MMR: Mass Market Retailers, November 25, 2019

SUPPLY SIDE Consumers Have a Lot to Learn ARLINGTON Va Many companies are selling cannabis products ranging from beverages to bath bombs in stores and online But although 34 of Americans have bought a CBD product few understand the intricacies of the marketplace according to a consumer survey by the Grocery Manufacturers Association GMA While more than six in 10 Americans have heard about CBD most of these consumers are uncertain or mistaken about what CBD actually is what it does and whether all products made with CBD are safe to consume GMA says in its report on the survey titled The Urgent Need for CBD Clarity GMA is calling for a uniform federal regulatory framework that would give consumers the basic information they need to make informed decisions about CBD Todays patchwork of inconsistent and often contradictory CBD REPORT state regulations coupled with the lack of methodical testing and safety requirements is calling consumer protection into question GMA says in the report Smart clearly articulated regulations are essential to providing consumers the information they need to make the best choices for themselves and their families Three federal agencies have oversight of cannabis a plant family that includes hemp and marijuana The Food and Drug Association oversees companies selling food or dietary supplements made with CBD The Department of Agriculture regulates hemp cultivation and the Drug Enforcement Administration oversees marijuana used in medical research The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp and CBD from the controlled substances list as long as products containing them dont have more than 03 THC the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis Academic researchers have identified health benefits of CBD though many also argue for more clinical trials Congress has been urging the FDA to ease the path to market for CBD and other cannabisderived products At present the FDAs only approved use of CBD is for the treatment of epilepsy through a drug called epidiolex according to GMA which notes that despite the absence of detailed information about CBD and its effects on the body cannabidiol is being marketed as a panacea for a wide range of ailments Misleading and false claims associated with CBD products may lead consumers to put off getting important medical care such as proper diagnosis treatment and supportive care the FDA says on its website Twenty one percent of survey respondents told GMA they had purchased CBD to alleviate cancer symptoms and 21 sought CBD to treat effects of a neurological disorder One quarter of respondents bought CBD to enhance heart health GMA surveyed 2056 adults and focused its analysis on the 62 who indicated they had familiarity with CBD Of these 39 think CBD is just another name for marijuana GMA says Whether CBD can create a high is another point of confusion Only 45 of Americans correctly responded that CBD does not intoxicate people who use it But more than half 51 believe it can GMA says More than one third 33 said CBD does intoxicate and another 18 believe it could intoxicate if enough of it is consumed Twenty three percent of consumers who have bought CBD products did so because they thought it would intoxicate them or give them a high Pain management is the main reason Americans buy CBD products GMA says Consumers most commonly purchased CBD oils or tinctures 54 foods 45 skin care 44 or vitamins or dietary supplements 39 Specialty shops are the most common outlets for CBD merchandise accounting for 48 of purchases That is followed by online merchants 41 grocery stores 30 pharmacies 29 and convenience stores or gas stations 26 Federal government regulation and oversight must move at the same pace as the rapidly expanding CBD market GMA concludes in its report It is imperative to remember that consumers are driving this growth consumers who according to our research are grappling with misinformation misconceptions and misunderstandings about CBD Beautiful Pure Broad Spectrum Oil FORT COLLINS Colo Joy Organics was launched in mid 2018 with the goal of helping as many people as possible experience the benefits of CBD The family owned and operated business supplies premium broadspectrum THC free CBD oils in several delivery formats soft gels tinctures energy drinks salves and gummies It also produces dog treats All of its oils are made with broad spectrum CBD involving a chromatography process that removes THC from cannabis making it possible to consume CBD without any psychoactive effects while keeping its flavonoids and terpenes ingredients that deliver the plants scents flavors and therapeutic benefits says Todd Smith chief partnership officer at Joy Organics The end result is a beautiful pure THC free broad spectrum oil Smith says Smiths spouse Joy Smith says she founded the company after becoming aware of CBDs benefits as a treatment for her aching shoulder and in helping her overcome troubles with sleep Joy Organics operates its flagship retail store in Fort Collins Colo The company introduced a wholesale program offering retail partners significant price discounts as well as a thoughtful B2B customer experience In addition it has a private label CBD oil partnership program that gives businesses the opportunity to market and resell high quality THC free CBD products at a fraction of the cost required to develop and manufacture products on their own What Associates Need To Know About CBD By Dr Jay You Retailers are on the front lines when it comes to educating their customers on the potential benefits of cannabidiol CBD products To make the most of this burgeoning sales opportunity and meet customer needs for education here are the top questions that you and your staff need to be prepared to answer What Is CBD This is the first question that most customers ask so retailers should ensure their staff members know the basics or at least have access to relevant literature In short CBD is one of the many endocannabinoids The questions that customers want answered the body naturally produces Todays CBD products use plant based cannabinoids extracted from the hemp plant Of course theres a lot of confusion about CBD and THC Tetrahydrocannabinol THC produces the psychoactive high associated with marijuana use while CBD does not Some but not all CBD products might contain trace amounts of THC but such concentrations less than 03 should be low enough to not have a psychoactive effect How Does It Work Taken as a supplement CBD regulates the bodys endocannabinoid system which is responsible for maintaining health and equilibrium in the bodys brain muscles bones skin and nervous system In short if part of the body is out of whack due to low production of cannabidiol CBD products can help the body return to its balanced state Is It Legal and Safe Yes and yes Under the 2018 Farm Bill CBD purchase is now legal at a federal level as long as it contains less than 03 THC Like all supplements Food and Drug Administration regulations still apply As for safety the World Health Organization has confirmed that CBD is generally well tolerated with a good safety profile Would CBD Help Me Heres the question where customers typically need the most education Contrary to what some people might think CBD is not intended to cure ailments and its not a magic pill that will make every disease go away Rather CBD is best used to supplement existing doctor approved treatment regimens and augment the management of certain symptoms That said CBD has demonstrated utility in easing the symptoms of a wide array of common health concerns Theres good evidence regarding its efficacy in reducing pain associated with osteoarthritis and in helping reduce the frequency and intensity of epileptic seizures Other common uses include supplementing treatment of anxiety depression sleep problems as well as skin conditions and other sources of pain How Should I Select a CBD Product Customers and retailers for that matter should look for CBD products that provide ample information regarding both ingredients and dosing Furthermore packaging should point users to product testing results whereby a third party has certified that a product is what its label says it is In other words look for products that embrace transparency rather than masking whats in the box Dr Jay You is a veterinarian and a developer of pet CBD products HempFusions Retail Distribution Network Expands DENVER HempFusion announced a significant expansion of its distribution with the addition of more than 500 brick and mortar stores run by retailers including Sprouts Farmers Market Shop Rite Heinens Grocery Store Harmons Grocery and over 100 independent natural retailers Hemp Fusion also expanded its product offering in the Vitamin Shoppe This will allow more consumers to easily locate and purchase our premium Whole Food Hemp Complex CBD products from established and trusted brick and mortar locations nationwide said Jason Mitchell a naturopathic doctor and the companys president HempFusion last month announced the launch of Twist a food line featuring the companys proprietary Whole Food Hemp Complex The new Twist products are available in two sizes and three flavors Mango Peach Citrus Ginger and Key Lime Earlier HempFusion introduced an all natural line of terpene infused CBD topicals that feature plant based terpenes infused with the companys full spectrum hemp CBD extract that can be applied directly to the skin for quick and easy support HempFusion touts its proprietary Hemp One Pass Extraction process that allows the company to infuse more plant based terpenes and omegas to provide maximum support for the bodys i system The company said that its hemp extracts including products that are formulated for energy stress relief and sleep are sold through more than 3400 retailers MMR November 25 2019 25