Simply CBD brings the benefits of legal THC to Mid-City (sponsored) – Mid-City Messenger

Entering the Simply CBD: Cannabis Dispensary flagship store in Mid-City is like entering a fashionable boutique in New York or Paris. Tucked into a shopping area at the corner of North Carrollton Avenue and Bienville Street, this chic shop is decorated in shades of white, and all of the products are artfully displayed.

Well-informed employees guide customers through the intricacies of these products, some of which contain the cannabis-derived compounds cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

THC is the psychoactive compound that causes the intoxicating sensations of cannabis. “Many customers come into our shop looking for marijuana,” says general manager Collin Avrard. “Recreational marijuana is still illegal in Louisiana, so these customers used to leave disappointed. But now we can offer a potent, satisfying and totally legal alternative: THC derived from hemp rather than from marijuana.”

Simply CBD: Cannabis Dispensary employees are knowledgeable about CBD, THC, and other cannabinoid products.

Simply CBD’s first dispensary, one of the first retail businesses in New Orleans to offer CBD products, debuted at 4507 Magazine St., near Napoleon Avenue. As demand for CBD grew and Louisiana laws opened the door for new cannabinoids, two more locations were added. In addition to the Uptown store, there is now the flagship store in Mid-City and another Simply CBD at 2268 St. Claude Ave. in Faubourg Marigny.

Today, Simply CBD offers much more than simply CBD. The dispensary carries a wide range of popular cannabinoids, including Delta-8 THC and Delta-9 THC products that are federally legal as well as registered with the Louisiana Department of Health.

Molecularly, Delta-8 THC and Delta-9 THC are almost identical, and users of Delta-8 THC report similar effects to Delta-9 THC, including relaxation, mild euphoria and pain relief. But Delta-8 THC is considered less potent, with milder psychoactive effects.

New state laws

To align state laws with federal laws, in 2019 Louisiana passed House Bill 491, which legalized industrial hemp so long as the Delta-9 THC content does not exceed 0.3% by dry weight.

It also legalized derivatives, cannabinoids, extracts, isomers, acids, salts and other components of industrial hemp. In 2021, Louisiana passed House Bill 640, which improved upon the earlier law in part by enabling the sale of regulated THC products throughout the state.

HB 640 defines “consumable hemp” as “any product derived from industrial hemp that contains any cannabinoid, and is intended for consumption or topical use.”

The law prohibits selling products that can be smoked, and recreational marijuana remains illegal in Louisiana. So most THC products on the market are edibles and tinctures.

You can get a prescription for medical marijuana if you have certain qualifying medical conditions. But high cost and limited supply make this difficult. There are currently only nine licensed medical marijuana dispensaries in the entire state.

Even without access to recreational marijuana, though, as a resident of New Orleans you can still enjoy a genuine THC experience. In addition to changes in the law, advances in cannabis extraction have also helped make hemp-derived THC products available to all adults in the state.

Although HB 640 went into effect in August 2021, it has taken a while for the newly legal products to be registered and reach shelves. “People are just now hearing about this,” Avrard says. “You can tell how excited people are to learn about legal THC.”

The Louisiana difference

Many states responded to the Delta-8 THC phenomenon by banning the cannabinoid. But Louisiana instead established guidelines and safety standards for all cannabinoid products, including those containing THC. The state mandates full-panel testing, detailed product labeling and age restrictions, among other requirements.

State regulators and other followers of the industry expect this approach to increase safety and make clear which cannabinoid products can be legally sold in the state.

Avrard explains that because of the state law, “we don’t sell cannabis products for smoking, so gummies and other edible products have become insanely popular.”

“We carry THC gummies ranging from 5 milligrams to 25 milligrams of THC per gummy,” adds manager Jeffrey Wells. “We also offer products with different ratios of THC to CBD so that customers can find the right balance for achieving the effects they want.”

For example, Mixed Berry gummies from Cypress Hemp contain 5 milligrams of THC and 15 milligrams of CBD, a low-THC combination that produces a mild psychoactive effect with deep relaxation. Green Apple Canna Moons from New Orleans-based Crescent Canna contain 12 milligrams of THC and 5 milligrams of CBD, what Avrard calls “cruising altitude. It doesn’t make you sleepy.”

Crescent Canna has become a local favorite for its high-potency CBD products and legal THC edibles that are third-party lab-tested and registered with the Louisiana Department of Health.

In late 2021, Crescent Canna, along with Baton Rouge-based Cypress Hemp, became the first companies to officially register THC products with the state.

New THC products

Now Simply CBD has joined their ranks with its own signature brand of hemp-derived THC products. In fact, the strongest and most cost-effective THC products available at Simply CBD shops are its own house brand of gummies. Its pink lemonade and strawberry flavors contain 25 milligrams of Delta-9 THC per gummy.

“These gummies are quite strong and produce a relaxing euphoria,” Avrard says. “If you’re new to edibles, we recommend starting with half a gummy.”

Simply CBD is dedicated to supporting the local community and helping New Orleanians learn more about legal THC, CBD, and other cannabis products. The upshot, for Avrard: “At Simply CBD, we believe in the wellness power of cannabis, and we hear amazing stories from our customers every day.”

Simply CBD – Mid-City

231 N. Carrollton Ave., Suite A2
504-930-0653
Open daily, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Simply CBD – Uptown

4507 Magazine St., Suite A
504-814-3175
Open daily, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Simply CBD – Marigny

2268 St. Claude Ave., Suite B
504-656-6361
Open daily, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.