Tag Archives: CBD oil

Hemp Substance Helps Patients, Too

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by Denton Postlewait
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO – Cannabidiol or CBD happens one of the fastest growing medical substances in the world. The legal substance derived from hemp can be used to treat a variety of conditions.

The differences between the two compounds are microscopic. Although not marijuana, CBD often gets grouped in with the drug. CBD can be collected from hemp, the male plant used in growing marijuana. Hemp contains little or no tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in marijuana. According to Dr. Dane Flippin, owner of Arkansas Progressive Medicine, CBD can reduce chronic pain, inflammation and treat diseases like neuropathy.

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CBD Flower. Photo by Denton Postlewait

“For some people, it works a lot better,” he said. “It seems to work a lot better than the Lyricas, Gabapens and Cymbalta. At least what I’ve been told by patients.”

J.D. Fisher manages the Vapor Maven store on Johnson Avenue in Jonesboro. He said his wife suffers from cerebral palsy and that CBD has relieved some of the symptoms associated with it.

“Since she’s been using the Shaman’s Reach Honey Shots, she hasn’t had a seizure in about four years. She’s able to sleep and walk without a crutch sometimes,” he said. “It’s been really beneficial.”

Vapor Maven carries two CBD products produced in Arkansas. CannaBlast comes from Springdale, while Shaman’s Reach is made in Jonesboro by Emerald’s Triangle.

Medical marijuana became legal in Arkansas back in 2017. Now, two years later, dispensaries around the state started selling the medicine in May 2019. NEA Full Spectrum, a medical marijuana dispensary, will open in Brookland later this year.

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Shaman’s Reach Pet CBD. (Photo by Denton Postlewait)

CBD remains legal, but still faces the same scrutiny as marijuana.

Haylie Slater works for Emerald’s Triangle, running the company’s blog and overseeing research. She said the reason CBD still gets negative press comes from a lack of knowledge.

“It comes from ignorance. That’s the best word to describe it,” she said.

Flippin said although CBD works for some people, others do not respond unless the product they take contains THC.

“There’s just something magical when you add the THC,” he said. “It acts as a catalyst.”

Many places in the United States sell CBD products. In Jonesboro, it can be found at almost any pharmacy, gas station or grocery store in one form or another. Places like Super V Drug, Cash Saver, Emerald’s Triangle and Vapor Maven all carry some form of CBD products.

However, not all products are made the same. Slater and Flippin both said before starting a regiment of CBD to research developers and distributors. Not all CBD products are pure. Some products tested possessed high levels of THC. If consumed, a product containing too much THC-infused CBD could cause a person could potentially fail a drug test. To fail a drug test using a product containing pure CBD, a person would need to consume at least their body weight in grams. To be sure of a product’s purity, Emerald’s conducts third-party testing on all products they carry, along with competitors’ products. These can be found at one of three Emerald’s locations in the region.

Fisher said the reason he believes CBD carries a negative stigma is people get bad information on the internet.

“I think people don’t get the right information online,” he said. “They don’t want to walk into a vape store and ask a bunch of questions and think they are getting the right answers, so they go onto the internet.”

Slater said the reason marijuana receives such a negative stigma comes from its illegal Schedule 1 classification.

“The most friction that we receive on it is the legality of it,” she said. “How it is never OK to break the law.”

Flippin said because Arkansas legislation did not approve the sale of medical marijuana until recently, patients traveled to surrounding states to buy it. Flippin said some families move to states where medical marijuana is legal so they can use the medicine.

“We’ve had people travel to other states where it is legal; we’ve had people go to Oklahoma now,” he said. “They call back and say it changed their life.”

Slater said work blogging and researching gives people access to the information so they can form their own opinions.

“My basis, my agenda, my prerogative with being involved with the blog and the research is to inform … bottom line,” she said. “It’s to inform people about the benefits and the way an herb can completely change your life.”

Before starting any health regiment, both Slater and Flippin said to talk to a doctor to explore all potential treatments. To obtain a medical marijuana card, a person must be evaluated by a medical professional.

 

Business Provides Pharmaceuticals Alternative

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Kayce Wilson
Delta Digital News Service

BROOKLAND, Ark. – Arkansas residents may get away from pharmaceuticals because of the benefits of the cannabidiol oil derived from the hemp plant.

Many Arkansas businesses submitted their applications for a dispensary license in September 2017, but they will not receive clarification until official announcements expected sometime this year. One NEA business, Emerald’s Triangle LLC of Brookland, still awaits its results. Owner Richard Johnston said they planned to get into the medical marijuana industry once the store opened in 2016.

“I went to a convention in Los Angeles in February (2017) that was the big industry show that had to do with vape, CBD and medical marijuana. That’s where I decided to pick up my first company when it comes to CBD: Blue Moon Hemp,” Johnston said.

The store began to sell CBD products and contains CBD tinctures, topicals and powder in its selection. Buyers can purchase it in vape oil, edible and shatter form as well.

Employee Alfred Holland continually researches CBD.

“Israel has been on the forefront of CBD, and they’ve been doing research for over a decade,” Holland said. “It can be used for anything from fibromyalgia, general inflammation in all of the major parts of the body, osteoporosis, diabetes and some psychological issues like PTSD, depression, seizures and anxiety. Some even buy it for their animals.”

Emerald’s Triangle LLC continues to see a positive response from the community. Employee Zach Slater said the stigmas associated with the marijuana industry remain their main hurdle.

“The reception of the CBD has been great as more people learn the information, like what it does and doesn’t do, so some of the stigma behind the cannabinoid is kind of being dematerialized. I think that it will just grow bigger and bigger,” Slater said. “Some people need to realize that it’s not a fad dietary trend; we’re all at the very beginning of a new era.”

Emerald’s Triangle owns a closed group on Facebook where users can provide their input on CBD and find answers to their questions.

Paragould resident Hannah Foster said the use of CBD changed her life drastically.

“It helps with my insomnia, vomiting and nausea, eases the pain in my joints and bones, dulls my lisp so I can speak clearly, as in it helps slow down my talking and it helps anxiety dramatically,” Foster said. “You can put the tincture in any food or drink — I love it in my tea — or you can take it directly by mouth.”

What is CBD?

As the compound extracted from hemp plants, CBD allows the user to reap the physical benefits without the “high” associated with marijuana. CBD oil contains little to no traces of tetrahydrocannabinol, the chemical which causes the psychoactive effects associated with marijuana. You can read more information here.

CBD affects the endocannabinoid system within the body that regulate the body’s functions, such as sleep, pain, mood and autoimmune responses. The therapeutic effects happen when the cannabinol interacts with the endocannabinoid receptors located throughout the body system.

CBD helps to reduce inflammation, a condition that worsens many pre-existing health issues. The secret to seeing positive results from CBD involves figuring out the right method and amount that will suit the condition.

Dr. Betsy Hendricks of Conway works at the Arkansas Center for the Study of Integrative Medicine. The center’s mission combines the mental, spiritual and physical aspects of health to heal and relieve those of their pain.

Food and Health Study Group member Elene Murray said Hendricks does her research.

“She’s a super sleuth. She’s traditionally trained but uses supplements and knows the labs to run for food sensitivities,” Murray said. “She helps people heal as where traditional medication just runs around in circles.”

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Shaman’s Reach, a CBD product line manufactured in Brookland. (photo by Kayce Wilson)

The staff at Emerald’s Triangle LLC recently released Shaman’s Reach, a line of CBD products that they manufacture in Brookland.

Shaman’s Reach combines CBD and medicinal herbs aiming to target inflammation, pain, fatigue and even allergies. The most popular form of this product is a tincture, which is to be dripped under the tongue. There are also capsules, salves, isolates and infused honey as well as smokable products, which makes the product accessible to all. Their informational website regarding medical marijuana can be accessed here.

As the uses for CBD increase, many common issues are expected to decrease. The staff at Emerald’s Triangle said there’s a change coming.

“It’s happened in many other states and now Arkansas has a chance. They’re going to see that the opioid epidemic is going to drop, the addiction problems will drop, the prescriptions will drop. The state will save tons of money on insurance,” Johnston said.

Emerald’s Triangle LLC. recently opened a store in downtown Jonesboro where shoppers can get access to CBD and its other products. For more information on Emerald’s Triangle and CBD, click here.