Across the Metro multiple dispensaries have opened to the public. This is surprising when you realize that, in Nebraska, it is still a felony to sell marijuana. These dispensaries are, in fact, selling hemp products, as a result of the 2018 Farm Bill and the Nebraska Hemp Farming Act.

Delta-8-tetrahydricannabinol (Delta-8) is a compound found in hemp. Unlike its cousin, Delta-9, it is harder to extract, less potent, and slowly eases people into a calming state. It is also non-psychoactive. These factors have led to Delta-8 being federally legalized for sale, as long as the products being sold contain less than 0.3% of Delta-9, as defined by the Farm Bill. This has led many dispensaries across town to selling Delta-8, CBD, and Kratom, a plant found in Southeast Asia that has similar characteristics to marijuana.

Some of them you might be familiar with: 50 Shades of Green, a Nebraska-based chain, has opened twelve different locations across Omaha; then there is 42°, which has been in the area for ten years, originally under the name Millard E-Cig and Vape, and has seven different locations; there is also the newly opened Kine Budz, which has been open for five weeks on Millard Ave next to the Hobby Lobby.

James Stephens, a co-owner of Kine Budz, spoke about their store and location. He said that many of their customers are older folks that are looking for pain relief and sleep aids, a fact that Tasha Knowles, the manager of the Millard location of 42°, readily agreed to when talking about her business. Older folks tend to steer away from psychotropic products in search of those that can help with pain and inflammation. Stephens commented that, as our brains have canniboid receptors, he felt that humans were “set up to use these products”.

With THC and CBD able to be added into all kinds of products, from gummies to sodas and seltzers, it is an often sought product for those who are trying to find relief from outside of over-the-counter products. One person interviewed for this article, who asked not to be named, stated that she often used edibles for her debilitating arthritis, and found that it not only dealt with her pain but allowed her the energy to be productive.

It has been proposed that medical marijuana may be put on the ballot, which would allow those with a prescription card from their doctor to purchase it and possess it without fear of police action. Both Stephens and Knowles were optimistic on its chances of getting passed, as Colorado posted $2.22 Billion in revenue last year from its marijuana sales and many states have whispered about getting in on the action.

Knowles stated that either their store or a sister store would sell it if it was legalized. Stephens, meanwhile, said that he felt people could see the benefit to medical marijuana, as he had met many who felt that it would help young people with diseases that cause pain and nausea that pharmaceuticals can’t ease. Stephens said he felt that THC, CBD, and Kratom are “made for humans”.

These stores both sell flower, the unprocessed leaf; pre-rolls; cartridges for vaping; disposables; and edibles. 42° also sells lotions and rubs as well as pet CBD.

For more information, you can check out the websites for these stores: Kinebudz.net; 42degrees.com; and 50shadesofgreendispensary.com. For more on the campaign for Nebraska legalizing medical marijuana, go to Nebraskamarijuana.org.