Matt’s had second thoughts.
He’s discovered a whole new health product and he’s taking another look at the healing properties of hemp extract.
We wrote a blog earlier in February (https://www.greenacres.com/cannabidiol-the-jurys-still-out/) about cannabidiol, a property of hemp, which Matt shoved on the back burner. He wasn’t sure he wanted to bring such a controversial product into the store.
Then he went to EXPO West, a natural foods market, and came home with a whole different mindset.
He was introduced to Charlotte’s WEB Hemp Extract and Charlotte’s WEB Infused Topical Gel and immediately brought both products into all eight GreenAcres Markets.
Some may have heard the story of little Charlotte Figi who spent much of her first five years in hospice suffering from more than 300 seizures a day with little hope for survival. Charlotte’s Web is named after that little girl, born October 18, 2006, whose story, according to Wikipedia, led to her being described as “the girl who is changing medical marijuana laws across America.”
Charlotte’s parents and physicians attest to the fact that she experienced an immediate reduction in epileptic seizures brought on by Dravet syndrome after her first dose of medical marijuana. Her usage of Charlotte’s Web was first featured in the 2013 CNN documentary “Weed.”
Resulting media coverage set up a consumer demand for Charlotte’s Web and similar products used to treat epilepsy in toddlers and children. Today, the company is happy to report Charlotte Figi is a thriving 10 year old in the third grade and still presumably taking daily doses of Charlotte’s Web.
Wikipedia says “Charlotte’s Web was developed in 2011 by the Stanley brothers (Joel, Jesse, Jon, Jordan, Jared and Josh) through crossbreeding a strain of marijuana with industrial hemp. The CBD rich oil is extracted from the harvested plants and concentrated through rotary evaporation.”
Company literature is quick to point out CW is “high” on cannabidiol (CBD), low on tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychotropic property in marijuana. Charlotte’s WEB is marketed as a dietary supplement for “advanced mind and body wellness for those under the most severe bodily stresses.” It was originally called “hippie’s disappointment” because its strain had low THC.
CW products are patented antioxidants and neuroprotectants and billed “as the most advanced concentrations of cannabinoids manufactured from proprietary hemp extracts.”
Unlike other hemp products, Charlotte’s Web is sustainably grown on U.S. family farms and boasts it adheres to all U.S. Food and Drug Administration current good manufacturing practices. Its literature says “it meets or exceeds the American Herbal Products Association’s guidelines for microbial content, residual solvents, heavy metals and pesticides.”
So what caused Matt to change his mind about hemp products?
“After much consideration,” replies Matt, “and looking at several brands at market, we chose Charlotte’s WEB.
“So many consumers had been asking us to bring it into our stores, so I went to market with an open mind. After meeting the principals involved in the product and hearing the success stories, we just had to take another look at the benefits of hemp extracts.
“Reports of pain relief and better sleep prompted us to move forward with offering our customers the Charlotte’s WEB products.”
And there you have it. For now, customers can ask Matt (if you’re in GA-Bradley Fair) or any of our knowledgeable supplement team (if you’re in any of our other eight stores) where to find them. If you try Charlotte’s WEB, let us know what you think.