High-level lacrosse took a toll on Colin Bannon’s body.
The 2013 Staples High School graduate went on to star at Endicott College: 4-year varsity starter, 3-time All-American. But after majoring in business management, and earning a graduate degree in marketing and sales, his body was banged up.
His back, shoulders, hips — you name it, it hurt.
Bannon worked a couple of jobs — for a lacrosse company, and home remodeling — before being named assistant varsity coach at Staples last year.
About the same time, he discovered CBD.
Colin Bannon
Known technically as cannabidiol, CBD is a chemical compound found in the cannabis plant. Used in products like oils, edibles and tinctures, it helps users feel relaxed and calm.
CBD is often confused with THC — the psychoactive compound in cannabis. They are very different.
THC gets users high. CBD does not.
Confusion also arises because the cannabis sativa plant has 2 primary species: hemp and marijuana. Hemp has a much higher percentage of CBD, and much lower levels of THC.
The Food and Drug Administration currently approves only one CBD medication: Epidiolex, for certain types of epilepsy. But the compound is used frequently for many other health conditions.
The legality of CBD varies from state to state. Last year, President Trump signed a farm bill that removed hemp as a Schedule I substance. It is now called an “agricultural commodity.”
The bill also removed restrictions on the sale, transportation and possession of CBD derived from hemp (with certain regulatory restrictions).
Hemp plant
Three months after Bannon began using CBD, he felt remarkably better. His back and shoulders no longer ached. His hips were better aligned. He joined a growing number of Americans touting the compound’s benefits.
Not long after, he was chatting with Brian Edmonds. Chair of New York Athletic Club’s lacrosse program, he’d recently retired from Cantor Fitzgerald after more than 30 years in finance.
Edmonds had found that CBD relieved his chronic joint pain. However, with so many competing products and brands on the market, he worried about competing claims regarding quality, purity and appropriate dosages.
Edmonds partnered with Keith Bunovsky, a lifelong Connecticut farmer, and moved from Fairfield to Mystic to start a new business: New England Hemp Farm.
Their goal is to bring high quality, guaranteed CBD products to the chaotic marketplace. They pay fair market prices to their farmers in Monroe and Canterbury. They also donate a percentage of profits to help preserve New England farms, and benefit inner-city programs.
Two of New England Hemp Farm’s many products.
They’re renovating an old firehouse on the Poquonnock River. Called “The Barn,” it will serve as their flagship retail location — and offer food and live music.
But New England Hemp Farm also has a presence at the other end of the state — right here in Westport. On November 1, they open a pop-up holiday shop on Main Street’s Brooks Corner. They’ll sell CBD topicals, tinctures, edibles, liquid capsules — even pet treats.
They had a booth at the recent Westoberfest. It was packed.
And though the store is not yet open, people have stopped by, seeking information.
Colin Bannon will not be lax describing everything CBD has done for him.
New England Hemp Farm’s pop-up store, in Brooks Corner.
I have been using the CBD 500mg Intensive Relief Rub with Emu Oil for a month after trying it on my knee at my son’s LAX practice. Thanks Coach! It has changed my life! I can run again!
jfmlaw@optonline.net
CBD has literally changed my wife’s life helping almost completely alleviate her rheumatoid arthritis pain to the point where she was able to get off a medication with terrible side effects. I also find it useful for stress relief.
The big issue with CBD is that it is unregulated and that means it is hard for the consumer to know what they are actually buying. What does Colin and New England Hemp farm do to provide reliable information on their product?
New England Hemp Farm is committed to providing the highest quality CBD products that our customers can always trust. Our products are all independently, third party tested and you can view these tests on any product by viewing the reports on our website at newenglandhempfarm.com
Thank you – Brian Edmonds Co-founder of New England Hemp Farm
I know it’s great. I’ll get some for Peter.
Polly
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Dan please let us al know when it opens.
We are open now! Feel free to swing in whenever. Today we will be closing at 6 p.m. If you miss us today we will be open tomorrow morning at 10 a.m.
Thank you – Colin Bannon Vice President of Sales/Westport Store Manager of New England Hemp Farm