Cortland, N.Y. (NCC News) –With medical marijuana legalized just four years ago, farmers in Central New York are cashing in on another type of cannabis, one that doesn’t get you high. CBD, or cannabidiol, is the non-active ingredient in marijuana. It’s known for its relaxing and pain relief effects, but CBD doesn’t have the psychedelic effects of normal marijuana. It’s been utilized in holistic medicine for decades, but is now at the forefront of the movement towards organic, clean living.
While CBD isn’t approved by the FDA, one local farm can’t keep their products on the shelf. Karli Miller-Hornick, the manager of Main Street Farms’ cannabis department, says that CBD is a “viral product” that keeps growing.
“We can’t keep the stuff on our shelves and people show up to the farm daily” said Miller-Hornick.
CBD does more than just relieve pain however, said Miller-Hornick. Syracuse has recently been named to the list of the top ten poorest cities in America, according to data from the United States Census Bureau. Miller-Hornick says that CBD may play a part in fixing it. The industrial hemp can be grown year-round, letting farms retain their manual laborers.
“It (CBD) definitely has the potential to bring in a lot of jobs” said Miller-Hornick.
Usually, farmers lay off their employees after each growing and harvesting season, because there isn’t enough work to go around. However, workers can now become full-time CBD growers.
More than 75 new licenses were issued by the state government last year, and Miller-Hornick says there’s more opportunity to find work for the homeless and struggling in Central New York.
