZen CBD Softgel with Patented Absorption Technology Now Available to Consumers for First Time - Yahoo Finance