Steve Hoffman 4/17/19 Steve Hoffman 4/17/19

Hemp on the Bayou, a Town Hall-Style Symposium, Explores Opportunities in Hemp on May 1 During New Orleans JazzFest

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Originally Appeared in Let’s Talk Hemp Newsletter, April 2019
By Steven Hoffman

What could be better than attending the legendary JazzFest in New Orleans, especially for retailers, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders and others interested in the rapidly growing industrial hemp products market? With over 25,000 uses ranging from full-spectrum CBD hemp extract and hemp superfoods to textiles, building materials and bioplastics, now that hemp is legal in the United States as a result of the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, its impact has the potential to change the world.

Join hosts Morris Beegle and Rick Trojan of the Let’s Talk Hemp Podcast on Wednesday, May 1, 2019, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, at the Central City BBQ, 1201 South Rampart Street, in historic downtown New Orleans for Hemp on the Bayou, held this year during the 2019 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Presented as a town-hall style symposium, Hemp on the Bayou will feature a recap of the sold out NoCo Hemp Expo, educational tracks on hemp market opportunities, USDA and FDA rules and regulations, the 2019/2020 hemp forecast, growing hemp in Louisiana and throughout the U.S, policy predictions and more.

Hemp Experts Gather in New Orleans During JazzFest
Speakers for Hemp on the Bayou feature such industry luminaries as Tim Gordon, President of the Colorado Hemp Industries Association, and Chief Science Officer of leading CBD producer Functional Remedies; Jeffrey Cole, Senior Director of Business Development for Restorative Botanicals, maker of foods and supplements made from full-spectrum hemp extract; Dani Billings, President and Co-founder of the hemp-centric spa Nature’s Root, and founder of the Colorado Hemp Project; biological and agricultural engineer Kristy Hebert, founder of Louisiana-based Cypress Hemp; Eric Steenstra, President of Vote Hemp and Executive Director of the Hemp Industries Association; and other experts and specialists in hemp agriculture, production, sales, marketing, and business development.

“We are beyond thrilled to combine the excitement of the hemp industry with the energy and excitement of JazzFest as we present Hemp on the Bayou to the Louisiana agriculture, entrepreneurial, music and entertainment communities,” said Morris Beegle, Co-founder of Colorado Hemp Company, producer of Hemp on the Bayou and the annual NoCo Hemp Expo, the world’s largest gathering of hemp industry professionals. Beegle is also producer of the upcoming Southern Hemp Expo, Sept. 6-7, 2019, in Nashville, TN.

In addition to educational panels, Hemp on the Bayou will feature networking, community, collaboration, a New Orleans live music “After Party” and “Crawfish Fest,” and more. Presenting Sponsors for the 2019 Hemp on the Bayou include Restorative Botanicals and Seed2System. For tickets and information to participate in Hemp on the Bayou, visit www.hemponthebayou.com

EarthX: Hemp Can Save the Planet
In addition to hosting the upcoming Hemp on the Bayou in New Orleans on May 1st, Morris Beegle will be a featured speaker at the 2019 EarthX, April 25-28, 2019, in Dallas, TX. A leading nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire and energize the global community in ways that help create a sustainable world for all living things, and a better, cleaner, healthier world for future generations, this year’s international EarthX conference will feature a special educational track on industrial hemp. In addition to Morris Beegle speaking at the event, Southern Hemp Expo is a Sponsor of EarthX. Visit www.EarthX.org.

Save the Date: Southern Hemp Expo
Save the date for the 2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo (SHE), September 6-7, 2019, in Nashville, TN. NoCo Hemp Expo is the largest gathering of hemp industry professionals in the Eastern U.S. Visit www.SouthernHempExpo.com to learn more.

About Hemp on the Bayou
Hemp on the Bayou is produced by the Colorado Hemp Company, a division of WAFBA LLC (We Are For Better Alternatives), based in Loveland, CO. WAFBA also is the producer of NoCo Hemp Expo, the world’s largest conference and exposition for hemp industry professionals and advocates, and the 2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo , Sept. 6-7, 2019, in Nashville, TN. Colorado Hemp Company also is the founder of TreeFreeHemp paper and printing services. Areas of focus include product and brand development, event production, and advocacy. Hemp on the Bayou provides support to nonprofit organizations including the Jack Herer Foundation; and Hemp History Week, celebrating its 10th anniversary in June 2019. Learn more at www.hemponthebayou.com, or visit us on Facebook.

Steve Hoffman 4/5/19 Steve Hoffman 4/5/19

Hemp Hits the Big Time: 2019 NoCo Hemp Expo Draws Capacity Crowd of 10,000 Hemp Industry Professionals and Enthusiasts to Denver

Originally Appeared in Let’s Talk Hemp Newsletter, April 2019
By Steven Hoffman

What began in 2014 as a modest meeting of intrepid Loveland/Fort Collins-based hemp entrepreneurs has grown into the world’s largest gathering of hemp industry professionals in the world.

Breaking all attendance records in its 6th year, over 10,000 hemp industry professionals and enthusiasts – including growers, producers, manufacturers, retailers, investors and others from throughout the U.S. and more than 20 countries – converged in Denver March 28-30 for the 6th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo to showcase everything from CBD products to hemp building materials, network, and get educated and updated about the fast-changing industrial hemp market.

Featuring a special keynote address from Colorado Governor Jared Polis, plus presentations from Native American leader and “hempreneur” Winona LaDuke, Dr. Bronner’s CEO David Bronner, dietary supplements regulatory expert Loren Israelsen and others, an Investor Forum, Business Conference, Farm Symposium and an exhibit hall showcasing 225 vendors, interest was so heightened about all things hemp that NoCo6’s impressive lineup of workshops and education was completely sold out.

“We’d like to extend a huge and humbling thank you to all who participated in and attended the biggest and best NoCo Hemp Expo to date,” said NoCo Hemp Expo co-founders Morris Beegle and Elizzy Knight. “This event proved once again that purpose and intention are at the heart of the hemp movement.”

“The excitement around the hemp industry right now is tremendous, and that was showcased through the 10,000-plus attendees at NoCo6,” said Garrett Bain, Chief Sales Officer for GenCanna, Presenting Sponsor of NoCo6 and a Kentucky based industry leader focused on scaling premium agricultural hemp production for food and supplement products. ”We’re proud of our great relationship with the Colorado Hemp Company [producer of NoCo Hemp Expo]empHem and can’t wait for next year!”

“NoCo6 pulsed with energy; the sense of something big happening was palpable,” observed Loren Israelsen, President of the United Natural Products Alliance, based in Salt Lake, UT, and a featured speaker at NoCo6. “As a newcomer to the hemp industry, but a veteran of the dietary supplement industry, the event offered a reminder of our own evolution, and a peek into what the future of hemp might look like. The passage of the 2018 Farm Bill has both liberated hemp production and also complicated the place of CBD in the market. How this all works out will be one of the great stories of our age, and I look forward to being a part of it.”

NoCo Hemp Expo Program Highlights
Featured speakers for this year’s NoCo Hemp Expo included Colorado Governor and hemp advocate Jared Polis; Native American tribal leader turned hemp farmer Winona LaDuke; David Bronner, CEO of legendary soap maker Dr. Bronner’s; renowned market researcher Dr. Michelle Barry; regenerative agriculture and soil expert Ray Archuleta; hemp expert and author Doug Fine; hemp entrepreneurs Dani Billings of Nature’s Root and Janel Ralph of Palmetto Harmony; and other leaders breaking new ground in the industrial hemp market. For a complete list of speakers, visit here and for a full program schedule from this year’s event, visit here.

Digital Magazine Available
Also, NoCo6 has produced a digital and print magazine and show program, Let’s Talk Hemp, for the first time in partnership with Honeysuckle Magazine, which can be viewed here.

Thank You to Our Sponsors
GenCanna™ was featured as the Presenting Sponsor of NoCo6. Business Conference Sponsors included: Elixinol, New Hope Network, Benmar Extractions, Hoban Law Group, Lilu’s Garden, McAllister Garfield P.C., Frank Robison Law Group, and Steep Fuze Coffee. Farm Symposium Sponsors included; Bluhen Botanicals, Bish Enterprises, Colorado Breeders Depot, Front Range Biosciences, Hempsac, New West Genetics, ProVerde Labs and Rad Extracts. Meet all of our Sponsor Partners here: https://nocohempexpo.com/sponsors/.

Read More About the 2019 NoCo Hemp Expo

“Jared Polis Becomes a Rock Star at NoCo Hemp Expo,” Westword, March 29, 2019
“Firms Looking to Invest Big Money in Colorado’s Hemp Industry,” Denver Post, March 29, 2019
“NoCo Hemp Expo Runs Friday & Saturday,” Denver 7 News, March 29, 2019
“Hemp Entrepreneurs Hear the Benefits – and Challenges – of Booming Industry at Colorado Expo,” Denver Post, March 29, 2019
“The ‘Hemp Opportunity’ is in Full Flower at NoCo Hemp Expo,” New Hope Network, March 29, 2019
“Hemp Is Next: Colorado Wants More Than Marijuana Prominence,” Westword, March 30, 2019
“Pet Owners Check Out Expo In The Hopes Of Finding Answers To Pet Anxiety, Pain,” CBS Denver, March 31, 2019
“10,000 Show Up for the NoCo Hemp Expo in Denver,” 9 News Denver, March 31, 2019

About the NoCo Hemp Expo
The 6th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo is produced by the Colorado Hemp Company, a division of WAFBA LLC (We Are For Better Alternatives), based in Loveland, CO. WAFBA also is the producer of the 2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo and founder of TreeFreeHemp paper and printing services. Areas of focus include product and brand development, event production, and advocacy. NoCo6 provides support to nonprofit organizations including Bee Heroic; the Jack Herer Foundation; and Hemp History Week, celebrating its 10th anniversary in June 2019. Learn more at NocoHempExpo.com, or visit us on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, #NoCo6.

Steve Hoffman 3/21/19 Steve Hoffman 3/21/19

The Year of Hemp: New Farm Bill Ignites Market for All Things Hemp, Showcased at the 6th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo, March 28-30, Denver

Originally Appeared in Let’s Talk Hemp Newsletter, March 2019
By Steven Hoffman

Featuring an Investor Forum, Business Conference, Farm Symposium and an Impressive Lineup of Workshops and Education During the 6th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo.

Hemp growers, producers, manufacturers, investors and others are feeling bullish in 2019, since the passage in late December of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. Better known as the Farm Bill, the legislation championed by Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was nothing less than historic, in that it legalized for the first time in over 80 years the commercial cultivation and sale of industrial hemp, defined as containing less than 0.3% THC. Since then, the market for all things hemp has taken off.

And, the exploding world of hemp will be on display at the upcoming NoCo Hemp Expo, March 28-30, 2019, at the Crowne Plaza DIA Convention Center in Denver. Now in its 6th year, the NoCo Hemp Expo is the largest gathering of hemp industry professionals under one roof. Given the excitement about the market today, nearly 10,000 attendees are expected.

Indeed, the legalization of industrial hemp has been a boon for independent natural foods and specialty retailers, said Loren Israelsen, President of the United Natural Products Alliance, an expert on regulatory law, and a featured keynote speaker at NoCo6. “For smaller stores, this category has been a lifeline for them as they battle to maintain foot traffic in the stores as online sales continue to grow,” said Israelsen, who will present his perspectives on hemp, CBD, dietary supplements and the FDA at NoCo6’s Business Conference on Friday, March 29.

According to Hemp Business Journal’s new report, The Global State of Hemp: 2019 Industry Outlook, U.S. sales of hemp products – from full-spectrum hemp extract and CBD products to hemp foods, textiles, building materials, bioplastics and more – estimated at $1 billion in 2018, are projected to grow 27% annually to reach $2.6 billion by 2022. Global hemp retail sales totaled $3.7 billion in 2018 and are projected to grow to $5.7 billion by 2020.

NoCo Hemp Expo Program Highlights
Featured speakers for this year’s NoCo Hemp Expo include Colorado Governor and hemp advocate Jared Polis; Native American tribal leader turned hemp farmer Winona LaDuke; David Bronner, 5th generation CEO of legendary soap maker Dr. Bronner’s; renowned market researcher Dr. Michelle Barry; regenerative agriculture and soil expert Ray Archuleta; hemp expert and author Doug Fine; hemp entrepreneurs Dani Billings of Nature’s Root and Janel Ralph of Palmetto Harmony; and other leaders breaking new ground in the industrial hemp market. For a complete list of speakers, visit here and for a full program schedule, visit here.

Other NoCo6 event highlights include:
Hemp Industry Daily Investor Forum, Thursday, March 28, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Legal updates and insights; investment trends and deal flow; opportunities and investments; networking; luncheon and more. Visit here for info.

Let’s Talk Hemp Business Conference, Friday, March 29, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Vertical integration; policy and regulation; compliance and certification; processing and manufacturing; market research; the global business of hemp. Visit here for info.

Let’s Talk Hemp Farm Symposium, Saturday, March 30, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Regenerative farming; soil health; genetics; new technology and equipment; regulations and compliance. Visit here for info.

Expo Hall, Friday and Saturday, March 29-30, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
With more than 225 exhibitors, NoCo6’s Expo Hall is open to B2B visitors on March 29 and March 30. The Expo Hall is open to consumers and the public on March 30. Features include the Bish Equipment Zone, HempToday International Alley, Science & Tech Spotlight, Adept Payments Workshop and Education Stage, EnviroTextiles Fashion Parade, Blu Nahulu Art Zone and more. Visit here for info.

NoCo After Party, Saturday, March 30, 8:00 pm – Midnight
Hang with friends at the Hemp Renaissance Ball After Party on Saturday, March 30, 8:00 pm – midnight at the Renaissance Hotel – Denver Stapleton. Buy tickets here.

Press Conference, Friday, March 29, 9:00 am – 9:45 am
For media attendees, NoCo Hemp Expo will host a press conference on Friday, March 29, 2019, onsite at the Crowne Plaza DIA Convention Center at 9:00 – 9:45 am, before the conference and exhibition hall opens. To qualify for a Press Pass, journalists, editors and media must complete a press application here.

“With more than 25,000 industrial uses, hemp is a gift to humanity and the environment,” said Morris Beegle, co-producer of NoCo6. “We have an incredible opportunity to build the kind of sustainable, regenerative, socially responsible marketplace we want, and NoCo Hemp Expo is where the hemp community convenes to plan and prepare for a bright future.”

Tickets Are On Sale Now
Tickets are available for the Pre-Conference Hemp Industry Daily Investor Forum, Let’s Talk Hemp Business Conference, Let’s Talk Hemp Farm Symposium and B2B Industry Day in the Bluebird Botanicals Expo Hall. For all ticket levels, information and to purchase tickets, visit our website.

Thank You to Our Sponsors
GenCanna™ is the Presenting Sponsor of NoCo6.

Business Conference Sponsors include: Elixinol, New Hope Network, Benmar Extractions, Hoban Law Group, Lilu’s Garden, McAllister Garfield P.C., Frank Robison Law Group, and Steep Fuze Coffee.

Farm Symposium Sponsors include; Bluhen Botanicals, Bish Enterprises, Colorado Breeders Depot, Front Range Biosciences, Hempsac, New West Genetics, ProVerde Labs and Rad Extracts. Meet all of our Sponsor Partners here: https://nocohempexpo.com/sponsors/.

About the NoCo Hemp Expo
The 6th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo is produced by the Colorado Hemp Company, a division of WAFBA LLC (We Are For Better Alternatives), based in Loveland, CO. WAFBA also is the producer of the 2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo and founder of TreeFreeHemp paper and printing services. Areas of focus include product and brand development, event production, consulting and advocacy. NoCo6 provides support to nonprofit organizations including Bee Heroic; the Jack Herer Foundation; and Hemp History Week, celebrating its 10th anniversary in June 2019. Learn more at NocoHempExpo.com, or visit us on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, #NoCo6.

Steve Hoffman 3/19/19 Steve Hoffman 3/19/19

Hemp Market Takes Off at Expo West

For Presence Marketing Newsletter, April 2019
By Steven Hoffman

Anyone attending Natural Products Expo West, the world’s largest natural products trade show, held this past March, couldn’t help but notice that 2019 has emerged as “The Year of Hemp” in the natural and organic products market.

Indeed, the legalization of industrial hemp under the 2018 Farm Bill has been a boon for independent natural foods retailers, said Loren Israelsen, president of the United Natural Products Alliance. “For smaller stores, this category has been a lifeline for them as they battle to maintain foot traffic in the stores as online sales continue to grow.”

Larger stores, too, are eyeing the hemp market: Boulder-based Lucky’s Market has taken the lead in hemp and CBD product sales in its stores nationwide, with full shelf sets in the natural living department. Ohio-based Mustard Seed Market’s supplement sales are being driven by its commitment to CBD products, says Nutrition Director Abraham Nabors. Whole Foods Market’s trend spotters identified hemp as a “top 10 food trend for 2019,” and recently, Whole Foods CEO John Mackey indicated the possibility of Whole Foods selling cannabis products should they become legal in the future.

The passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, commonly known as the Farm Bill, in late December was nothing less than historic, legalizing for the first time in more than 80 years the commercial cultivation and sale of industrial hemp. “Most importantly, noted journalist Chris Chafin in Rolling Stone, “it removes hemp and any hemp derivative from the Controlled Substances Act, legally separating it from marijuana and putting its supervision under the Department of Agriculture. In the most basic sense, these plants serve three primary uses: fiber (paper and cloth), seeds (for hemp oil and food), and cannabinoid oils. It’s this last category that’s the most profitable and has the biggest potential for growth. The [Farm Bill] defines hemp as any part or derivative of cannabis with a THC level below 0.3 percent on a dry-weight basis,” Chafin reported.

Hemp Steals the Show at Expo West
Interest in the category was so strong at 2019 Natural Products Expo West that a full-day Hemp & CBD Summit held at the show spilled out beyond a 500-person ballroom into two other rooms where a similar-sized audience watched by live video feed. Also, during a panel discussion hosted by Presence Marketing and NCG at Expo West for over 150 retailers, CBD and hemp supply chain (e.g., ensuring that the full spectrum hemp extract products you carry are sourced from certified organic producers, etc.) dominated the discussion.

Full spectrum hemp and CBD products from new and national brands alike were introduced everywhere at the trade show: carob snacks with hemp extract from Missy J’s; CBD sparkling water from Weller; hemp-infused honey from Colorado Hemp Honey; CBD wellness shooters introduced by Navitas; organic full-spectrum hemp extract from Gaia Herbs, Charlotte’s Web, CV Sciences and others; hemp supplements by Leaf Therapeutics, a new brand launched by legacy brand Solaray; hemp gummies and caramels from Boulder-based Restorative Botanicals; CBD sports nutrition, hemp balms, hemp infused body care products and more. Honestly, what didn’t have CBD hemp extract at Expo West?

And that’s not to mention hemp foods derived from hemp seed – high in plant-based protein and omega-3 essential fatty acids, but with no CBD or cannabinoid compounds. Sold for over 20 years in natural foods stores, hemp seed-derived products are now widely regarded as superfoods. Brands such as Tempt, Manitoba Harvest, Evo Hemp and others presented new hemp food offerings at Expo West, capitalizing on heightened interest in all things hemp.

CBD or Hemp Extract?
The FDA may yet come out against use of the term “CBD.” While the agency is expected to review CBD and hemp extracts in food and supplements in the near future, according to outgoing FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, CBD isolate was approved as a drug by the agency after granting license for Epidiolex, the first pharmaceutical derived from cannabidiol (CBD), manufactured by the company GW Pharmaceuticals. The commissioner had recently spoken of a “pathway” to acceptance of hemp CBD as a dietary ingredient. However, with Gottlieb announcing his resignation in early March, many in the natural products industry are uncertain whether progress on FDA regulatory policy regarding hemp and CBD will be made.

However, judging from exhibit after exhibit on the trade show floor, you wouldn’t know the regulatory waters around the use of the term “CBD” are murky. For many exhibitors at Expo West, “CBD” was the go-to phrase on product packaging, literature and exhibit signage, while others more conservatively stuck to the phrase “full-spectrum hemp extract.”

Despite FDA’s lack of a decision to date in this regard, manufacturers, retailers and consumers alike are responding positively to the use of CBD on the product label, and are not waiting for FDA to decide. This could be an issue down the road for many manufacturers, should the FDA decide to crack down on use of CBD on labels. The key, advised a number of speakers at the show, is avoid the use of CBD isolate in products and stick with full-spectrum hemp extract to avoid unwanted attention from the FDA.

While "it’s still unclear how different federal agencies will interpret the new [Farm Bill] rules...it doesn’t matter — people in the CBD industry are calling the new legislation a game changer," observed Chafin in Rolling Stone.

Transparency and Testing Are Crucial
A major theme at Expo West’s Hemp & CBD Summit focused on manufacturers operating with safety and integrity, noted CBD Insider in a March 9, 2019, report. “To preserve integrity, businesses must always test their products, especially in these six areas: cannabinoid potency, residual solvents, heavy metals, pesticides, microbes, and terpenes. After this testing is complete and the products are verifiably ready for consumption, companies should be transparent with their testing and provide documentation of third-party lab results. Companies — and consumers — must do their homework and ask questions. If a laboratory, farmer, brand, or any other entity in the supply chain is not willing to be transparent, it’s a sign that you should do business elsewhere. Many of the speakers discussed how they personally vet businesses before working with them, such as requiring documentation or personally visiting the company’s facility,” reported CBD Insider.

In addition, and importantly, retailers and consumers should seek out hemp products that are grown in accordance with certified organic and preferably climate friendly regenerative practices, emphasized John Roulac, founder of Nutiva and RE: Botanicals, a new hemp “apothecary,” which debuted at Expo West. Beware of low-cost hemp extract products that may have been produced with industrial agriculture practices including toxic, synthetic pesticides and synthetic nitrogen fertilizers derived from natural gas and fracking – contributors to global warming – and extracted with toxic organic solvents, he cautioned.

U.S. Hemp Acreage – 80,000 Acres and Growing
Although hemp is now legal across the U.S., the message seems to be getting out slowly, and state and local authorities are still seizing hemp crops and truckers are being arrested for crossing state lines with container loads of harvested industrial hemp for processing, tying up individuals in jail and leaving valuable inventory in limbo.

Currently, nine states – Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, South Dakota, Iowa, Texas, and Connecticut – still prohibit hemp production under any circumstances. And four states – Idaho, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas – still prohibit hemp-derived CBD. “For now, transporting hemp across these state lines may still be as dangerous as it’s ever been,” reported science writer Leo Bear-McGuiness in Analytical Cannabis.

Yet, “damn the torpedoes,” U.S. farmers are saying, as they respond to soaring demand by dedicating farmland to hemp cultivation, seeing it as a potential cash crop and an alternative to growing GMO corn, soy, tobacco and other commodity crops.

According to hemp advocacy group Vote Hemp, the U.S. hemp crop tripled in 2018 to 78,176 acres, up from 25,713 acres in hemp cultivation in 2017. That figure is expected to grow now that the Farm Bill has opened the door nationwide to hemp production, says Vote Hemp. Montana emerged as the top hemp growing state in 2018, followed by Colorado, Oregon, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina and North Dakota, respectively, according to Vote Hemp.

Learn More

Let’s Talk Hemp – a leading newsletter and podcast by the producer of NoCo Hemp Expo and Southern Hemp Expo
Hemp Business Journal – strategic data and information for the hemp industry
Hemp Industry Daily – news, market research and trade information
Organic Trade Association’s Organic Week – May 20-23, 2019, Washington, DC, featuring a track on organic hemp production
Southern Hemp Expo – September 6-7, 2019, Nashville, TN, the largest exhibition and conference of hemp industry professionals in the East
Natural Products Expo East – September 11-14, 2019, Baltimore, MD, presenting the Natural Products Hemp & CBD Summit
Vote Hemp – representing hemp producers and advocating for hemp policy and regulation

Steve Hoffman 3/14/19 Steve Hoffman 3/14/19

Denver to Host World’s Largest Gathering of Hemp Industry Professionals

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Originally Appeared in Let’s Talk Hemp Newsletter, March 2019
By Steven Hoffman

Hemp is changing the world, and as sales take off for all things hemp – from full spectrum hemp extract and CBD products to foods, textiles, building materials, plastics and more – nearly 10,000 producers, investors, entrepreneurs and others will converge on March 28-30, 2019, at the Crowne Plaza DIA Convention Center in Denver, Colorado, for the 6th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo.

NoCo Hemp Expo is the largest gathering of hemp industry professionals under one roof. The highly anticipated event includes an expert lineup of speakers plus a pre-conference Investors Forum on March 28, and full day events including a Business Conference on March 29 and Farm Symposium on March 30. An expanded exhibit hall is open for B2B visitors on March 29-30, and to the public on Saturday, March 30. Visit here for ticket info.

Program Highlights
Featured speakers for this year’s NoCo Hemp Expo include Colorado Governor and hemp advocate Jared Polis; Native American tribal leader turned hemp farmer Winona LaDuke; David Bronner, 5th generation CEO of legendary soap maker Dr. Bronner’s; renowned market researcher Dr. Michelle Barry; regenerative agriculture and soil expert Ray Archuleta; hemp expert and author Doug Fine; hemp entrepreneurs Dani Billings of Nature’s Root and Janel Ralph of Palmetto Harmony; and other leaders breaking new ground in the industrial hemp market. For a complete list of speakers, visit here and for a full program schedule, visit here. Other event highlights include:

Hemp Industry Daily Investor Forum, Thursday, March 28, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Legal updates and insights; investment trends and deal flow; opportunities and investments; networking; luncheon and more. Visit here for info.

Expo Hall, Friday and Saturday, March 29-30, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
With more than 225 exhibitors, NoCo6’s Expo Hall is open to B2B visitors on March 29 and March 30. The Expo Hall is open to consumers and the public on March 30. Features include an Equipment Zone, International Alley, Science & Tech Spotlight, Workshop Stage, Fashion Parade, Art Zone and more. Visit here for info.

After Party, Saturday, March 30, 8:00 pm – Midnight
Hang with friends at the Hemp Renaissance Ball After Party on Saturday, March 30, 8:00 pm – midnight at the Renaissance Hotel – Denver Stapleton. Buy tickets here.

“We are truly excited to have top leaders, founders and luminaries in the hemp industry participate in and support this year’s NoCo Hemp Expo,” said Morris Beegle, co-founder of Colorado Hemp Company, producer of NoCo6. “With more than 25,000 industrial uses, hemp is a gift to humanity and the environment. We have an incredible opportunity to build the kind of sustainable, regenerative, socially responsible marketplace we want, and NoCo Hemp Expo is where the hemp community convenes to plan and prepare for a bright future.”

Giving Back
NoCo6 provides support to nonprofit organizations including save-the-bees group Bee Heroic; hemp education group the Jack Herer Foundation; and Hemp History Week, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, June 3-9, 2019.

Thank You to Our Sponsors
GenCanna™, is the Presenting Sponsor of NoCo6. Other sponsors include Ambary Gardens, Botanical Rush, Canalysis Laboratories, CV Sciences, Enerhealth Botanicals, Extract Labs, Front Range BioSciences, Hawthorne Gardening, Hempsac, Ingenuity Beverages, Isolate Extraction Systems, Lazarus Naturals, Lilu’s Garden, New West Genetics, ProVerde Laboratories, Pure Hemp Botanicals, RAD Extracts, and Frank Robinson Law Group. Meet all of our Sponsor Partners here: https://nocohempexpo.com/sponsors/.

Tickets Are On Sale Now
Tickets are available for the Pre-Conference Hemp Industry Daily Investment Forum, Let’s Talk Hemp Business Conference, Let’s Talk Hemp Farm Symposium and B2B Industry Day in the Expo Hall. For all ticket levels, information and to purchase tickets, visit our website.

About the NoCo Hemp Expo
The 6th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo is produced by the Colorado Hemp Company, a division of WAFBA LLC (We Are For Better Alternatives), based in Loveland, CO. WAFBA also is the producer of the 2nd Annual Southern Hemp Expo and founder of TreeFreeHemp paper and printing services. Areas of focus include product and brand development, event production, consulting and advocacy. Visit NocoHempExpo.com, or visit our YouTube Channel for a video about #NoCo6. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter, #NoCo6.

Steve Hoffman 3/7/19 Steve Hoffman 3/7/19

Gaia Herbs Unveils Modern New Look and Three Innovative Product Lines at Natural Products Expo West 2019

Premium Herbal Supplements Leader Launches Hemp, Nootropics and Mushrooms & Herbs Functional Powder Lines; Reveals New Modern Consumer-Tested Packaging Design

BREVARD, N.C. (March 7, 2019) – Gaia Herbs, the leading herbal brand in North America, will unveil its new, modern packaging and three new product lines: Hemp, Nootropics, and Mushroom & Herbs Functional Powders, at Natural Products Expo West on March 7 – 9. Expo West attendees will be among the first to experience these exciting new innovations and are invited to visit Gaia Herbs booth #4139 for samples and additional information.

“As a brand that has been a pioneer in the herbal industry for more than three decades, we are excited to reveal our new packaging at Expo West. Our new design further reinforces our mission of connecting plants and people with beautiful close-up images of the heroes of our supplements—the herbs. We are proud to have developed the design completely in-house, leveraging the talent of Gaia Herbs’ visionary Brand Experience team. In addition to our new look, we will also be introducing our latest innovative products that will help people on their wellness journeys,” said Elena Lécué, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Gaia Herbs. “We are particularly excited about our new Hemp line. Due to the recent passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (also known as the 2018 Farm Bill), which removed all parts of the Hemp plant from being categorized as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act in the United States, the marketplace is seeing an influx of Hemp products of varying quality. As the leading herbal brand, Gaia Herbs is proud to be bringing a new Hemp line to the market of the quality that consumers have come to expect from our brand, that is fully traceable to the source at meetyourherbs.com®, our comprehensive transparency program. In addition to that, Gaia Hemp extract is made from sun-grown American Hemp flowers, ensuring that people can feel confident buying Hemp from a brand they love and trust. We will also be debuting our new Nootropics line, featuring Gaia-grown™ Bacopa, and three new functional blends of Mushrooms & Herbs, providing support for cognitive, energy, and immune health.”*

The three new product lines transform Nature's wisdom into herbal formulas, combining science and tradition to create proprietary blends rooted in purity, potency, and integrity. Additional product details include:

Hemp: As pioneers and leaders in the herbal industry for over thirty years, Gaia Herbs is committed to producing some of the highest quality plant-based herbal supplements in the world, delivering the full expression of Nature. Gaia Herbs is pleased to introduce two new Hemp products: Hemp Full Spectrum Extract 10 mg and Hemp Full Spectrum Extract 20 mg — bringing our same reverence for plants and focus on quality to our new Hemp line.

Gaia Herbs Full Spectrum Hemp Extract contains less than 0.2% THC and is made with sun-grown American Hemp flowers. Gaia chose to use the Hemp flowers as they are known to be the main source of cannabinoids compared to other parts of the Hemp plant. Unlike products with isolated CBD, Gaia’s full spectrum Hemp oil contains a wide array of cannabinoids representing the synergy naturally found in the Hemp plant.

Through Gaia’s industry-leading Meet Your Herbs® traceability program, people can enter the ID number located on the back of their Gaia Herbs Full Spectrum Hemp Extract and learn where the Hemp came from; how it was grown, harvested and extracted; and the tests it underwent to validate its purity, integrity, and potency. Gaia Herbs is one of the few companies producing Hemp products in the world that allows you to do this for a simple reason: Gaia has nothing to hide and everything to share.

Gaia Herbs Hemp is available in two liquid potencies based on cannabinoids per serving. SRP $44.99 (10mg/mL, 1oz), $79.99 (10mg/mL, 2oz), $79.99 (20mg/mL, 1oz), and $129.99 (20mg/mL, 2oz). As a Certified B Corporation® dedicated to using business as a force for good™, Gaia Herbs is excited to announce that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of all Gaia Herbs Hemp products will be donated to support U.S. family farmers.

Nootropics: Nootropics — supplements that support mental performance — can play an important role in maintaining cognitive health.* Gaia Herbs Nootropics line offers all the powerful benefits of Nootropics as Nature intended, using traditional herbs to nourish your mind, so you can live your very best life.* The three products in this new line include:

Bacopa: Made with Gaia-grown™ Bacopa to promote a healthy, thriving mind.* When Gaia was unable to find Bacopa that met their rigorous quality standards, the company began a three-year cultivation process to grow its own Bacopa crop, becoming one of the only U.S. grown sources for this Ayurvedic herb. SRP $17.99 (60ct)
Agile Mind: Made with Bacopa, Turmeric and Ginkgo— a synergistic formula that supports healthy brain function and helps maintain healthy recall.* SRP $41.99 (60ct)
Nootropic Focus: Made with Saffron, Spearmint and Lemon Balm to support healthy concentration to keep up with life’s demands.* SRP $18.99 (20ct), $34.99 (40ct)

Mushrooms & Herbs Functional Powders: Nourish your body with Mushrooms & Herbs. Using Mushroom fruiting bodies harvested at the peak of their potency, Gaia Herbs Mushroom & Herbs Powders can be added to coffee, a smoothie, milk, or any other beverage of choice so people can get all of the health benefits of organic Mushrooms & Herbs in a convenient and easy-to-use format with no added fillers, flavors, or sweeteners. SRP ranges from $34.99 to $39.99. The three products in this new line include:

Mind Spring: Made with a blend of Lion’s Mane, Reishi, Turmeric, Holy Basil, Gotu Kola, and Ginkgo to support brain health and recall.*
Energy Thrive: Formulated with a blend of Cordyceps, Maca, Rhodiola, Schisandra, Shiitake, Ashwagandha, and Astragalus to promote energy and to support physical performance and endurance.*
Immune Shine: Made with a blend of Maitake, Chaga, Astragalus, Elderberry, and Ginger to support immune health and natural immune defenses.*

Gaia Herbs products are sold through natural and independently owned health food stores across the nation as well as through trusted online retail sites and GaiaHerbs.com. To find a store near you, visit GaiaHerbs.com/stores. For additional information about Gaia Herbs organic, ethically harvested herbal products, please visit GaiaHerbs.com and Gaia’s MeetYourHerbs® traceability platform. For press inquiries relating to Expo West, please contact Alyssa@rkpr.net.

About Gaia Herbs
Since 1987, Gaia Herbs has been connecting plants and people to nurture health and well-being. Today, Gaia Herbs is the leading herbal brand in North America with more than 200 liquid extracts, functional powders, teas, and patented Liquid Phyto-Caps™. Our dedication to quality and integrity is unparalleled and meticulously proven by science. We use organic methods to cultivate more than 6.5 million plants each year on our farm and we screen the plants in our analytical laboratory to pinpoint the exact right time to harvest and extract in our state of-the-art processing facility. All of that leads to products exceptional in their purity and integrity. We offer the industry’s first comprehensive herb traceability program, meetyourherbs.com®, which allows us to share complete transparency with our customers. We are proud to be a Certified B Corporation® Using Business as a Force for Good™. Our mission to nurture healthy connections with nature extends beyond our herbs through Gaia Cares, which champions environmental and social sustainability on our farm, our community, and around the world. Learn more at GaiaHerbs.com and join in the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Steve Hoffman 3/5/19 Steve Hoffman 3/5/19

David Bronner, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Other Leaders in Natural Products and Industrial Hemp to Speak at 6th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo, March 28-30, in Denver

For Presence Marketing Newsletter, March 2019
By Steven Hoffman

Hemp industry and natural products pioneer David Bronner, Cosmic Engagement Officer (CEO) of the 5th generation soap company Dr. Bronner’s, will be a featured keynote speaker at the upcoming NoCo Hemp Expo (NoCo6), March 28-30, 2019, at the Crowne Plaza DIA Convention Center in Denver.

In addition, Colorado’s newly elected Governor Jared Polis, who in his first State of the State speech in January 2019 announced his plan to “make good on the promise of industrial hemp,” will be a featured speaker at NoCo6.

Now in its 6th year, NoCo Hemp Expo is the largest gathering of hemp industry professionals under one roof. Approximately 8,000-10,000 attendees, including investors, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, farmers, producers, retailers and other leaders in hemp are expected to attend the 2019 event to participate a newly added pre-conference Hemp Industry Daily Investor's Forum on March 28, plus a full-day Business Conference, Farm Symposium and expanded Exhibition Hall open to professionals on March 29-30. Additionally, tickets are available to the public to visit the Expo Hall on Saturday, March 30.

A tireless advocate for cannabis legalization and numerous other social justice and environmental causes, David Bronner will address the opportunities and challenges facing the hemp industry and how to navigate business growth in an exploding market, as industrial hemp is now legal under the 2018 Farm Bill. David’s talk, scheduled for Saturday, March 30, also will address hemp’s key role in regenerative organic agriculture to help rebuild soils, sequester carbon and mitigate climate change.

Governor Polis, an Internet entrepreneur, educational leader, former U.S. Congressman and Colorado native, is a longtime supporter of the hemp and cannabis industries. He advocated for expungement of non-violent cannabis-related criminal records, expansion of Colorado’s medical marijuana program and non-cooperation with enforcement of federal prohibition during his campaign. Governor Polis even had the programs for his inauguration on January 8 printed on hemp paper.

“Hemp is an amazingly versatile crop, and I’m proud to see Colorado’s rural communities leading the way to unleash its untapped economic potential,” he said during the campaign. “As Governor, I’ll support our farmers and innovators who want to develop industrial hemp—and I’ll tell the federal government to stay out of their way.”

The hemp industry is poised for exponential growth now that this incredibly useful plant is legal to grow and sell in the U.S. for the first time in over 80 years, and is expected to reach $4 billion in sales by 2022. Visit www.nocohempexpo.com.

Steve Hoffman 2/27/19 Steve Hoffman 2/27/19

NuLeaf Naturals, Leading Provider of CBD Wellness Products, Expands Nationally to 1,600+ Retail Locations; Will Feature Brand at Natural Products Expo West

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Visit NuLeaf Naturals at Booth N1735, North Hall, in the Hot Products section at Natural Products Expo West, March 6-8, 2019, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA.

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Denver, CO (February 27, 2019) – NuLeaf Naturals, a leading manufacturer of whole-plant CBD wellness products, is quickly gaining traction in the natural products channel and has been invited once again to exhibit at the world’s largest natural products trade show, Natural Products Expo West, March 6-9, 2019, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA.

The brand was founded in 2014 and has national distribution in more than 1,600 retail locations across the United States including New Seasons Market in Oregon, Westerly Natural Market in New York, Jungle Jim’s in Ohio, Alfalfa’s Market in Colorado, and many other prominent natural products stores nationwide. For retail locations, visit here.

“NuLeaf is our most popular CBD product,” said Organic Food Depot Manager Jim Jacobs “We love it.” Westerly Market located in the heart of New York City echoed similar thoughts, "NuLeaf is our best-selling CBD oil brand.” According to New Seasons Market, "Customers love that the product is highly concentrated and contains no additives.”

Wholesale inquiries are welcome. Please contact NuLeaf Naturals, tel 720.372.4842, email contact@nuleafnaturals.com

Visit NuLeaf Naturals and sample its full line of CBD wellness products and dietary supplements at Booth N1735, North Hall, in the Hot Products section at Natural Products Expo West, March 6-8, 2019, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA.

About NuLeaf Naturals
Founded in 2014 by a group of health-conscious plant medicine aficionados, NuLeaf Naturals is one of America's top pioneering hemp companies. The company vision is to continue to create cannabinoid wellness products that promote a healthy body and mind and to help people and their loved ones live a happier, healthier life. NuLeaf Naturals CBD oil is 100% organic and contains all the synergistic cannabinoids, terpenes, essential oils, and other beneficial phytonutrients of the original plant. The brand is committed to providing the highest quality products in their most pure and simple form. Visit www.NuLeafNaturals.com, email contact@NuLeafNaturals.com.

Steve Hoffman 2/25/19 Steve Hoffman 2/25/19

FDA Announces Plans to Tighten Oversight of Dietary Supplements; Issues Warnings to 17 Companies

For Presence Marketing Newsletter, March 2019
By Steven Hoffman

In what Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb called “one of the most significant modernizations of dietary supplement regulation and oversight in more than 25 years,” FDA on February 11 announces plans to strengthen its oversight of the dietary supplements market.

“In the 25 years since Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), the law that transformed the FDA’s authority to regulate dietary supplements, the dietary supplement market has grown significantly. What was once a $4 billion industry comprised of about 4,000 unique products, is now an industry worth more than $40 billion, with more than 50,000 – and possibly as many as 80,000 or even more – different products available to consumers,” Gottlieb said in a statement.

According to FDA, the use of dietary supplements, such as vitamins, minerals or herbs, “has become a routine part of the American lifestyle.” Three out of every four American consumers take a dietary supplement on a regular basis. For older Americans, the rate rises to four in five. And one in three children take supplements, either given to them by their parents or, commonly as teenagers, taking them on their own, the agency said.

Commissioner Gottlieb’s statement acknowledged the widespread use of supplements and also that “most players in this industry act responsibly” under the regulatory framework that exists under current law. He also said, however, that “bad actors” have been able to “exploit the halo” created by good companies, and so have been able to distribute and sell potentially dangerous products that put consumers at risk.

“As the popularity of supplements has grown, so have the number of entities marketing potentially dangerous products or making unproven or misleading claims about the health benefits they may deliver,” Gottlieb said.

Under the new policy, FDA is developing a “rapid-response tool” to alert the public to avoid buying products that may contain unlawful or potentially dangerous ingredients. The agency also is looking to update its compliance policies with new dietary ingredient notifications (NDIs), which requires manufacturers to alert the FDA of any ingredients that weren’t sold in the U.S. before 1994.

“An effective NDI notification process represents the FDA’s only opportunity to evaluate the safety of a new ingredient before it becomes available to consumers and helps promote transparency and risk-based allocation of resources,” Gottlieb said.

FDA also is creating the Botanical Safety Consortium, a partnership between the public and private sectors, to evaluate the safety of botanical ingredients and mixtures in supplements.

“As we celebrate in 2019 the 25th anniversary of the passage of DSHEA, AHPA shares Commissioner Gottlieb’s vision…of finding the right balance between preserving consumers’ access to lawful supplements, while also protecting the public from unsafe and unlawful products and holding accountable companies that are not in compliance with the law,” Michael McGuffin, President of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), said in a statement. “AHPA has previously communicated specific suggestions for regulatory improvements to FDA and we look forward to a robust and transparent discussion on how best to serve Americans who include supplement products in their families’ health care choices,” he said.

Regarding NDIs, McGuffin added, “AHPA has invested significant resources to assist industry in submitting NDI notifications that meet the statutory requirements to bring a new ingredient to market. We have also submitted thoughtful comments to FDA’s prior draft NDI guidance documents and will continue to provide input so that any eventual guidance is both useful to the trade and does not stray from FDA’s statutory authority.”

Under its tightened regulations, FDA also is hoping to make enforcement processes easier, which allows employees to issue warnings to companies and consumers. The agency on February 11 rolled out part of its plan when it sent warning letters to 17 companies for “illegally selling” products that it said claim to treat Alzheimer’s disease.

“I’ve personally benefited from the use of dietary supplements and, as a physician, recognize the benefits of certain supplements as a part of a comprehensive care plan,” Commissioner Gottlieb said. “It’s clear to me that dietary supplements play an important role in our lives as we strive to stay healthy. It’s also clear that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration plays an important role in helping consumers make use of safe, high-quality dietary supplements while also protecting Americans from the potential dangers of products that don’t meet the agency’s standards for marketing.”

Steve Hoffman 1/31/19 Steve Hoffman 1/31/19

Can The Natural Products Industry Help Reduce Medication Addiction?

For Presence Marketing Newsletter, February 2019
By Steven Hoffman

Originally appeared in the Feb. 2019 edition of Presence Marketing News and New Hope's IdeaXchange

Benzodiazepines can be as dangerous as opioids. The natural products industry offers alternative, non-addictive pain treatments such as CBD and herbs.

A new study, Patterns in Outpatient Benzodiazepine Prescribing in the United States, published in JAMA Network Open revealed that prescriptions for benzodiazepines—an addictive class of pharmaceutical drugs to treat anxiety and insomnia—doubled from 2003 to 2015. About half of those prescriptions came from primary care physicians. The report also found the largest increase in drug prescriptions during this time period was for back pain and other types of chronic pain.

This troubling trend indicates that a growing number of Americans are seeking medication and relief from stress, insomnia and chronic pain—conditions that are common to many of us in everyday life. Unfortunately, too many people are turning to addictive prescription drugs to get them through the day…and night.

Crisis, what crisis?
While many physicians consider the drugs comprising the focus of the study—benzodiazepines, better known by the brand names Valium, Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin and others—are best recommended for short-term use, the same study found that long-term use of these pharmaceuticals also is on the rise: Continuing prescriptions for such medications increased by 50 percent from 2005 to 2015. Healthcare providers have expressed concern that long-term use of such drugs can cause physical dependence, addiction and death from overdose.

Similarly, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the opioid crisis in America is thought to have started in the late 1990s when pharmaceutical companies assured the medical community that patients would not become addicted to prescription opioid pain relievers and healthcare providers began to prescribe them at greater rates.

“I don't think people realize that benzodiazepines share many of the same characteristics of opioids,” said Dr. Sumit Agarwal, an internist, primary care physician and researcher at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. He was a lead author of Patterns, which was conducted with Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. “They are addictive. They cause you to have slower breathing; they cause you to be altered in terms of mental status. And then, eventually, [they] can cause overdose and deaths,” he told NPR this month.

“Side effects…are effects”
The opioid epidemic is not new. But now, another class of addictive pharmaceuticals containing benzodiazepine is being increasingly used—and abused—by a growing number of Americans seeking relief from chronic pain, stress, insomnia and other conditions.

So, how can the natural products industry and integrative healthcare providers help consumers find alternatives to addictive pharmaceuticals such as opioids and benzodiazepines, which often come with potentially damaging side effects? As my friend and colleague, Chris Kilham, the “Medicine Hunter” who travels the world in search of botanical remedies, has said, “The side effects often listed with pharmaceutical drugs are not just side effects…they’re effects!”

Since the opioid epidemic has come to light in recent years, several healthcare and government officials have highlighted holistic and integrative medicine therapies such as chiropractic medicine, acupuncture and massage therapy as powerful and effective treatments for chronic pain, according to the National University of Health Sciences (NUHS).

“These modalities have been part of National University's focus on conservative, evidence-based care for many years,” NUHS President Joseph Stiefel, a former chiropractor who holds a doctor of education degree, said in February 2018. “As more Americans discover the risks involved with opioid medication, natural medicine is quickly becoming a first line of treatment.”

Other major organizations that have advocated for complementary and alternative medicine as a potential solution to the addictive pharmaceuticals crisis include the American College of Physicians; the Journal of the American Medical Association; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine; the National Institutes of Health; and others, reported NUHS.

CBD for consumers, athletes, veterans and opioid addicts
With the legalization of industrial hemp in the U.S. and the emergence of full-spectrum hemp extract and cannabidiol products, the market is estimated to grow to $22 billion in sales by 2022, according to a cannabis-industry consultancy, Brightfield Group. Combined with turmeric (curcumin) and other herbal and natural remedies, dietary supplements and functional foods, the natural products industry has a unique opportunity to provide consumers with much-needed, non-addictive alternatives for helping with anxiety and stress, sleeplessness, inflammation and pain.

In addition, researchers at the University of Missouri and the Washington University School of Medicine concluded in a September study that cannabis, including cannabidiol or CBD, may play a role in ameliorating the impact of opioid use disorder. “Because CBD is neither intoxicating nor rewarding and has an extremely large therapeutic window and impressive safety profile, the use of CBD to inhibit opioid craving has great therapeutic potential,” the researchers said.

For amateur and professional athletes, CBD may provide a healthier alternative to the opioids often prescribed for pain management. “As a former college basketball player, I know well that many college athletes and former pro athletes rely on heavy, often daily dosing of anti-inflammatories and even opioids,” Nick Kovacevich wrote in Forbes in August. “CBD appears to provide natural pain relief and possibly even some anti-inflammatory benefits without getting anyone ‘high,’ he added.

Sports leagues, including the National Football League and National Basketball Association, frown upon the use of CBD. However, the BIG3—a professional 3-on-3 basketball league founded by rapper, writer and actor Ice Cube that features former NBA players—announced in June that it had become the first U.S. pro sports league to permit the use of CBD for pain management and recovery. “More than a dozen countries, including Canada and Israel, have approved CBD-based medications for both professional athletes and consumers,’’ the BIG3 said in a statement. “In the U.S., the shift is beginning to happen as the medication is not only used for pain management but preferred over the powerfully addictive opioids and pain-relief drugs that are often the only other option.’’

For veterans “tired of the standard VA cocktail of opiates and psychotropic medications,” a group advocating for natural treatments for PTSD and led by the founders of Colorado-based retailer Warfighter Hemp, is seeking to introduce a new bill “calling on the [Veterans Administration] to conduct scientific and medical research into the safety and efficacy of CBD derived from industrial hemp on veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain and other illnesses and injuries.

“The VA Medicinal Hemp Research Act of 2019 is a pragmatic and bipartisan piece of legislation that would improve and, in many cases, save the lives of veterans across the country,” wrote Steve Danyluk and Boone Cutler, both veterans and founders of Warfighter Hemp, in The Hill earlier this month.

Addiction issues in older adults
While anti-anxiety medications can be prescribed as a temporary means of easing depression, improving sleep and reducing anxiety, research published in November in the JAMA Network found that prescribing benzodiazepines may lead to long-term use in older adults. At greatest risk of long-term use were white patients and those who received prescriptions for larger amounts of the medication, the study, Factors Associated With Long-term Benzodiazepine Use Among Older Adults, showed.

“Use of benzodiazepines by older adults [has] been associated with a host of potential risks including falls, fractures, motor vehicle accidents, and potentially, an increased risk of dementia. Additionally, when these types of medications are combined with other prescribed medications, such as opioids, they can increase the risk of unintentional overdoses and death,” Dr. Lauren Gerlach, lead author of Factors, told Healthline. Gerlach is an osteopathic doctor and geriatric psychiatrist at the University of Michigan.

Grace Cheng, who has a doctor of pharmacy and is a practicing pharmacist at the University of California Los Angeles, told Healthline in the same article, “Benzodiazepines can be a rapid solution for debilitating symptoms, such as the inability to fall asleep and resolution of an acute panic attack, which leads to patients’ satisfaction and perceived benefits of therapy. This may result in dependence and longer duration of use. However, they do not address the chronic management of insomnia, anxiety, and depression,” Cheng was not associated with Gerlach’s research.

There’s seemingly no end to the sources of stress and anxiety in today’s fast-paced society, but by no means are they strictly a modern-day problem. Independent natural products retailers can continue to serve health-conscious consumers and capitalize on long-term health issues such as aging, inflammation, stress, insomnia and pain with such products as turmeric, capsaicin, valerian, kava, passionflower and more…and now CBD to help provide natural alternatives to potentially addictive pharmaceuticals for anxiety and pain.

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