2019 CBD.io Expo
Zygote Nation was there! ... At the CBD.io expo on Nov. 22-23, 2019, at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas. The organizers refer to this show as “the world’s largest CBD expo.”
“I love Vegas like Sinatra loves Jack Daniels.”
This was an interesting event and I am glad I attended. There were quality vendors of products with hemp extract, including, of course, cannabidiol (CBD), the substance most prevalent in them. There was also a nice line-up of presentations and panel discussions on hemp and the state of the hemp industry. I learned much.
But, I would be disingenuous not to say this show was definitely different than other hemp events in which I have participated. This expo was sharing space on the show floor with VapExpo, a gathering of vendors selling hemp vaping products. I do not know much at all about vaping and am not interested in that sector.
Photo by Michael Sirak
From what I saw, the vaping sector has a younger vibe on the entrepreneurs’ side and in its customer base. There is nothing at all wrong with that. It’s just that neither the products, nor the marketing appeals to me.
Here is my list of the show’s notable vendors and products:
Steve’s Goods
Photo by Michael Sirak
I first learned of Steve’s Goods of Boulder, Colorado, at a hemp conference in Denver in March 2019. I was intrigued because it was the first company I came across to offer products such as a CBG oil and gummies with whole-plant (a.k.a. full-spectrum) hemp extract instead of just CBD isolate. Plus, Steven Schultheis, the company’s face and founder, has an iconic look with his ZZ Top-like beard and bald head. I think he is one of the innovators in the “hempisphere.” Steve’s Goods uses Colorado-grown hemp and organic ingredients in its products, according to its website. CBG stands for cannabigerol; it is considered to be the “parent” cannabinoid in the hemp plant from which other cannabinoids like CBD originate. Steve’s Goods’ CBG oil, which has a base of coconut-derived medium-chain-triglycerides (MCT) oil, has a CBD to CBG ratio of 20:1. A company marketing handout asserts that this ratio amplifies the beneficial effect of CBD, thereby offering “potent relief from anxiety and pain, alongside enhanced mental clarity and focus.” Among Steve’s Goods’ other products with full-spectrum hemp extract are coffee, gummies, and lollipops as well as bath bombs, beauty products, and a muscle relief balm.
Photo by Michael Sirak
Fly Soul Shoes
Photo by Michael Sirak
Fly Soul Shoes of Las Vegas sells hemp shoes that come in vibrant funky color schemes. They are the first hand-woven hemp-fiber shoes made in North America, said Peter Holzworth, Fly Soul Shoes’ founder and global brand officer, in a video posted at the company’s website. The hemp fiber is durable, resists fading, and is anti-fungal, anti-microbial, breathable, hypoallergenic, and waterproof, according to both sources. The shoes’ soles are rubber. The expo was the company’s launch event and the Fly Soul Shoes’ booth was thronged whenever I passed by. At the time of the show, the company offered a men’s line, but it subsequently introduced a women’s line. Both the current men’s and women’s lines, as of early 2020, come in five color schemes: Ayahuasca (inspired by transformative retreats intended to open the mind and heart), The Florist (designed for those with an idealistic inner flower child), The Huskers (inspired by a love for the environment and to pay homage to our agricultural roots), Palm Drive (inspired by the tropics and lazy summer afternoons), and Sacred (inspired by the ancient Maya, Inca, and Aztec civilizations). The men’s line-up on display at the show (see photos) had different styles than what is available now, as of early 2020. For example, there was a solid-blue pair that caught my eye for its more-conservative look. Holzworth said Fly Soul Shoes also is interested in releasing a line of hemp belts. Plus, representatives at the company’s booth told me they were working on a hemp-extract spray for use inside the shoes.
Photo by Michael Sirak
Photo by Michael Sirak
Hemp Lucid
Photo by Michael Sirak
Hemplucid of Provo, Utah, markets whole-plant hemp tinctures derived from a strain of hemp originating in Colorado that the company asserts is rich in CBD and other beneficial substances. The tinctures come in several varieties and concentrations in either a base of hemp seed oil or MCT oil. There is also a water-soluable variety in a base of vegetable glycerin for quick absorption. Hemplucid also offers products for vaping, along with capsules, gummies, body cream, lip balm, and muscle rub. In addition the company has a Kalki line of CBD isolate extract with added terpenes as well as whole-plant hemp extracts for cats and dogs under the Roxy Pets moniker. Hemplucid is committed to supporting the U.S. farming economy, states the company’s website. It deals only with organic-certified U.S. farms and works only with U.S. extractors, it states. Another aspect of this business I like is the Hemplucid University, a series of short-length educational videos on hemp at its website. It’s a well-done collection that the company says will continue to grow. Among the topics covered thus far are “Hemp versus Marijuana,” “The History of Hemp,” and “What is Whole-Plant CBD?” Also, Hemplucid purposely makes no product claims.
Photo by Michael Sirak
Hemptealicious
Photo by Michael Sirak
Hemptealicious of Brighton, Colorado, offers a line of teas featuring the flowers and leaves of organically grown hemp. The tea is available in six flavors, each of which comes in a canister that contains 16 tea bags. There is the Pure Hemp variety (i.e., 100 percent hemp) and then five flavored types (i.e., Apple Hibiscus, Chamomile Lavender, Ginger Turmeric, Peppermint Mate, and Spearmint Lemongrass) that contain 30 percent hemp in addition to organic herbs, according to the company’s website. All varieties are caffeine-free and have “a full spectrum of natural plant terpenes,” states the website. I bought the Pure Hemp. I found the tea to have a quite enjoyable, mild earthy taste, kind of like green tea, only more subtle. The company utilizes eco-friendly business practices, such as using only sustainable, organically grown hemp, states the website.
Photo by Michael Sirak
Photo by Michael Sirak
Background note:
For those of you new to hemp, here are my vastly overly simplified definitions of cannabis, hemp, and marijuana to provide context:
Cannabis is a plant.
Hemp is cannabis that contains a substance called cannabidiol (CBD) and no more than the legal amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound that gives a person the euphoric feeling of being “high” when ingested. That amount must be 0.3 percent or less of a hemp sample by dry weight.
Marijuana is the US government’s term for cannabis that has more than that amount of THC.
