CBD business booming in Exeter

Sarah Parker
Authored by Sarah Parker
Posted: Friday, October 23, 2020 - 11:12

The CBD market in the UK is worth a staggering £300 million, and this is expected to triple over the coming five years. Consumers can expect this health craze to be worth more than £1 billion before the middle of this decade. Leading this growth in the hemp industry is Devon, where a number of new shops selling legal cannabinoids are popping up.

This corner of the UK is taking a progressive and innovative approach to a substance that is known to have many mental and physical health benefits. This represents a revolution in the health food industry, though it’s not always been plain sailing. Members of the public and even serving government officials do not understand the laws regarding the sale of hemp products. Police are therefore having to deal with complaints about cannabis stores popping up.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol, shortened to CBD, is the non-psychoactive part of the hemp plant, while THC is the substance in hemp that gets you high. As long as CBD contains no THC, it can be legally sold in the UK. This is the case all across Europe, although some countries have been quicker than others to embrace the sale of CBD.

Unfortunately, there is some controversy around the product and few mainstream retailers are willing to stock CBD products. This is despite the well-documented evidence that CBD has no side effects and reduces inflammation, pain, and anxiety while aiding sleep.

Cibdol.com offers more information on the benefits of CBD oil.

Legal CBD Products

Cannabis product stores sell a number of beneficial CBD products. Marketed as food supplements, shoppers can purchase hemp-infused coffee or even homemade, freshly baked CBD cookies and brownies. This makes taking CBD oil a pleasant experience. It’s important to remember that none of these products will get you high or produce any euphoric feelings. They exist purely for their medicinal and nutritional benefits.

Overcoming Setbacks

Despite the legality of selling CBD, as well as the harmlessness of CBD, there have been some teething problems. Many Exeter based CBD stores have been visited by the police. The marijuana imagery in windows has led members of the public to complain that these shops are trading illegally. As a result, police searches have been carried out to make sure everything is above board.

Furthermore, members of local government are concerned about the products sold, thinking that they may contravene drug laws. This puts pressure on retailers to avoid selling CBD and hemp products altogether, fearful of visitations from law enforcement. Nevertheless, CBD stores in Exeter are standing their ground and continuing to trade according to the law.

Given the setbacks that retailers face, it’s no wonder that the CBD industry has taken a while to secure a space on the British high street. Hemp stores in Exeter and across Devon are helping to normalize the sale of this entirely safe and beneficial substance. In the coming years, expect to see a thriving CBD industry.

Photo by Elsa Olofsson/CBD Oracle