JOHNSTON, R.I. (WPRI) — As the marijuana debate continues in Rhode Island, the owner of a shop the sells a by-product of hemp says his industry should be regulated.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is being sold at stores and online across the country. In Rhode Island, several CBD stores have opened in the past month, including Matt Resnick’s shop called the “CBD Center of Rhode Island.”
Those who advocate for the medicinal effects of CBD stress that it’s not THC. They say CBD oil will not give a “high” like when using marijuana.
“This is not something that’s going to impair somebody,” Resnick said.
Resnick claims the CBD products in his Johnston shop have helped people in several ways.
“We have seen a lot of great success utilizing it for pain management, migraines, nausea, to anxiety, to overall body inflammation and wellness,” he said.
He said people should trust the products in his shop because they test them. One of the concerns with CBD products is the lack of regulations.
“Not every brand out there is consistent every single time,” he said. “It’s amazing how you have to keep these brands honest.”
But Dr. James McDonald at the Rhode Island Health Department said that may soon change if recreational marijuana becomes legalized.
Governor Gina Raimondo proposed legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana in her latest budget proposal. McDonald said that will include CBD and will mean Rhode Island will have the strictest regulations in the nation.
“Government entities acting in the interest of the public can do the best we can to make sure whatever we have out there is controlled and as safe as possible,” he said.
Resnick believes more regulations can only help.
“We want testing,” he said. “We want regulation. We want to know what’s in the bottle every single time is consistent.”
