Judging by the sixth annual NoCo Hemp Expo, or NoCo 6, the American hemp industry is poised for explosive growth in the coming years.

Begun in 2014, the NoCo Hemp Expo celebrated its first year in Denver, Colorado on March 29 and 30. An estimated 10,000 people, the largest attendance ever, crammed into the Crowne Plaza Denver Airport Center for the sold-out show. The move to Denver came after the 2018 NoCo Hemp Expo outgrew the event’s former location at a convention center in Loveland, about an hour’s drive to the north. Organizers are already looking for a bigger home for the 2020 event.

While there were numerous CBD vendors vying for attention, NoCo 6’s expo hall also featured the latest in hemp innovations. All through the event, panel discussions looked to the future of a fast-growing industry, with a focus on building sustainable hemp in America.

HEMP INNOVATION ON DISPLAY AT NOCO 6

The legalization of hemp under the 2018 Farm Bill promises to open up new uses for hemp, thanks to an increasing supply of U.S. grown hemp. It’s clear from NoCo 6 that the industry is already reinventing itself.

So much diversity in #hemp fashion today! Thanks @EnviroTextiles1 and the other designers who contributed!

We all saw some items we want to put in our wardrobes… #fashion #NoCo6 #NoCoHempExpo pic.twitter.com/Kuhw1skQuh

— Ministry of Hemp (@MinistryofHemp) March 30, 2019

The NoCo 6 hemp fashion show, organized by Enviro Textiles, showcased the growing variety in the field. Highlights included a tailored hemp suit, silky hemp robes, and even hemp backpacks.

Morris Beegle, the founder of the NoCo Hemp Expo, also showcased products from his WAFBA family of brands. These included hemp notebooks, hemp clothing, and hemp instruments from Silver Mountain Hemp.

Patrick from PF Design Labs showing off a hemp bike frame. Very cool guy, can’t wait to get him on the show. #NoCo2019 @MinistryofHemp pic.twitter.com/tIet3lXj72

— No way this is Matt Baum. (@mattbaumstein) March 30, 2019

Going even deeper into hemp’s potential, high-tech hemp brands showed off the latest in hemp innovation. Green Spring Technologies impressed us with their injection-molded hemp plastics, and their hemp 3D printing display. We were equally excited about PF Design Lab and their bicycle frame made from hemp!

There was also a delicious variety of hemp and CBD-infused foods to sample, from Hempress’ hemp chai tea to decadent CBD chocolates and cookies from Incentive Gourmet.

GROWERS & ADVOCATES PLAN A SUSTAINABLE HEMP FUTURE

Sustainability was a recurring them of the panels at NoCo 6.

#Humanity is #HempBound. Sizzling #energy from the sold-out crowd @NoCoHempExpo, coming ready to learn, laugh & flash the #ASL sign for #hemp Thrilled to see so many farmer/entrepreneurs on-board to make regenerative hemp the mainstream mode. https://t.co/RyW3TjZNCe @iamdonisha pic.twitter.com/Z9kc4t7rWq

— Doug Fine (@organiccowboy) April 1, 2019

A panel of regenerative agriculture experts described hemp as part of a larger solution to the environmental crisis.

“It’s not just about hemp standing alone,” said Tara Caton of the Rodale Institute.

Mike Lewis of Third Wave Farms agreed. Sustainable farming isn’t just about the crops but about “giving back to the land but also the people and community around the farm.”

A Kentucky hemp grower, Lewis also founded Growing Warriors, an organization that helps veterans become farmers.

The Indigenous People’s Hemp panel at #NoCo2016 was amazing. Such a great perspective. ⁦@MinistryofHemp⁩ pic.twitter.com/l1kwgtdfDT

— No way this is Matt Baum. (@mattbaumstein) March 30, 2019

One of the most forward-thinking groups at NoCo 6 were the members of the indigenous farmers panel. Marcus Grignon, of Hempstead Project Heart, warned about the dangers posed by patents on hemp. Environmentalist and Native American hemp advocate Winona LaDuke led the panel in calling for investing in an “indigenous hemp economy.” They also called for more hemp education, so that the next generation is better prepared to sustain the hemp industry.

Kit O’Connell from @MinistryofHemp: “As media, we need to start creating a more consistent and transparent language when talking about #hemp and #cbd.” #NoCo2019 pic.twitter.com/B6bCbUyvUR

— Hemp History Week (@HempHistoryWeek) March 29, 2019

Journalists and hemp media professionals also gathered on a panel, moderated by Ministry of Hemp Editor Kit O’Connell. The group also included representatives of Cannabis Now, Honeysuckle Magazine, and the Nutrition Business Journal. Recurring themes were the continuing normalization of hemp after decades of stigma, and the need for better, clearer, more transparent language when reporting on hemp and hemp products like CBD.

WHILE BARRIERS REMAIN, HEMP BOOM SHOWS NO SIGN OF SLOWING

There are still challenges facing the industry. The USDA has yet to release its guidelines for hemp growing. The FDA is considering how to handle the boom in over-the-counter CBD supplements. And there are still barriers preventing people from participating in the hemp industry. A clause in the 2018 Farm Bill bans most people with drug felonies less than 10 years old from participation in the hemp industry. No other crop faces similar restrictions.

A roundtable discussion of diversity in the #hemp industry. #noco6 #nocohempexpo #letstalkhemp pic.twitter.com/Zhv6HN5sWg

— Ministry of Hemp (@MinistryofHemp) March 29, 2019

Overall, though, the mood at NoCo 6 was upbeat and the event left us hopeful. After navigating the crowded halls of the convention center, it’s easy to believe hemp sales could reach $2 billion by 2022, or even before.

With so many passionate people excited about our favorite crop, it’s hard to imagine any barriers the hemp industry can’t overcome. Whether it’s ensuring consumers can access safe, reliable CBD oil, or exploring the future of hemp plastic and textiles, the future of hemp is developing right before our eyes.

Drew De Los Santos, Jessica St. Cyr, and Matt Baum contributed additional reporting for this article.

Police raided a pair of north Texas CBD stores recently, even as policymakers in the Lonestar State began reevaluating the legal status of hemp and CBD.

On March 15, police raided GM Tobacco stores in Duncanville and Lancaster, Texas. These two suburbs are located just south of Dallas, in the larger Dallas-Fort Worth Metro Area of northern Texas. Amy Wazwaz, who co-owns the stores with her husband Houd, told NBC DFW that police seized about $50,000 in hemp-derived CBD, including hundreds of CBD oil products and about 30 pounds of loose, smokable hemp. Police also took cash from the register and the safe.

Dan Sullivan, attorney for the Wazwaz family, told Ministry of Hemp that the stores only sold legal, high-quality CBD products. “They won’t sell anything that doesn’t have third party lab testing” proving its purity and legality, he explained.

Texas crime laboratories “are not able to distinguish between industrial hemp, on the one hand, and whats considered ‘marijuana’ under federal law.” — Attorney Dan Sullivan

The raids come amid a rapidly shifting legal landscape for CBD oil and industrial hemp itself. While the 2018 Farm Bill legalized industrial hemp in the U.S., the USDA isn’t expected to release new guidelines for hemp for months. Individual states still retain the power to create more restrictive policies toward hemp. The status of CBD itself remains in limbo pending further evaluation by the FDA.

Despite remaining in a legal gray area, many stores, from grocery stores to local CBD shops, sell CBD products in Texas.

STATE RESTRICTIONS ON HEMP LOOSENED AFTER NORTH TEXAS CBD STORES RAIDED

Under federal law, hemp products like CBD oil must contain less than 0.3 percent THC. Sullivan said all the GM Tobacco stores’ products met this standard. Unfortunately, police are poorly trained to recognize the difference between legal and illegal forms of cannabis.

“The crime laboratories operated by the state are not able to distinguish between industrial hemp, on the one hand, and whats considered ‘marijuana’ under federal law,” Sullivan said.

These police labs, he elaborated, could only detect the presence or absence of THC, rather than detecting whether levels remain under legal minimums.

In addition to the recent raids on the two North Texas CBD stores, in December, police also raided a CBD shop in Nebraska, and briefly threw the owners in jail. Prosecutors dropped the charges in January.

Back in Texas, Sid Miller, the state’s agriculture commissioner, recently expressed support for hemp. On April 5, the Texas Department of State Health Services will remove hemp from Texas’ Controlled Substances List, bringing it in line with similar federal scheduling changes mandated by the 2018 Farm Bill. However, that doesn’t fully clear up the legal status of hemp and especially CBD oil. One issue remains the very broad definition of other state anti-marijuana statutes, which Sullivan described as “confusing.”

“It’s hard to say what it actually means.”

He called the case against his clients and their stores a “technicality.”

Sullivan continued, “It’s because the statutes are outdated.”

STATE LEGISLATION COULD PROTECT HEMP & CBD IN TEXAS

The Texas Legislature is currently in session, and debating several bills to change Texas cannabis and hemp laws. Their future remains uncertain.

Supporters of hemp and CBD packed into a hearing on April 1 for a bill that would clearly legalize both in the state. It’s future remains uncertain, however, due to remaining hostility and stigma toward cannabis in the Lone Star State.

In 2015, Texas created an extremely limited medical cannabis program. Only a few hundred people with severe epilepsy qualify and that program only produces CBD oil made from psychoactive cannabis. No other forms of medical or recreational cannabis are legal in Texas.

“They carved out the narrowest possible exception,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan doesn’t think Texas will legalize recreational cannabis this session due to the ongoing stigma. He does think pressure over CBD and hemp could have positive results.

“They may be more inclined to legalize CBD oil than to allow that pressure to result in generalized legalization of cannabis.”

Ministry of Hemp will continue to monitor this case, and upcoming hemp legislation in Texas.

Yesterday, we completely refreshed our Top Online CBD Brands page. We wanted to share some more information with our readers about this top CBD update.

There are hundreds or even perhaps thousands of CBD products on the market. However, the CBD market is also largely unregulated. That means, there are few restrictions on how CBD products are sold. There’s no guarantee that what you’re buying is accurately labeled or honestly marketed.

That’s where the Ministry of Hemp comes in: we’ve surveyed the hemp industry, its brands, and as many CBD products as we can. We want to make buying CBD easier for you. For this top CBD update, we picked 16 of our favorite CBD brands, and highlighted some of our favorite products from them.

HOW WE CREATED OUR TOP CBD UPDATE

For each of the 16 brands selected to appear on our Top CBD brands page, we broke down their offerings a few different ways.

Key Highlights

We’ve selected a few features and product offerings that stand out about each CBD brand. For a few brands, our editor and review team gave a special award to the brand. These brands are listed first. However, every brand on this list more than meets our high standards of quality.

Types of Products

For each brand, we display icons indicating the types of products they offer, including CBD tinctures, capsules, topicals, vapes, edibles (such as gummies) and pet products. Some of our top CBD brands offer just one or two products, while others have extremely diverse offerings.

Established

We wanted to learn how long these brands have been around. While some great brands are newer, others have been around since the 2014 Farm Bill, which first re-legalized hemp in the U.S. for research purposes.

Origin of Hemp

It’s vital to know how and where hemp was grown. That’s because hemp is a bioaccumulator, meaning hemp absorbs contaminants from the soil while it grows. So if the soil it was grown on is not good, clean soil, then that plant might contain high levels of lead or mercury.

When hemp is imported, it’s harder to ensure the hemp is grown responsibly, sustainably and without adding potential toxins to the products made from the crop. While it used to be that most CBD brands imported their hemp, today more and more brands use domestically grown hemp. We’ve also included some brands that use responsibly grown hemp imported from Europe.

3rd Party Lab Results?

Customers should always request third party lab results that test for potency, pesticides, residual solvents, and mycotoxins of CBD hemp oil. If a company is reluctant to share these results with you, it should automatically be a red flag and indicate that they have something to hide. We’ve done the work and checked if these brands offer those tests to their customers.

We’ve assigned a letter grade of C, B, A, or A+ based on what kind of lab results are offered to customers. All the brands on this list at least offer tests showing the levels of CBD and THC in them (with THC under the legal limits for hemp of 0.3%), but brands which go further are rated higher.

Customer Service

Shopping for CBD can be confusing, mainly because there’s a lot we still don’t know about hemp extracts. We focused on brands with helpful and speedy customer service, and let you know how you can get in touch.

Shipping

We let you know a bit more about what it will cost to get your CBD. Today, many brands offer free, or flat rate shipping.

Returns

We investigated each brand’s return policy. While some brands only accept unopened products, others offer more comprehensive returns for unsatisfied customers.

Price

CBD can be expensive, and there are some good reasons for the high prices. However, we know that getting a good value for your money is also important. We’ve rated each brand from 1 to 3 dollar signs ($), based on their price range.

A Closer Look

We included links to where you can learn more about some of our favorite products from these top CBD brands. Some brands also offer exclusive coupons for our readers, and we’ve included them here.

MORE ABOUT OUR CBD PRODUCT STANDARDS

Ministry of Hemp only works with brands that meet our extremely high standards.

These include clear, transparent labelling and honest marketing. It should always be easy to learn more about the products, including their complete ingredients. It should always be easy to know how much CBD you’re taking. All of our top CBD brands have clear, easy to navigate websites, and make it easy to learn more about their products.

We try to focus on brands with sustainable, responsible business practices. To ensure that providing great CBD supplements is a brand’s primary goal, we do not work with any companies that use direct sales or multi-level marketing techniques.

MORE INFORMATION ON FINDING GREAT CBD ONLINE

We hope our Top CBD brands page helps you make more informed decisions when you’re buying CBD.

In addition to this top CBD update, here are some other useful CBD buying resources we’ve created:

• Best CBD Oil Tinctures of 2018
• Top CBD Capsules and Softgels of 2018
• Best CBD Topicals of 2018
• Top 5 Ways to Identify High Quality CBD Oil

TryTheCBD Vape Cartridges stand out from other cartridges on the market through their high-quality components and pure ingredients.

We loved trying TryTheCBD’s delicious and effective vape cartridges. Vaping CBD is one of the most popular ways to take this beneficial supplement. However, not all CBD vapes are created equal. Some CBD vapes include ingredients like propylene glycol, which can irritate people’s throats.

TryTheCBD Vape Cartridges combine CBD isolate grown under organic conditions, with plant-based terpenes to increase the flavor and effects. Their new formula contains no propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, or MCT oil. Instead, the CBD and terpenes are mixed into a special carrier liquid called TEC Temper, which is a blend of special additional terpenes designed to reduce inflammation.

The result is an extremely smooth vaping experience, without the typical harshness that can leave your throat irritated. These vape cartridges come in a variety of flavors, each designed to mimic a popular strain of psychoactive cannabis (“marijuana”) without any THC. The result is flavorful and relaxing, without the high. We tried TryTheCBD’s Gorilla Glue #4 and loved the subtle flavor and relaxing effects.

TryTheCBD paid us a fee and offered us free products in return for our honest opinion. If you purchase a product from one of these links, we’ll receive a percentage of sales. Read more about sponsored content on Ministry of Hemp.

Read on for our full review of TryTheCBD Vape Cartridges, to learn more about their great features.

TRYTHECBD OFFERS GREAT FLAVORS IN AFFORDABLE, PREMIUM DESIGN

In addition to the unique TEC Temper carrier fluid, TryTheCBD Vape Cartridges offer a number of other appealing features.

These cartridges have a standard threading that fits into almost any vape battery, but inside the cartridge is anything but standard. High-quality ceramic coils and leak proof engineering make these cartridges more durable and give CBD consumers a better vaping experience.

TryTheCBD is a Colorado company that uses all Colorado-grown hemp, produced under organic conditions with no GMO ingredients. All their products are also gluten free. We appreciate that TryTheCBD makes third-party lab results available right in the product listing.

In addition, at $59.99 for 500 mg of CBD, this is a good value for a high-capacity disposable cartridge full of high-quality cannabidol.

TRYTHECBD VAPE CARTRIDGES OFFICIAL REVIEW

• Highlights: TryTheCBD makes their Vape Cartridges with a specialized, terpene-bassed carrier oil designed to reduce inflammation and prevent irritation of the throat.  
• Strength: 500mg disposable cartridge, also available in 300mg cartridges
• Price: $34.99 – $59.99
• Customer Service & Shipping: Fast, friendly customer service. Free shipping is available on orders over $99.
• Independent Test Results: Online.
• Flavor & Feel: Subtle but delicious and terpene-rich flavor profile. Gorilla Glue #4 has an earthy, faintly sweet and piney flavor. Effects are very relaxing, easing muscle soreness, chronic pain and agitation in our reviewer.
• Ingredients: CBD isolate in TEC Temper carrier fluid, plus Botanical Terpenes.
• Other: Available in several great flavors. We loved their “OG Kush,” too. Pre-filled disposable vape pens are also available.

TryTheCBD uses hemp grown under organic conditions in Colorado in all their CBD products. They make a full range of CBD supplements, some of which contain full spectrum CBD, including CBD tinctures and CBD pet products. Learn more about the differences between full spectrum and CBD isolate.

Ananda Touch Bliss Oil, the new sexual lubricant from Ananda Hemp, enhances intimacy and pleasure with the power of CBD.

CBD is a powerful natural compound found in hemp that won’t make you feel high, but does create numerous positive effects for consumers. We’ve experienced CBD tinctures, and tried CBD in capsules, gummies, and even popcorn. However, Ananda Hemp’s latest product breaks new ground for our review team and the industry as a whole.

Bliss Oil is a special CBD formulation designed to enhance erotic intimacy, from Ananda Hemp’s new “Ananda Touch” line of products. Ananda Touch Bliss Oil combines full-spectrum hemp extract with other pleasure enhancing ingredients to create more relaxing, more fulfilling, and more powerful sexual experiences. Bliss Oil uses only plant-based ingredients and it’s free from dangerous ingredients sometimes found in lube. However, because Ananda Touch Bliss Oil is oil-based, it’s not safe to use with condoms or other safer sex supplies.

Ananda Hemp paid us a fee and offered us free products in return for our honest opinion. If you purchase a product from one of these links, we’ll receive a percentage of sales. Read more about sponsored content on Ministry of Hemp.

Our reviewer reported that using Ananda Hemp Bliss Oil felt arousing and exciting. Curious to learn more? Read on for an overview of Ananda Hemp and our full review.

ANANDA HEMP TAKES TOP QUALITY HEMP INTO THE BEDROOM

Ananda Hemp only makes high-quality, carefully formulated CBD products, and they’ve brought the same care to Bliss Oil. They work with experienced former tobacco farmers in Kentucky to grow their hemp, and carefully guide their crops through every stage from seed to final product. We appreciate their dedication to transparency, with clear, careful labelling and third-party lab results available for every product. Through their involvement with the US Hemp Roundtable, Ananda Hemp are also leaders in promoting legal, sustainable hemp growing throughout the country.

When it comes to Ananda Touch Bliss Oil, it’s important to follow directions. While you can certainly apply directly and immediately use as a lubricant, cannabis-enhanced sexual products work best when they have a chance to absorb into the skin first. Ananda Hemp recommends applying at least 15 minutes before you want to engage in most sexual activity, so the best practice is to spread it on your genitals and then enjoy some cuddling, foreplay, or other light stimulation for a while. You can easily apply more Bliss Oil, or another lubricant, to keep things slippery later.

Ananda Hemp Bliss Oil can enhance any sexual experience in anyone, whether you’re with a lover or just enjoying yourself. CBD, working in concert with Bliss Oil’s other natural ingredients, increases blood flow and reduces pain. This makes your skin more sensitive and leaves you feeling ready to feel good. Even without direct stimulation, we noticed a sudden spike in sexual arousal about 15 to 20 minutes after application. Orgasms felt more intense, and pleasure lasted longer. It even felt easier to get excited again afterward.

ANANDA TOUCH BLISS OIL OFFICIAL REVIEW

• Highlights: When used as a lubricant, Ananda Touch Bliss Oil from Ananda Hemp increases blood flow, reduces pain, and enhances sexual pleasure.
• Strength: 250mg of cannabinoids per 2 oz. bottle
• Price: $60.00
• Customer Service & Shipping: Fast, friendly customer service. Free shipping available for Bliss Oil.
• Independent Test Results: Online.
• Sensation & Texture: Bliss Oil has a light but very slippery texture, and creates mild but noticeable cooling and tingling sensations when applied to the skin.
• Ingredients: CBD oil / Full Spectrum Hemp extract with Coconut Oil, Organic Cacao Seed Butter (Theobroma), Peppermint Essential Oil, Black Pepper Essential Oil, L-Arginine in MCT oil, Cetearyl alcohol, and Phenoxyethanol.
• Other: 10% of every purchase of Ananda Touch Bliss Oil goes to support the Endometriosis Foundation of America. Ananda Hemp offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee for unsatisfied customers.

Bliss oil is not compatible with condoms or other safer sex supplies. Ananda Hemp uses Kentucky-grown hemp in all their products. Our reviewers are also big fans of Ananda Hemp’s other products, including their CBD oil and Spectrum Gels.

Make Valentine’s Day healthier, more relaxing, and even more romantic with this CBD Valentine’s Gift Guide.

While St. Valentine’s Day is considered the most romantic of holidays, like many other holidays it can be surprisingly stressful. There’s a lot of pressure to get everything perfect. That’s why we wanted to pick some great Valentine’s Day CBD gifts for you. If you’re looking for a gift that’s more sustainable and healthier than another chocolate sampler, we think CBD is perfect.

There’s nothing worse than being too stressed to enjoy time with our loved ones. CBD seems to balance the human endocannabinoid system. CBD reduces pain and symptoms of anxiety, which can help us feel more relaxed and open to our loved ones on this special day. Even if you’re spending the day by yourself, CBD is the perfect choice for self-care.

Read on for a special Valentine’s Day CBD cocktail recipe, and our complete CBD Valentine’s Day gift guide.

RECIPE: CUPID’S CBD FIZZ FROM CURALEAF HEMP

CBD drinks are a great choice for entertaining and, when it comes to CBD-infused alcoholic beverages, might even counteract some of the negative side-effects of drinking since CBD reduces inflammation. Of course, it’s always important to drink responsibly and in moderation, so save the elevated cocktails for when you’re ready to stay in for the night.

Our friends at Curaleaf Hemp shared this delicious Valentine’s CBD recipe with us.

Ingredients

• 2 oz gin
• 0.5 oz lemon juice
• 0.5 oz Aperol
• One egg white
• 15 drops Curaleaf Hemp Lemon Bergamot CBD Tincture Drops
• Rose Petal for garnish

Preparation

• Place all ingredients in a shaker with no ice for a dry shake for no less than 10 seconds
• Add ice to the shaker and give a final shake
• Pour the liquid into a lowball glass
• Garnish with a rose petal

Curaleaf Hemp CBD Valentine’s Day Coupon

• What’s the deal? Get 20% off all Curaleaf Hemp products until Valentine’s Day.
• Do I need a coupon code? Use coupon code CURALOVE at checkout.
• When is this deal available? Until Valentine’s Day (February 14, 2019)

MINISTRY OF HEMP OFFICIAL VALENTINE’S DAY CBD GIFT GUIDE

We’ve got lots more great Valentine’s Day CBD gifts for you. Click below to jump to a brand, or read on to see all the Valentine’s Day CBD deals. We’ve provided everything you need to take advantage of these sales.

• Ananda Hemp
• Sunday Scaries
• PlusCBD Valentine’s Deal
• Every Day Optimal
• Inesscents
• Hemp Bombs
• CuraLeaf Hemp
• Joy Organics
• Sagely Naturals
• Nature’s Script

Ananda Hemp

• What’s the deal? Get 20% off Ananda Touch Bliss Oil when you order before February 15!
• Do I need a coupon code? Use coupon code blissfulday at checkout.
• When is this deal available? Until February 15, 2019.

Bliss Oil is Ananda Hemp’s new intimate oil, designed to enhance sexual pleasure. Check out our official review of Bliss Oil! We’re also big fans of Ananda Hemp’s Spectrum Gels and their CBD tinctures.

Sunday Scaries

• What’s the deal? Get 10% off Sunday Scaries CBD products, which are formulated to reduce anxiety!
• Do I need a coupon code? Use coupon code ministry at checkout.
• When is this deal available? Anytime. It cannot be combined with other offers, however.

Our review team loved Sunday Scaries Vegan AF CBD Gummies.

PlusCBD Oil

• What’s the deal? Get 20% off PlusCBD Oil CBD balm all month long!
• Do I need a coupon code? Use coupon code BEMINE at checkout.
• When is this deal available? Until February 28, 2019.

Soothe away your aches and pains with this great topical CBD and you’ll be ready for your night on the town, or staying in with Netflix.

Every Day Optimal

• What’s the deal? Get 25% off Every Day Optimal products until February 15!
• Do I need a coupon code? Use coupon code mhlove25 at checkout.
• When is this deal available? Until February 15, 2019.

Our reviewer loved Every Day Optimal Gummies and their CBD capsules are some of our favorites too.

Inesscents

• What’s the deal? Get 33% off selected Inesscents Salvation CBD products: Inesccents CBD-infused soaps and any Inesccents Moontime Harmony product.
• Do I need a coupon code? Use coupon code MINISTRY at checkout.
• When is this deal available? Until February 15, 2019.

We’ll have a video review of some of Inesscents CBD products soon from our new video producer, Jessica St. Cyr.

Hemp Bombs

• What’s the deal? Get 25% off Hemp Bombs products until February 15!
• Do I need a coupon code? Use coupon code SWEET25 at checkout.
• When is this deal available? Until February 15, 2019.

Our review team loved Hemp Bombs’ CBD gummies!

Joy Organics

• What’s the deal? Get 25% off Joy Organics skin care products until Valentine’s Day!
• Do I need a coupon code? Use coupon code spreadlove2019 at checkout.
• When is this deal available? Until Valentine’s Day (February 14, 2019).

Come back on February 15 for Joy Organics annual “Joy Day Sale” to celebrate the founder’s birthday. Use coupon code joyday2019 on February 15, 2019 to save 40% off everything in their online store.

Sagely Naturals

• What’s the deal? Get free shipping on all orders from Sagely Naturals, with no minimum order, until Valentine’s Day!
• Do I need a coupon code? Use coupon code PLANTLOVE at checkout.
• When is this deal available? Until Valentine’s Day (February 14, 2019).

Our reviewers enjoyed Sagely Naturals Relief & Recovery Cream and their CBD capsules.

Nature’s Script

• What’s the deal? Get 25% off Nature’s Script products until February 15!
• Do I need a coupon code? Use coupon code SWEET25 at checkout.
• When is this deal available? Until February 15, 2019.

Try Nature’s Script High Potency CBD Capsules for a great, high-strength CBD product.

Savage CBD Pink Grapefruit CBD Tincture has a crisp, fresh fruit taste that delighted our taste buds.

Savage CBD makes a strong, full-spectrum extract that doesn’t taste at all of hemp. Instead, all you get is the flavor of grapefruit, like you just squeezed it out in a juicer. While the flavor is mild, it’s distinctive in a way that stands out from other CBD supplements.

This CBD supplement makes a refreshing addition to tea or juice and it’s great for CBD cocktails. Of course, it also tastes wonderful applied directly under the tongue too, making Savage CBD Pink Grapefruit CBD Tincture a good choice for anyone who doesn’t like the taste of hemp, or anyone looking for something different in their CBD.

Available in several strengths, Savage CBD Pink Grapefruit CBD Tincture starts at 1000mg per 30mg bottle. This is a higher strength CBD extract, and we always recommend newcomers to CBD start off with a small dose. As a result, this bottle could last you quite a while.

Savage CBD paid us a fee and offered us free products in return for our honest opinion. If you purchase a product from one of these links, we’ll receive a percentage of sales. Read more about sponsored content on Ministry of Hemp.

Read on to learn more about Savage CBD and their delicious CBD products.

SAVAGE CBD WANTS EVERYONE TO TRY CANNABIDIOL

Savage CBD wants to help a million people experience the benefits of CBD. In order to make this great supplement more accessible to more people, they focus on top-quality, pure and natural ingredients and rigorous quality testing. We appreciate their commitment to transparency, with third-party lab results for all their products available right from the website.

Our reviewer also appreciated the packaging of Savage CBD Pink Grapefruit CBD Tincture, which has a fun “retro” feel. The dropper seems to be high-quality too, with clear markings up to 1ml, so it’s easy to measure how much CBD you are taking. We also enjoyed sampling Savage CBD’s vape cartridges, which tasted just as good as their CBD oil.

SAVAGE CBD PINK GRAPEFRUIT CBD TINCTURE OFFICIAL REVIEW

• Highlights: Savage CBD Pink Graprefruit CBD Tincture brings strong full-spectrum hemp extract together with fresh-tasting essential oils for a winning combination.
• Strength: 1000 mg per 30ml bottle, also available in 1500mg and 2000mg strengths
• Price: $109.99 – 149.99
• Special: Use coupon code MH15 for 15% off your first order from Savage CBD.
• Customer Service & Shipping: Fast customer service. Free shipping on all U.S. orders.
• Independent Test Results: Online.
• Flavor & Texture: This CBD tincture has a mild but distinct flavor of fresh grapefruit that completely covers any taste of hemp. This supplement has a light, non-oily mouthfeel.
• Ingredients: CBD oil / Full Spectrum Hemp extract plus added Terpenes in MCT (Coconut-based) oil, Hemp Seed oil, and Essential oils.
• Other: Also available in lemon-lime flavor. Savage CBD offers a discount to military service members.

Savage CBD uses hemp grown in California in their products. They also make delicious CBD vape cartridges, CBD e-juice, a topical CBD lotion and a CBD pet spray.

Life Patent CBD-A Oil is different than other hemp extracts, and could offer unique benefits.

Most readers of our site are familiar with CBD, or cannabidiol, the naturally occurring compound in industrial hemp that offers numerous healing benefits. This Life Patent supplement contains both CBD and another cannabinoid, Cannabidiolic Acid or CBD-A. CBD-A is a precursor to CBD, meaning it’s essentially one of the chemical building blocks that makes up CBD.

While CBD-A is not believed to activate the endocannabinoid system in the same way as CBD, preliminary research in academic journals suggests CBD-A may have anti-inflammatory effects, could reduce nausea, and may have other benefits too. Like so many aspects of hemp, we hope to see more CBD-A research in the future.

As for us, our reviewer found that taking Life Patent CBD-A Oil seemed to reduce the effects of a chronic pain condition even during a painful flare up. Anecdotally speaking, taking this tincture before and after workouts seemed to result in dramatically reduced post-workout soreness too. One thing to note: this tincture has a strong, bitter hemp flavor. Drinking water took care of the taste for us. If you’re sensitive to hemp flavor, you might try Life Patent’s great-tasting Daily Health CBD or mix the CBD-A into a complimentary-tasting food like chocolate or coffee.

Life Patent paid us a fee and offered us free products in return for our honest opinion. If you purchase a product from one of these links, we’ll receive a percentage of sales. Read more about sponsored content on Ministry of Hemp.

Read on to learn more about Life Patent and get our complete review of Life Patent CBD-A Oil.

LIFE PATENT TEAM BRINGS HEMP & BIOSCIENCE EXPERTISE TO MAKING SUPPLEMENTS

Life Patent is a veteran-owned company with an especially skilled team that brings together hemp experts and bioscience experts. The Life Patent team practices full traceability, following their products at every stage. Every tincture begins its life as two proprietary types of hemp carefully planted to grow in the Colorado rain and sun. Then, multiple extraction methods are used in their Good Manufacturing Practices-compliant facility to create great tasting and effective tinctures.

We appreciate Life Patent’s commitment to transparency and clear labeling, too. Third-party lab results showing the cannabinoid and terpene content of every tincture are available right on every product page. Life Patent also offers discounts to veterans, seniors, and others in need in return for feedback on how Life Patent CBD-A oil and their other products help their conditions.

LIFE PATENT CBD-A OIL OFFICIAL REVIEW

• Highlights: Life Patent CBD-A Oil is a unique medical-grade hemp extract combining CBD (cannabidiol) with CBD/A (Cannabidiolic Acid), a natural chemical precursor to CBD.
• Strength: 1000mg per 30ml bottle, also available in 500mg and 2000mg bottles
• Price: $49.95 – $199.95
• Customer Service & Shipping: Fast, friendly customer service. Flat rate shipping starts at $5, with free shipping available on some orders.
• Independent Test Results: Online.
• Flavor & Texture: This hemp extract has a strong, bitter hemp flavor with a light oily mouthfeel that easily rinses away with a drink of water.
• Ingredients: Full-spectrum Hemp extract in MCT (coconut-based) oil with Natural flavoring
• Other: LifePatent also makes great tasting CBD oil tinctures! They have a 30-day refund policy for unsatisfied customers.

Life Patent uses Colorado-grown hemp in their products. They offer a CBD assistance program for qualified veterans, seniors, and chronic pain sufferers. Contact Life Patent customer service for more information or to sign up.

Ministry of Hemp Editor in Chief Kit O’Connell spoke with Dawn Peacock, host of CBD Talk Podcast about recent hemp news in the U.S., including the 2018 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill, recently signed into law, fully legalizes industrial hemp in the United States.

While the Farm Bill represents a huge win for hemp advocates, there’s still more to do before hemp and CBD are fully accessible to everyone. A recent FDA statement about CBD’s legality after the Farm Bill has left people confused and concerned about the supplement’s future in the U.S. Dawn and Kit talk about what the memo really means, and why it could show the FDA is actually warming up to CBD.

In addition to the video above, this episode of CBD Talk is available as an audio file on Soundcloud:

Some of the links mentioned in the podcast:

• Legal Hemp In The USA: What The 2018 Farm Bill Means For US Hemp & Agriculture (Ministry of Hemp)
• Police Arrest Nebraska CBD Shop Owners Just Days Before Hemp Is Federally Legalized (Ministry of Hemp)
• Support Heather & Dreyson Beguin, Victims of Nebraska CBD Arrests (GoFundMe)
• Marc Grignon: Hemp Can Help Sustain Native Americans (Ministry of Hemp)
• FDA Signals Shift in Rhetoric Towards Hemp Products (LinkedIn/ Hoban Law Group)
• cbdMD Bath Bombs (Ministry of Hemp)
• CBDMEDIC Active Sport Ointment (Ministry of Hemp)
• Holistic Corn CBD Popcorn (Holistic Corn homepage)

CBD Talk is available on all your favorite podcast apps — give them a listen!

 

Update JANUARY 14, 2019: The state dropped all criminal charges against the Beguins. Charges were dropped “without prejudice,” meaning the state could choose to reintroduce them again at a later date. 

“We are thankful the development,” said attorney Maren Chaloupka in an emailed statement. Chaloupka, from the Scottsbluff-based firm Chaloupka, Holyoke, Snyder, Chaloupka & Longoria, represented the Beguin’s in the case, thanks to the financial assistance of CBD vendors Medterra. Chaloupka told us:

“The Beguins want to provide a homeopathic alternative that is drug-free, to help customers avoid addictive pharmaceuticals. We hope that the Nebraska Legislature will clarify that products that don’t contain THC and don’t get the user high are not illegal, and that the small businesses offering those products are not criminals.”

Update DECEMBER 26, 2018: A second Nebraska CBD shop, located in Bellevue, Nebraska, just south of Omaha, is now under threat from authorities. Though the American Shaman store operated without issue for the past 3 months, police gave owners 2 weeks to close down or face legal action. We’ll continue to update this article as this situation develops.

Last week, police raided a Nebraska CBD shop and arrested the owners.

KB Natural Alternatives, a CBD store in the small city of Scottsbluff, was only open for a day when about a dozen officers arrived to shut them down, according to owners Heather Beguin and her son Dreyson. Now, the pair face felony drug charges. Police accuse them of possessing a controlled substance with the intent to sell it to the public.

The arrests occurred just days before the December 20, 2018 passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which fully removed hemp and all hemp-derived substances like CBD from the Controlled Substances Act.

The Beguins’ store sold products by Medterra, a well-known CBD company that creates products from legal industrial hemp. Medterra’s products are rigorously tested to show that they don’t contain illegal amounts of THC, the active ingredient in psychoactive cannabis (“marijuana”) which makes people feel high.

In an email, Medterra leadership told us they’re standing by the Beguins and will cover the pair’s legal expenses.

“As a company, Medterra stands behind the legality of our products and our partners right to sell it,” wrote Jay Hartenbach, Medterra’s CEO. “The CBD industry is one of compassion and we fully intend to support our partners as they help us raise awareness to those in need.”

Despite this welcome assistance, the Beguins are still struggling with the emotional, physical, financial and legal consequences of their arrests.

“I know and believe in what we’re doing, but this has set me and my body back after I worked so hard to recover,” said a distraught-sounding Heather, when we spoke by phone.

SHOP OWNER DISCOVERED CBD AFTER CAR WRECK

Heather discovered the benefits of CBD in the painful aftermath of a July 2018 car accident. As a recovering opiate addict, she wanted to avoid using the pain medication doctors prescribed after the wreck.

“I wasn’t really thrilled about putting [opiates] back into my body because of the risk that maybe I still like that feeling.”

Trying to “tough it out” through the pain only slowed her healing, however. Dreyson, who was living in Florida at the time, suggested CBD.

“If you can’t rest, you can’t heal,” she recalled Dreyson telling her. After she found that topical CBD helped ease her lingering pain and inflammation, she wanted to find a way to share CBD with others. Soon, Dreyson moved back home to Scottsbluff to help her open KB Natural Alternatives.

NEBRASKA CBD SHOP ARRESTS HIGHLIGHT COMPLEXITIES OF US HEMP LAWS

Scottsbluff is a city of about 15,000 people, about 450 miles west of Omaha. At the same time as police were handcuffing the Beguins in Nebraska, people were freely smoking legal recreational cannabis just over two hours away in Colorado without fear of legal reprisal. In Austin, Texas, where this reporter lives, you can buy similar CBD oil supplements at Whole Foods’ flagship store.

This isn’t the first time that police launched a crackdown on a local CBD business selling otherwise legal products. During the summer of 2017, state police raided 57 stores selling CBD products in Indiana. In March of this year, Indiana passed a new state law clarifying that CBD oil supplements are legal.

 “I just hope our public officials learn from the other states that hemp is clearly different from marijuana.”

The timing of the Nebraska CBD shop arrests makes the severe treatment faced by the Beguins even more shocking. On December 13, a full week before the President signed the Farm Bill, the Alabama state Attorney General announced they would back down from threats to prosecute CBD vendors. Today, Michigan legislators passed a pair of bills supporting hemp, one of which clearly affirms the legality of CBD oil products.

In an interview with local news, Gunhee Park, an Omaha hemp entrepreneur, called the arrests “sad” and suggested Nebraska police and politicians should follow other states’ examples.

“I just hope our public officials learn from the other states that hemp is clearly different from marijuana,” Park told KETV anchor David Earl.

(Ministry of Hemp launched in 2014 with the help of Park’s Libertas Ventures LLC.)

POLICE RAID LEAVES NEBRASKA CBD SHOP OWNERS TRAUMATIZED

The Beguins knew opening KB Natural Alternatives posed a legal risk, but neither expected police to respond with arrests or felony charges. Heather said she even knows of people in Scottsbluff selling CBD online.

Before opening, Heather and Dreyson visited the local police chief. The pair brought along a sample of Medterra’s CBD products and lab tests proving that Medterra is free from illegal THC. Though the chief insisted CBD is illegal in Nebraska, he refused when Heather offered to leave the products behind. Now, the pair are facing felony charges for possessing the same supplements.

KB Natural Alternatives opened on December 13. The following afternoon, police arrived in force, arresting both owners. Police even detained and interrogated Heather’s friend that was visiting the shop. Officers refused to show the Beguin’s a search warrant, then spent hours coming through the shop.

Heather was bonded out of jail after just a few hours, because her mother and Heather’s youngest son unexpectedly dropped by the store to find police there instead of Heather and Dreyson. The younger son had a “bad feeling” that led them to check on his mother.

“We’re a very connected family,” Heather said. “We’re very close.”

The family couldn’t afford to do the same for Dreyson, so he spent the weekend in jail. He wasn’t released until late afternoon on Monday.

Dreyson and Heather were clearly shaken by their experience. Both sounded near tears at various points during our phone conversation. Though Dreyson said spending the weekend in jail was hard, he sounded more upset about seeing his mother arrested.

Even after just one day of business, other Scottsbluff residents worry about losing access to CBD.

“I have customers calling me crying, texting me,” Heather said.

MEDTERRA OFFERS LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO NEBRASKA CBD SHOP OWNERS

We interviewed Heather and Dreyson Beguin on Wednesday, December 19. By Thursday, Medterra had been in touch to offer their support.

“We started this company to create products that help our friends and family, Medterra cofounder J.P. Larsen told us. “Our core value of helping people will always be our number one priority.”

Hartenbach told us he was helping the Beguin family find an attorney, and that Medterra would cover their attorney fees. Larsen seemed confident that they would win the case. Both legal precedent and the newly passed Farm Bill are on their side.

“We feel way more confident now, just the humiliation is taking a toll.”

“The Beguins took every step possible to ensure that they were selling Federally-compliant and quality CBD products,” Larsen wrote. “We hope that this case, such as many others, will be dismissed once the proper facts are conveyed.”

Reached today by Facebook messenger, Heather said she feels relieved.

“We feel way more confident now, just the humiliation is taking a toll.”

WILL NEBRASKA EMBRACE A HEMPY FUTURE, OR REMAIN STUCK IN THE PAST?

Nebraska officials seem unmoved by the landmark hemp legalization signed into law this week, at least according to Suzanne Gage, spokesperson for Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson.

“Unless amended by the Nebraska Legislature, all CBD products in Nebraska are still illegal under the Nebraska Uniformed Controlled Substance Act,” Gage told KETV. “The recently passed Farm Bill did not alter existing Nebraska law on this issue at this point in time.”

Statements like these make Gunhee Park afraid that his state is going to miss out on a billion dollar industry, along with hemp’s numerous other benefits.

“For our state to so staunchly say no, especially being an agricultural state, is confounding.”

Although Medterra is stepping up to support the Beguins, they’ll still have numerous additional expenses to deal with in the aftermath of their arrests and the closure of their business.

A close friend, Melinda Walsh, established a GoFundMe fundraiser to support Heather and Dreyson Beguin. Ministry of Hemp donated, and we encourage our readers and others in the hemp industry to help out if they can.

Both Heather and Dreyson will return to court later this month for preliminary court hearings. We’ll continue to update this story as it develops.