South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Vendors: CBD can ease what ails you
CBD won’t get you high but it can ease what ails you, vendors say
You can use CBD to relax or relieve pain. You can use it to focus and energize yourself. But regardless of your desired benefit, hundreds of CBD products are about to flood the market, selling wellness and healing. Roaming the aisles of the largest CBD expo in the United States that took place this month in Miami Beach resembled a walk through a candy store, with jars of gumballs, gummies and hard candy on display, all infused with CBD. Sugary bears and candied watermelons tout a tasty way to obtain the chill feeling so many people desperately seek.
“The FDA is still working to regulate CBD in food products but edibles are popular,” said Eric Block of Wana Brands, a Colorado manufacturer. “Just remember, not all edibles are created equal and some are mostly just sugar.”
Luxury and healing
While the colorful sweets are attractive to the hundreds of buyers attending the show, so are the bright blue, pink and purple bath bombs. John Finfrock with Boulder Botanical & Bioscience Labs, explains the appeal for the bombs is the ability to bathe in the tub and let the CBD soak directly into your skin. “It’s full body absorption” Finfrock said. “That’s good for all kinds of aches.”
CBD became accessible and popular when laws regarding cannabis in Florida and other states were changed in order to classify hemp as a separate substance from marijuana. Suddenly, people who wanted to explore the benefits could purchase hemp-derived CBD products in convenience stores, vape shops and dispensaries across the state and country. Florida quickly embraced the product and has become the state with the most tweets about usage, accounting for 19% of the total conversation on Twitter, according to CBD site dankgeekcbd.com.
Because of their low THC content, CBD products that come from hemp will not get you high. Although the industry is unregulated and proof of medicinal benefits lacking, the interest has peaked.
Now, the creativity and new uses are drawing sellers and buyers. More than 10,000 people attended the USA CBD Expo last weekend.
A caffeine kick
For caffeine addicts, CBD coffee drew attendees’ attention, formulated both in bags of beans and in pod form (and there’s even espresso pods). Kevin Mancino of Cynergy Hemp-Infused Coffee said the pods allow for more control over dosage. For lovers of trendy flavored water, CBD has entered that space, too.
Even as medical and scientific research on CBD has just begun, for many it has become acceptable to take CBD as an alternative to a more conventional treatment method. Sellers peddling their products this weekend say there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence to show people and pets are getting relief with everything from digestive troubles to panic attacks.
More edibles
One of the more unique product lines on display was the CBD peanut butter and hazelnut butter made by the Mystery Baking Company of California. Rafael Dos Santos and Chris Pillado said they began in the business by putting hemp in the peanut butter, working on the consistency to get it just right. More recently, they saw the opportunity to use CBD as a variation. Dos Santos said his top customer is his mother, who eats the CBD peanut butter every day to relieve her back pain.
Robert Emma, of St. Petersburg, said what’s most important isn’t which type of product you choose but whether or not you take the right dosage level. He has reformulated his hemp taffy several times to ensure each candy has at least 10 percent CBD. For the best results, Emma said, CBD should be taken daily. “That way it builds up in your body,” he said.
Warfighter Hemp displayed its products — including a sunscreen — with high doses of CBD, targeted toward military veterans. Steve Danyluk said the veterans need the higher dosages as they come off other medications.
Pet products, too
Along with the plethora of CBD products for humans, manufacturers are introducing all kinds of new pet items with CBD, including treats and supplements.
For young dogs a CBD chew can help with separation anxiety, said Mike Modesette of GreenGardenGold.
For older pets it can help with inflammation and joint pain.
Always popular: Vape
Even with the new entries, vendors said the most popular CBD product remains vape, which now comes in multiple forms and flavors.
Overwhelmed by the CBD offerings, Vanessa Perez said she came to scout out the players and products.
“I am most impressed by how many pet items there are,” she said.
Perez said she also enjoyed discovering the uses for CBD in cocktails, discovering it is being added into flavorings and garnishes.