ABCs of CBD

When Rick Killingsworth’s relatives gathered in Chico for his 70th birthday in March, conversation naturally turned to family businesses. His daughter, Andi Martin, talked about the success she and her husband, Chris, have experienced in Phoenix with Hempful Farms, their medicinal supplement venture.

Hempful Farms manufactures and sells products containing cannabidiol (or CBD)—one of over 80 identified compounds, called cannabinoids, contained in cannabis plants. CBD comes directly from hemp—though also is present in marijuana—and is not psychoactive, as opposed to other cannabinoids like THC that come from marijuana.

The discussion piqued Killingsworth’s interest. He’d already used CBD oils, rubs and capsules for pain relief; he started looking into the substance further.

“The more you delve into this and really study this, it’s amazing what you can come up with,” he said. “There’s so much out there, you can spend a lifetime just researching.”

Chelsea Smith, Killingsworth’s niece, came to the same conclusion.

She also attended the birthday party, the first time in years she’d spoken with her cousin. Scientific research had consumed Smith’s life. Her work at UC Davis integrated the fields of anthropology, archeology, biochemistry, genetics and human biology. A year ago, “disheartened” by academia, she left her doctoral program; “it was in this time period when I was deciding what I wanted to do with my life,” she said, “[that] this sort of fell into my lap.”

Smith took a deep dive into the science of cannabinoids. One article, on CBD and neurology, resonated particularly because she has Tourette syndrome, a neurological disorder. Smith tried CBD and found relief for her tics.

Niece and uncle both felt Chico could benefit from a Hempful Farms sister store. They opened it June 1 on Cohasset Road near The Esplanade. They carry CBD products not just for humans, but a line for pets, too.

“I love research, I love studying, I love acquiring new knowledge,” Smith said, “but ultimately [university work] felt like it was in a vacuum; I was producing a lot of literature that wasn’t helping anybody. Working at Hempful, I’ve really found a lot of fulfillment, because we can help people.”

Smith, who also teaches yoga locally, spends much of her time explaining CBD forms and dosages to customers. Killingsworth—a former businessman and mayor of Prescott Valley, Ariz.—keeps an eye on the big picture of the operation, though he mans the counter as well. They’re helped by Mary Bankston, Killingsworth’s sister and Smith’s mom, who designed the shop’s interior with a day spa in mind.

“They drew me out of retirement,” Killingsworth said, “more because of the product [CBD]—I really like what it does and what it has to offer. Plus, being able to work with the family—even though she sends me to the corner once in a while,” he quipped, pointing to Smith.

Last Thursday night (Oct. 18), the co-owners welcomed newcomers for a CBD informational session conducted by Smith. She spent the better part of a half hour introducing cannabidiol—such as its pronunciation, can-ah-bih-DIAL—before taking questions from the 15 attendees.

CBD, she explained, cannot have psychoactive effects because its chemical structure does not interact with receptors in the brain that trigger those responses. Cannabinoids have a “lock and key” relationship with cells throughout the body; that is, cell receptors are sensitive to specific compounds only.

Within this network, called the endocannabinoid system (or ECS), “there isn’t a one size fits all,” Smith said. “Your ECS is as unique … and as individualistic as you are.”

Thus, how a cannabinoid works for one person—type, dose, frequency—likely won’t work exactly the same for another.

Smith told the CN&R afterward that she found the right balance for herself through trial and error. That mirrored her experience with doctors and treatments.

“Growing up with Tourette syndrome, it’s a really nebulous thing to have,” she said. “I went through so many different forms of medication that really what became apparent to my family was they were basically saying, ‘Try this [but] we really don’t understand how it’s going to work in your system.’… There just came a point where I felt really comfortable being able to assess whether a therapy form was going to be effective and if I was willing to try it, if I did the research.”

Smith explained in her talk, and elaborated afterward, that she’s not in a position to provide medical advice to clients. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates supplements; the agency prohibits manufacturers and retailers from diagnosing or prescribing.

So when people ask her if they can stop taking medicine after starting a CBD regimen—as happened Thursday evening—Smith has to limit her guidance.

“It’s a hard position to be in,” she said. “How much knowledge the doctor has on the ECS or cannabinoids, it’s extremely varied, so they’re [possibly] not going to be able to provide that person with information that’s credible or helpful.

“So, I’ll tell them what I’ve learned: People have tried it, a lot of people have found relief, but you need to approach it with caution. Talk to your doctor, talk about the symptoms that can occur if you cut your medication.”

Thursday’s event was the Chico store’s first. Videos are on Facebook and Instagram (see infobox). They have plans to hold more.

“We are always flabbergasted at the way that this just unfolded,” Smith said. “Both us us will be like, ‘Did you ever see this coming?’ No.”