Cannabidiol — CBD oil — was first designated as legal in Indiana in July 2017 for use for treating epilepsy.
In 2018, Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a measure clarifying that anyone can possess, buy or sell CBD oil that is less than 0.3 % THC, the substance that produces a high in the related — and illegal — marijuana.
Since then, the number of Logansport businesses selling CBD oil from hemp sources have increased, and business seems to be doing fairly well.
Judy’s GoodLife Emporium at 325 E. Market St. has probably been selling CBD products — including teas and coffees — in Logansport the longest.
The store started four years ago, said manager Diana Brown.
“We didn’t sell a lot because a lot of people didn’t know about it,” said Brown.
Then the controversy about whether it was legal hit the media.
“Once that happened, it just exploded,” she said. “We were the only ones in town selling it at the time, so we couldn’t keep up with the demand.”
They did take CBD products off Judy’s shelves when the dispute picked up traction, even though they knew it was legal — the controversy came from the attorney general’s interpretation of the law.
They resumed selling after the 2018 measure confirmed and clarified CBD’s legality but came with stipulations from the state.
Every product needs to have a QR code — the black and white square that smartphones can read — so people can trace the specific batch, said Brown.
A good QR code link will lead to a website to research the oil’s source, third-party testing and manufacturing process.
If it doesn’t, it’s probably not a good product, she said.
Brown said sales at Judy’s have slowed down as others have begun to sell CBD products.
However, she thinks things will change as people get familiar with it and get past the stigma.
“People still have difficulty separating it from marijuana, but I believe people are becoming educated,” she said.
The science of human indo-cannabinoid system only has about 20 years of study.
“As science catches up and people educate themselves, it will continue to grow,” she said.
Although that could change if the FDA decides to make CBD oil only available by prescription, she added.
Cindy Rollins, owner of Electric Beach tanning salon at 1131 E. Broadway, has also seen a decline in the market.
Her business began selling CBD oil products for about a year.
“I can tell you it started off with a huge amount of sales,” Rollins stated via Facebook’s messenger.
She saw the desire was there.
“The community for the most part was actually buying it before we started carrying it,” she added.
However, with more businesses offering some variation on it, sales have declined.
“I keep inventory but nothing like I needed last year. The market is flooded with it,” Rollins said.
Ethan Kesling of Kesling’s Home Health Care Center, 1115 W. Market St., said in the six months they’ve sold CBD oil products, it’s done well.
“Every generation is taking CBD oil. It’s very popular,” Kesling said.
However, his family’s business sells more to their existing customers, who are older, his sister Erica Zimmer added.
Kesling said, “I never would’ve thought we’d have this in here. But after hearing from our patients how well it works, I couldn’t help but get it.”
The oil is the most beneficial, but they also sell gummies, capsules and lotions, and the lotions seem to be what they’re doing best with, he said.
They’re also looking at bringing in a line for pets.
Family Video at 318 12th St. has been selling CBD products for about three months, and it’s a corporate decision from the owners.
“It started helping members of their family,” said Logansport store manager Alina Milburn.
The video feed that plays coming attractions on the televisions in the store also has a testimony from the family about it.
CBD has been received well for Logansport, Milburn said.
The video rental store also sells multiple products, from CBD-infused water to lip balm, as well as spray, oil and gummi bears and froggies.
“So far, we’ve done really well with everything,” she said.
The prices range from $3 to $150, depending how much oil is in the product.
The gummi bears are usually what first timers use because they’re the least expensive, she said.
CBD’s uses
Brown said, “I would think pain is what most people try it for.”
However, CBD buyers and their reasons are varied, although she said she and others need to be careful to not make it sound like they’re giving medical advice.
Some use it for anxiety, migraines and seizures, including pets with seizures, she said.
A few have had doctors send them in for CBD oil for autism, and people have used CBD oil in vape kits because the oil because it helps with the withdrawal emotionally and with a physical activity similar to smoking.
CBD oil isn’t addicting, either, so it’s easy to put down, she added.
Milburn has had no “type” of customer, seeing people in their 20s and last week a woman in her 80s buying the products.
“A lot of people just use it for pain relief,” she said.
However, she’s had customers buy it for stress, anxiety, back pain and sleep disorders. Some have been told about it through their doctors, she said.
Kelsing said his customers also buy for those reasons, although inflammation, such as arthritis, is big for his customers.
One of his customers, who asked to remain anonymous, said she heard about it from her children in Tennessee.
She’d been having trouble with an appendectomy scar not healing after four months, so she took CBD oil for 17 days.
The wound clinic was surprised at how well she healed, she said. Ingesting the oil has also helped her arthritis, she said.
Rollins uses it herself daily and also gives it to her 13-year-old dog.
“I can’t make claims. I just let people ask their doctor and find out for themselves if it works,” Rollins stated.
Not everyone should expect CBD oil to help with their problem, Brown said.
If someone doesn’t have a cannabinoid deficiency, it probably won’t help them.
Kesling said, “Everyone’s indo-cannabinoid system is different.”
He recommends starting small and gradually increase until you reach the point where it works.
Brown said that people also need to be cautious about taking it because it can react with other medicines.
“It’s doesn’t benefit everyone. It’s not a magic cure-all,” she said.