Penny Ryan has seen the growth of the CBD business firsthand.
„I’ve been doing this for about seven years,” she said.
The first five of those years, Ryan spent going across Louisiana selling her products at farmer’s markets. The last two years have been spent at Cannabis with Love at 3772 Youree Drive.
„People are taking it and loving the products,” Ryan said. „We’re able to help people. There is a lot of misconception and we’re able to educate.”
Ryan’s store is part of a booming business in Shreveport-Bossier City — the sale of CBD products and medical marijuana.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant. It is made from industrial hemp and makes up around 40 percent of the plant’s extract. CBD can be used for medicinal purposes. The CBD sold in stores does not include THC, which is most known for producing the high from marijuana.
Yuli Zangeeva opened her first Your CBD Store in Bossier City in May. Zangeeva recently joined more than a half-dozen other stores selling CBD products in Shreveport when she opened her second Your CBD Store. This one is located at 3702 Youree Drive.
„Watching my customers come back for refills and just seeing how they changed and regained their life back… It has really been a blessing,” Zangeeva said.
Zangeeva had a reason for wanting the Shreveport store to open in September. It was a year ago in September when she found herself struggling with depression following the loss of her husband.
„I really wanted to open my second store in September in memory of my husband,” Zangeeva said. „I know if he was here he would be a big part of it and he would be proud to help all the people who found relief with CBD.”
CBD American Shaman, similar to Your CBD Store, is also a franchise which can be found across the country. The Shreveport location is the first American Shaman CBD shop in Louisiana.
CBD American Shaman is located at 1226 Shreveport Barksdale Highway and sells a full range of CBD products and oils.
Both Shreveport and Bossier City are home to 5-star Nutrition stores that sell CBD products.
Shops such as Pipes Emporium and Great American Vapes have also joined the CBD craze by selling those products.
CBD’s surge in popularity comes at a time when relatively little scientific research has been done on its effects on pain. But that hasn’t stopped the growth of CBD stores around the area.
„CBD is growing here,” Ryan said.
Medical marijuana, meanwhile, burst on to the scene in August with Hope Pharmacy in Shreveport beginning to serve patients with recommendations.
„It took longer than we thought and the whole time the other pharmacy owners and I had patients calling daily,” Hope Pharmacy’s Doug Boudreaux said earlier this year. „These individuals are in real need and have tried every other type of treatment and nothing worked.
„It broke all of our hearts to see this many people in pain or suffering from seizures begging for help.”
They’re getting help now and residents have their choice of CBD products as what was once unthinkable has become popular.
Just how many stores the Shreveport-Bossier City markets can hold is the question.
„It will get saturated eventually,” Ryan said.
MORE:
- What’s the job of a medical marijuana doctor? Here’s what a local physician has to say
- Medical marijuana pharmacy in Shreveport dispenses first dosages
- Louisiana officials find spiked CBD sold in the state