CBD: The Cannabis Miracle in Chicago
While people stand in long lines outside licensed marijuana dispensaries, an emerging miracle cannabis compound that is largely unregulated offers relief and exceptional business opportunities. Cannabidiol, better known as CBD, is one of more than a hundred compounds found only in the cannabis plant. Unlike its better-known cousin tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, CBD does not deliver the euphoric mind-altering effects that can be intoxicating. It can be used safely by those who are young children to those well into old age and is completely legal on the federal level.
Health Benefits of Cannabidiol (CBD)
Helps the Brain as an Anti-Anxiety, Anti-Depressant, Antioxidant, & Neuroprotective.
Vasorelaxant for Glaucoma increasing ocular blood flow in the Eyes.
Works with the Heart as an Anti-Inflammatory, Artherosclocrosis, & Anti-Ischemic (prevents plaque buildup in the arteries.)
Anti-Emetic, preventing vomiting or nausea of the Stomach & also helps with Appetite control.
Benefits the Intestines with its Anti-Prokinetic properties helping those with gastrointestinal problems.
Stimulating new bone growth and strengthening Bones affected by Osteoporosis.
CBD was first identified and isolated in 1942 by chemistry professor Roger Adams at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Little was known about it until a study with a small sample was published in 1980 that found CBD could reduce or eliminate the incidence of epileptic seizures. As Ryan Lewis tells it in The Ultimate Book of CBD Remedies, drug warriors stifled research and blocked publication of CBD studies during the 1980s. In the next decade, more was learned about the CBD miracle. A 1995 study found that CBD significantly reduced the number of hallucinations experienced by those with schizophrenia.
Later research would find that it relieves pain and inflammation along with drastically reducing anxiety. Some have called CBD a meditation in a bottle that lasts all day. It is no surprise that nearly everyone who uses CBD reports better sleep with many saying it resolved their insomnia and difficulty falling asleep. The good news about CBD keeps on coming. A 2018 study found that rats given CBD who were addicted to cocaine or alcohol were extremely less likely to relapse compared to those not given CBD.
Then in 2019, a European study definitively concluded CBD prevents asthma attacks and aids those living with the condition by concluding “CBD treatment, regardless of dosage, decreased airway hyper-responsiveness.” This was followed the next year by a 2020 blockbuster study from Israel that rocked the world of autism. It found that CBD alone created stunning results in children with autism. In just a few weeks, 67.6 percent of those taking CBD saw a lessening or elimination in rage attacks, violence toward others, and/or self-harm; 68.4 percent saw a lessening of hyperactivity and related behavior; a whopping 71.4 percent saw an improvement in their sleep; and 47.1 percent experienced an improvement in anxiety, feeling less nervous and frightened.
All the studies used a CBD extract and not the whole plant, which contains more than 100 compounds unique to the cannabis plant. These compounds are called cannabinoids and CBD is just one. Herbalists have known for many centuries that when multiple plants are combined into a single remedy, the effect is much stronger than any one plant alone. In the world of cannabis, this was proven in a 1999 research study that found that when cannabinoids and terpenes are consumed together, they have much greater impact. The study was titled “An entourage effect: inactive endogenous fatty acid glycerol esters enhance 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol cannabinoid activity,” published in the European Journal of Pharmacology. It was written by multiple authors including Israeli chemist Raphael Mechoulam. He was the first to isolate THC in 1964 at the dawn of the psychedelic counterculture. The 1999 study was the first documented use of the phrase “entourage effect,” which has been a rallying cry for cannabis activists in advocating for buying products that contain the whole plant rather than extracts of a specific compound like CBD.
Terpenes give all varieties of the cannabis plant its unmistakably strong odor. As explained by authors Leonard Leinow and Juliana Birnbaum in the book CBD: A Patient’s Guide to Medicinal Cannabis terpenes are oils secreted by the glandular hairs found most densely on the floral leaves and flowers of female plants. Their flavor and smell identify the particular strain along with its known health effects. The same terpenes found in THC rich cannabis plants can also be found in CBD hemp plants with virtually no THC.
The most common terpene in cannabis is myrcene and is known for its effects in promoting sleepiness, relaxation, pain relief, reducing inflammation, and blocking cancer cells. Another terpene is limonene that promotes a general uplift in mood and attitude. In studying limonene, people report experiencing an increase in attention, mental focus, well-being, and even their sex drive. Linalool promotes calming, relaxing effects and for centuries has been used as a sleep aid. The anti-inflammatory effects of this terpene slow down the advancement and reverse the effects of Alzheimer’s. A-eudesmol protects against brain injury and has shown usefulness against migraines. Other terpenes help shrink tumors, eliminate infections, and deal with fungus.
With a full spectrum CBD product, someone can obtain most of the benefits of the many other cannabis compounds and the terpenes without the possibility of intoxication or illegality. THC though can amplify and catalyze the other cannabis compounds so it should not be ignored. In fact, CBD limits the effect of THC so cannabis with significant levels of CBD can prevent the THC high while offering a stronger effect than low THC cannabis.
In 2009, the CBD story took another turn when laboratory testing of CBD in cannabis began for the first time started by the Steep Hill lab. Before then, cannabis was bred and grown to maximize the level of THC, reports Allen St. Pierre, a former executive director of national NORML in a blog post from 2009. It was assumed that cannabis strains from companies and individual growers had only trace amounts of CBD. Surprisingly, a few strains tested had five to seven percent CBD content. “Two of these high-CBD strains have been made available to patients—and only intermittently, as the pounds delivered by the growers sell out in a day or two,” he wrote. This popularity set off a frenzy by breeders and growers to create strains of cannabis with both high THC and CBD levels as well as strains with very high CBD levels and below the .3 percent THC content, where it is not a concern to most law enforcement agencies and regulators. It is the same low level of THC as the cannabis used in clothing, paper, tarps, rope and building materials. This form of cannabis is called hemp, but the CBD content in these products is usually minimal like the THC level. CBD rich strains and products that have the hemp level of THC are called CBD hemp. These strains and access to them got another boost in 2018 when the federal government legalized hemp production, sale, and possession in the Farm Bill.
Image provided by Kelly Pierce
Sometimes, cannabis prohibition extends to the state level. In Illinois, hemp and CBD products below .3 percent THC are legal to own in any amount. These products can be sold like any other regular food, dietary supplement, or plant product and do not need to go through the highly regulated dispensaries like THC cannabis products.
Residents in other states are not as lucky. In Indiana, CBD and its products are fully legal, but local newspapers have reported cops arresting people for marijuana possession when they only had bulk CBD hemp flower. That is because neither humans nor K9 police dogs can smell the difference between THC rich cannabis and hemp because both have many of the same terpenes or plant oils. The cheap field tests used by cops cannot tell the difference either. Indiana cops just arrest people and ask questions later. In Wisconsin, only CBD extracted oil is legal and only with a doctor’s recommendation. Failing to have a CBD medical certification is a criminal misdemeanor. If you share your CBD oil with a friend who does not have a CBD certification, Wisconsin increases the penalty to a felony with offenders facing at least a year in prison.
Back in Illinois, the land of CBD tolerance and acceptance, people have come out from the shadows to open CBD businesses in both the city and suburbs. Sometimes these storefronts are literally next door to the offices of local politicians. My local vape shop, 312 Vapes at 3221 N. Sheffield is next door to the office of Alderman Tom Tunney of the 44th Ward and state Senator Sarah Feigenholtz. In fact, many vape shops throughout Chicagoland have added CBD vapes to their offerings. At this point, it would be surprising to find an Illinois vape shop that does not offer CBD along with tobacco, nicotine, and kratom vapes. In honor and celebration of Black History Month, we’ve included a couple local minority-owned businesses we highly recommend you check out.
Are you new to the cannabinoid or looking for more places to shop near you?
Here are a few local CBD businesses in the Chicagoland area!!
Ida’s Artisan Ice Cream
Order by calling or texting Ida at (773) 956-3353
Ida Nelson launched Ida’s Artisan Ice Cream and Treats out of her Bronzeville kitchen in June, 2020. She partnered with Rachael Smedberg of Tulip Tree Gardens to create Chicago’s first CBD ice cream. Chicago NORML members might recognize the names. Smedberg, cofounder of Tulip Tree, was the 2020 winner of the Illinois NORML Hemp Grant by Chicago NORML and the Midwest Hemp Coalition in November. Nelson was one of the five finalists in the grant competition and met Smedberg virtually during the event. “I am big on the spirit and I got a feel for how genuine [Smedberg’s] spirit was right off the bat,” Nelson told Chicago Block Club. “This is going to be a very cool collaboration. It’s the city meets the country.”
Nelson was laid off in May as were millions of Americans as business activity nosedived as Chicago and the rest of the country coped with the Covid-19 virus. She bought a gourmet ice cream machine to make the treat with her five children. She needed a steady income though while she supervised the children’s e-learning at home. Each pint of ice cream, amounting to four scoops, has just 50 milligrams of CBD oil that is infused into agave nectar. Block Club Chicago says the amount is just enough to get the therapeutic benefits of eating ice cream as well as the calming and health benefits of hemp without significantly altering the flavor.
Black-owned Chicagoland CBD Business
Image provided by Ida Nelson
The ice cream can be ordered directly from Nelson by calling or texting 773-956-3353.
CBD Hutch
1807 W North Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
These days, a hipster neighborhood needs to have a CBD store and Wicker Park has one. The CBD Hutch is a retail store that offers CBD gummies, tinctures, topical, bath salts and other items. Their knowledgeable staff are there to chat and consult with consumers even during the pandemic.
“Whether you are searching for mental clarity, sleep aids, pain relief, or one of the plethora of other use cases, our products are designed to increase CBD bioavailability in the body, promote maximum effect, and be the most versatile.” — CBD Hutch website
Momma Verde Apothecary
Minority-Owned Chicagoland CBD Business
Christina Colón is the proprietor of Momma Verde Apothecary and a Chicago NORML board member. She formulates and makes all her products, which are mostly topical and wellness items. She will be expanding to gummies, herbal teas, and pre-rolled CBD joints during spring 2021. Colón said she started her business because of a “need for relief from body aches and pains from playing volleyball since 1st grade.” Along with a “love for herbal remedies vs. western medicine” propelled her to find a gap in the market to offer affordable and quality CBD products that she noticed while working at cannabis dispensaries.
HuxHemp CBD Apothecary
3101 N. Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL
HuxHemp CBD Apothecary offers more phyto-cannabinoids than any medical dispensary. No special cards required!
Images provided by HuxHemp CBD Apothecary of store and team.
Russell Huxhold, the owner of HuxHemp CBD Apothecary tells his website visitors his journey to cannabis; “I opened HuxHemp to educate others about the tremendous benefits phytocannabinoids (molecules from hemp) can offer: I am passionate about cannabinoids. I know they are the keys to improving health and fighting issues that harm the body. I’ve consumed phytocannabinoids for many years because they offer the best physical and mental remedies with no harmful side-effects. In fact, I am very healthy—no doctor visits in 8+ years, no pharmaceuticals in 7+ years, and no ibuprofen in 1+ years. Through daily CBD use, my cognitive functions and sleep have improved while lowering my overall anxiety and pain levels.'”
From left to right: associate Mike, Co-owner and CTO James, Owner of Huxhemp Russell, Store Manager Jamaal, and bilingual associate Mary.
In fact, HuxHemp offers more phytocannabinoids than any medical dispensary. No special cards required. When owner Huxhold began noticing online boutiques, city pop-up shops, and even local Wisconsin gas stations carrying various CBD products, he was concerned with overpricing, proper dosages, and consumer education. “If your first experience with CBD is negative, you may not be willing to try to find an effective hemp product again. With an MBA from the University of Chicago and a BS in Economics from UW-Madison, I’m focused on operating a successful and honest business in a space ripe for fraud. I act as a gatekeeper at times by curating vast amounts of products while keeping others educated on current events. I personally use (or have used/tested) all products available at HuxHemp. All products are 100% USA grown and 3rd party lab tested. Isolate < Full Spectrum, for ‘entourage effect’.”
Black-owned Chicagoland CBD Business
Whether you are looking for cannabis consulting and services or CBD goods, the Soul and Wellness center has got you covered in CBD topicals, tinctures, edibles, prerolls, and more. If you know Chicago NORML, then you are aware that Soul and Wellness was the original clubhouse for the local Chicago chapter prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Soul and Wellness served as a base where Chicago NORML routinely held monthly membership meetings and hosted various events in the space. Soul and Wellness has become a vessel that links the greater Chicagoland area and neighboring to a wide variety of medical cannabis services and education. At the height of unrest due to the wrongful death of George Floyd, Soul and Wellness was an unfortunate victim of looting and had to close its doors for a time. Luckily Soul and Wellness is back and open but still needs additional resources for repairs. Soul and Wellness owner Tiffany Reynolds shares, “I have been inspired by the success stories of patients I have assisted and their experiences with medical marijuana. My experience in the industry, coupled by a Masters Degree in Psychology, are the foundation of my holistic vision, Soul and Wellness.”
Soul and Wellness Medical Marijuana Services and Education Chicago, IL
There is a link to a GoFundMe account on behalf of Soul and Wellness. We encourage you to donate whatever you can.
Botanica Plant Based Health
1306 Chicago Ave
Evanston, IL
Botanica is a quality cbd shop located in Evanston, Illinois serving the Chicagoland area. “Our goals are simple; we curate the best and highest quality whole hemp & cbd products available. We attempt to educate the curious, guide the open-minded and enlighten our customers about the benefits of whole hemp products.” Offering a wide array of CBD products to help you sleep, reduce anxiety, or relieve aches and pains. Botanica Plant Based Health knows that knowledge is power and through research stays updated on their product’s quality and development. “We eat healthy, shop at whole foods, exercise, try to sleep 8 hours a night and reduce the amount of stress in our lives. And when we aren’t able to do all of those things, we rely on whole hemp products to help us maintain balance.”
Wake-N-Bakery
3508 n Broadway
Chicago, IL 60657
If you are a cannabis connoisseur or just like your coffee with an extra kick check out Wake-N-Bakery in east lakeview! The shop offers baked goods, savory delights, hot and cold drinks all infused with CBD and Delta-8-THC at a maximum of 120mg. Not in the mood for a dose of cannabis? Enjoy their beverages without the added cannabinoids! Wake-N-Bakery even makes custom cakes infused with the federally legal hemp derived Delta-8-THC. Due to popularity and the pandemic, short wait in time for your infused goods. The coffee shop has triumphed through their first year in business and during a pandemic thanks to their customers shouting out the tasty treats through social media.
Minority-owned Chicagoland CBD Business
Image of Wake-N-Bakery Director of Operations, Johnny Vera infusing a drink with CBD.
CBD Kratom Shops
The plant Mitragyna speciosa, more commonly known as Kratom, is a tropical evergreen tree part of the coffee family native to Southeast Asia. Kratom has been used in Southeast Asia for the last three centuries and is used as a daily supplement by millions of Americans. Consumers report the effects of Kratom in the form of powder or tablets helps them with energy, motivation, relaxation and pain. The multi-state operating shop, CBD Kratom, offers one of the widest selections of CBD and Kratom products found in the Midwest, carrying a total of 45 Kratom strains alone. “We offer you the largest selection of CBD and Kratom products in the Midwest at affordable prices.” The staff are knowledgeable in both plant-based products and provide excellent service. Twelve CBD Kratom shops can be found throughout the Chicagoland area such as Andersonville, Boystown, and the Chicago Loop.
Half Day CBD
6027 N. Cicero Ave.
Chicago, IL 60646
Half Day CBD founders Dave DiCosola and Kam Norwood are two friends and entrepreneurs who trust and believe in the miracle of cannabis. “All farm. No pharma.” Half Day CBD chooses to partner with U.S. hemp farmers, ensuring their products can be used with holistic ease of mind, body, and spirit. To control their customer’s experience and product’s quality, Half Day takes pride in every step of their process by manufacturing and bottling their products in shop and shipping directly from their own warehouse. Half Day consumers report their high-quality CBD products are “pure, potent, and “‘high-free.” There is nothing half-ass about their experience as a whole.
Black-Owned Chicagoland CBD Business
Image provided by Half Day CBD
Good Lyfe CBD
6158 W Grand Ave
Chicago, IL 60639
Good Lyfe CBD, located in Belmont Central offers alternative and holistic health products to consumers looking for safer natural remedies than over-the-counter methods. They carry a wide array of CBD hemp and Kratom products for all walks of life. Good Lyfe CBD uses hemp-derived cannabidiol meaning it contains no THC and is safe to use with pets! “We take pride in offering our customers premium products and knowledge when it comes to cannabis science, cannabinoids, and terpenes. We have been in business for three years and have been providing friendly, attentive service so that you know you're getting what you want.”
Black-owned Chicagoland CBD Business
WaKanna For Life is a Black-owned CBD shop located in the Bronzeville area offering a wide selection of organically grown full-spectrum and broad spectrum CBD-rich oil. WaKanna partners with both Global and USA farms; their oils are extracted from a farm in Northern Europe as well as US farms Kentucky and Colorado allowing WaKanna to carry a total of seven unique proprietary blends. “Our oil extracted in Europe is made with a special nano technology that helps to provide up to 98.7% bioavailability. CBD is a powerful compound, but it is the entourage effect of the other phytocannabinoids along with the terpenes, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that combine to create the best available.” As part of their foundational values being all about empowering the movement it's no surprise that WaKanna is a proud, supporting business member of Chicago NORML.