General CBD Archives - Sunrise CBD

Making the World a Better Place a Drop at a Time

Posted on March 26, 2020 by Sunrise CBD

Can companies help make the world a better place? Can businesses truly do well and do good at the same time? We think the answer is yes and we’re lucky enough to be able to do just that.

Today, sustainability efforts and corporate responsibility are becoming the norm. In fact, more and more companies are trying to give back because studies show that consumers want that. But for companies like ours, it’s more than just a PR ploy. It’s a belief deeply embedded in our company’s DNA that we all have a responsibility to make the world a better place.

Founder Jim Hefner started our company because he and others in his circle experienced firsthand what cannabidiol (CBD) can do to improve people’s lives. He wanted to share that knowledge and help others in the process. While those of us at Sunrise CBD are all from different walks of life, we are united by that belief – that we can promote the power of healthy living and the healing potential of nature and our own bodies.

Jim recognized what CBD could do for people beset with the aging issues and/or suffering from chronic pain. He believed CBD could do what many other western medicines and big pharma couldn’t: ease many common health issues without being addictive, ineffective or downright harmful.

Jim also realized that many CBD products were out of reach for some people because of the high price. He reasoned that by lowering the price many more people would be able to afford CBD. They’d be able to afford to get enough of it to truly reap the benefits from this miraculous compound. And for those with chronic pain, the savings could be substantial.

Making the World a Better Place

As it turned out, businesses CAN do good and do well at the same time. Sunrise CBD is helping to make the world a better place, one drop at a time. The more bottles sold, the more good we are doing!

Once Sunrise CBD started taking off, Jim decided the company could do even more. So, he started “Project Sunrise” a give-back initiative for 2020. Each month this year, we have partnered with a different non-profit or coalition that empowers through education, advocacy and charity. We share a portion of sales each month and help these organizations raise awareness for local and national issues.

The recipient of the first donation, in January, was You Matter-Not Alone (YMNA), a suicide prevention and awareness non-profit based in California. YMNA’s mission is “to keep children and the community safe, understand mental health and why individuals commit suicide in our society, address various types of bullying and provide interventions to students on how to end behavior, and report it immediately.”

“Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death across America, as young as 10 years old, and the rate continues to be rising” said Donna Quach, founder of YMNA.

The organization’s staff and volunteers travel to schools, churches and military installations. There they educate students, teachers, parents and the community on suicide awareness, bullying prevention and sexual trauma counseling. And they do it all for free.

“We decided to start with YMNA because they are of great service to the community, especially those at the greatest risk of suicide, veterans, teens and the elderly” Jim explained.

For February, Sunrise CBD has teamed up with the American Cancer Society, whose mission is to free the world from cancer. A portion of every order in February went to the organization, which focuses on preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy, and service.

This month we’re helping a friend who is running the L.A. Marathon and raising money for World Vision. World Vision is an organization that works around the world to help raise people out of poverty. The group has also provided access to clean water for 3.3 million people! We believe all people should have access to clean water, and we’re proud to support this worthy cause.

At Sunrise CBD we’re proud of what we do and are gratified that we can help others. We know that not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to do that, so, thanks to our customers for helping us do what we can to make the world a better place one drop of CBD oil at a time.

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Sunrise CBD products are made from 100% pure CBD from organic hemp grown legally in Colorado. We offer our product at 50%-80% less than our competitors because we ship directly to your home. Learn more at sunrisecbd.com.

What’s the big deal about third-party testing of CBD?

Posted on August 26, 2019 by Sunrise CBD

You may have seen some CBD products that show on the label that they have been tested by an “independent, third-party lab.” Did you wonder “What’s the big deal about third-party testing of CBD? Aren’t all CBD products tested for quality?”

The short answer is no. The longer answer is that as CBD sales boom and as many people discover the benefits of this natural plant extract, more people want to cash in. But CBD is not yet regulated by the FDA, and unscrupulous merchants sell inferior products simply because they can. They can put a pretty label on their products and make any claims they want because there’s no professional, legal or regulatory oversight. So, several things can happen:

The hemp plants might be grown in a place where the ground contains heavy metals and foreign substances.
There may be less or more CBD than listed on the label. That means you may not get the results you’re looking for because you’re not getting the amount of CBD you think you are.
There may be more than the allowable amount of THC than indicated on the label. That will affect the way you feel and may cause you to fail a drug test.
Finally, there may be harmful chemicals or contaminants present in the product.

The FDA Doesn’t Regulate CBD

The FDA has taken some steps to prevent companies from producing and selling low-quality or deceptive products and making false claims. However, so far, there’s no nationwide FDA standards for CBD, so it’s up to the industry to regulate itself. Unfortunately, not everyone will do that. In fact, one study found that of 84 products from 31 companies tested, only about 31% of tested products contained the amount of CBD shown on the label. Almost 43 percent had more CBD than stated and 26 percent had less. That means some 70% of products do not contain the strength of CBD shown on the label.

In another case, an NBC affiliate in Miami bought 35 CBD products from seven different companies and had them tested. The results? Twenty of the samples had less than half of the amount of CBD advertised on the label. Some samples had no CBD at all.

And Fox LA teamed up with Doctor Oz to test more than a dozen CBD products purchased locally. They found one product was contaminated with a deadly strain of E. Coli bacteria. In addition, two samples contained potentially dangerous levels of ethanol and five samples had no detectable traces of CBD. Only one of the products actually contained what was claimed in its label. Some gel capsules had almost 3 milligrams of THC per capsule – enough to get an adult high.

Third-Party Testing of CBD is Important

So, what’s a consumer to do? Buy only products tested by an independent, third-party lab; it’s the only way to really know what’s you’re getting in that bottle of CBD oil or those CBD capsules. An independent, third-party lab is used so that the product can be tested and certified by a neutral, unbiased source. The labs can test cannabinoid levels (CBD and THC), and look for traces of heavy metals, pesticides, and solvents that could be dangerous to your health.

A Lab test for Sunrise CBD — *Example of a lab test report for Sunrise CBD.*

Trustworthy, quality CBD manufacturers want you to know what you’re buying, and they’ll not only have their products tested by a third party, which adds to their costs, they’ll also provide the lab results on their website where they can be easily seen.

So, To sum it all up, here’s what you should look for when you buy CBD products:

Tested

Look for the results from an independent, third-party lab.

Organically grown

Look for a product that contains organically grown hemp, when buying CBD. It should come from the United States, especially Colorado, which is where many believe the best hemp is produced. When you buy in the US, you know you are buying a product that’s been manufactured using good manufacturing practices.

No THC

The industry and legal standard for CBD products labeled “THC-free” is that the product contains less than 0.3% THC by weight, or up to 3 parts of THC for every thousand parts of oil by weight. Make sure the product you buy is less that 0.3% THC by weight.

The amount of CBD

Consider the concentration of CBD in the bottle. If you get a 300mg bottle of CBD oil that holds 4 oz., you’re getting about 75mg per ounce, which is less than the amount you need to realize any benefits. Or, look at the servings. A 300mg, 1 oz., bottle, with 60 servings has only about 5mg of CBD. We recommend a minimum of 25mg per day to start, so you can see 5mg isn’t enough to get the most benefit from the product. A higher concentration may cost more, but you’ll be using less.

Sunrise CBD uses hemp organically grown in Colorado and is lab-tested by an outside third-party that verifies the content of each batch, so we can guarantee the products you receive are free of contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, and bacteria, and contain no THC. Test results can be found under our main menu, as well as on every product page. You can shop for our products at sunrisecbd.com/shop.

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Can I Carry CBD On a Plane?

Posted on May 30, 2019 by Sunrise CBD

Until Memorial Day Weekend, the legality of carrying CBD on a flight was a gray area. When the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (The Farm Bill) was passed, it took hemp-derived CBD products off the Schedule 1 Controlled Substances list. But the Transportation Security Administration continued to follow its own rules – as people found out when they tried to take what they thought was a legal substance on a flight.

According to one report, confiscation of the oil by TSA agent “skyrocketed” this year at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. There, among other cases, a 71-year-old woman was jailed for possession CBD oil she said she used for pain.

Attorney Jonathan Miller said the federal farm bill signed into law last year makes it legal for people to transport CBD products made from hemp.

“Federal law is very clear. And when a Customs official pulls someone over for this, he or she is acting in the wrong,” Miller said.

New TSA Language about CBD

But then, quietly, over Memorial Day Weekend, the wording regarding CBD on the TSA website (TSA.gov) changed.

So, is it legal to carry hemp-derived CBD on a plane? Technically yes. Will you be able to? Maybe, maybe not.

Here’s the thing: Many people don’t understand the difference between hemp-derived CBD other CBD products. Hemp-based CBD has no THC, the psychoactive substance that gets user high. Non-hemp-derived CBD can contain THC. Hemp-derived CBD is legal at the federal level; CBD with THC isn’t. In fact, some of the field tests used to detect drugs can’t even tell the difference between weed and CBD. And if the tests can’t, how can your friendly TSA officer? The final decision, as the new wording says, “rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint.” Face it: When in doubt, sometimes it’s easier on the part of TSA agent to just say “no” and worry about the rest later.

To be safe, it might be a good idea to call the airport before you go and ask about their CBD policies. And make sure your CBD is clearly labeled that it’s made from hemp with no THC to prevent any issues with the authorities. The bottom line is until everyone’s on the same page on the subject, there are no guarantees your CBD will make it on the plane with you.

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Sunrise CBD is conscious CBD crafted for wellness. We ship direct to your home, so we cut out the middleman and can offer our products at up to 80% off other brands’ prices. Check out our shop and see for yourself!

Hemp’s not just great for CBD, it’s great for the planet.

Posted on May 24, 2019 by Sunrise CBD

When the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (AKA “The Farm Bill”) was passed last December, hemp was removed from the Controlled Substances Act. While the 2014 Farm Bill allowed industrial farmers to start growing hemp if made legal at the state level, the 2018 Farm Bill meant it was no longer an illegal substance at the federal level. This paved the way for CBD products and the hoopla surrounding that kept hemp itself somewhere in the shadows. Sure, this versatile plant is important in CBD production, but it’s so much more. And it’s great for the planet!

Hemp: Something Old is New Again

Hemp is nothing new. Evidence of hemp rope was found via an imprint in broken Chinese pottery from about 10,000 B.C. A remnant of hemp cloth dating back to 8,000 B.C. was found by archaeologists in ancient Mesopotamia (now Iran and Iraq). Up until the cotton gin was invented, hemp was the most popular fiber for textiles. In fact, the first American Flag, sewn by Betsy Ross, was made of hemp, as were the covers of the Conestoga wagons that brought American West.

Hemp had many other uses as well. The Chinese used hemp to make durable bow strings and paper. In the Middle Ages, hemp was used to make sails for ships. In fact, the word “canvas” comes from “cannabis” and means “made from hemp.”

So hemp has a strong place in history, but the modern era stigmatized hemp because of its relation to marijuana (hemp and marijuana are both members of the cannabis family), ignoring its historical uses and its promise as a sustainable crop that can be made into fiber, building materials, plastic, rope, paper, jewelry and biofuels – there are some 25,000 products made with hemp. And in addition, hemp aids in water and soil purification.

The Sustainability of Hemp

Hemp shows great promise for a sustainable crop, a crop that is grown in an ecologically mindful way, with a focus on soil health and biodiversity rather than using chemicals.

According to Sana Packaging, which produces hemp-based plastic packaging for the cannabis industry, hemp has great promise. On the company’s website it says, “The domestic hemp industry is growing over 30% per year and has the potential to reinvigorate economically stifled agricultural communities all across the United States. With its rapid growth cycle, hardiness, and versatility, hemp provides maximum benefit with minimal impact on the environment.”

Hemp is also a great crop for producing durable textiles. When compared with cotton, for instance, hemp is a far more sustainable crop:

(Click infographic to enlarge)

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Hemp can also be used to make paper. One acre of hemp can produce 4 times more paper than one acre of trees, and hemp is ready for harvest after just four months, vs. 20-50 years for trees. Hemp breathes in 4x the carbon dioxide (CO2) of trees during its growing cycle, requires no chlorine bleach and hemp paper can be recycled up to 7 to 8 times, compared with 3 times for wood pulp paper.

(Click infographic to enlarge)

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Hemp’s Great for the Planet

Hemp aids in water and soil purification. It was used in Chernobyl in the 1990s because of its ability to extract heavy metals from contaminated land. In Italy, farmers planted industrial hemp to leach heavy metals from the soil contaminated by a nearby steel plant.

The process is known as phytoremediation. In phytoremediation contaminants are absorbed by living plants, in this case hemp, which removes heavy metals, particularly copper, cadmium and nickel from contaminated soils.

Some other ways hemps is great for the planet:

Hemp grown for production of biomass fuels can provide all of our gas, oil and coal energy needs and end dependency on fossil fuels.
Fiberboards made from a hemp-based composite are stronger yet lighter than those made from wood, and because homes built with hemp products have better thermal insulation, less fuel will is needed for heating.
Plastics can be made that are almost as strong as fiberglass.
Hemp grown in rotation with other crops (such as grain) reduces weed and insect pressure on those other crops.
Hemp products can be recycled, reused and are 100% biodegradable.

Health benefits of Hemp

Of course, hemp isn’t just great for the planet: It has health benefits, too. Another product that comes from hemp is hemp seeds. Hemp seeds are considered a superfood because they are rich in protein, fiber, and healthful fatty acids. More than 25% of their total calories are from high-quality protein, so hemp seeds are a great protein source. They contain vitamin E, magnesium, phosphorous, and potassium, as well as iron, zinc and B vitamins.

Hemp oil is a seed oil that contains no CBD, which is also derived from the hemp plant.

CBD oil on the other hand, is also derived from the hemp plant. It is extracted from the entire hemp plant for a compound that is 99+% pure CBD. While derived from a plant from the same family as marijuana, CBD has zero THC, so it doesn’t have the psychoactive properties of pot.

What is does have is the cannabinoid that assist in providing relief for a number of ailments from acne to rheumatoid arthritis. It has been approved as a treatment for a rare type of epilepsy, but otherwise is not regulated by the FDA. However, CBD is safe, effective and non-habit forming, so it’s an excellent alternative to prescription medication. Check out “CBD 101” for everything you need to know about CBD.

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What is CBD?

Posted on September 7, 2019 by Sunrise CBD

CBD has been a hot topic lately because so many people have reported the compound provides therapeutic relief from everything from chronic pain to acne. There have been dozens of news articles and television segments. By now, almost everyone has heard of it: But just what is CBD?

Most CBD (cannabidiol) comes from the agricultural hemp plant, a fast-growing member of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. Marijuana belongs to the same family of plants. While marijuana and hemp are similar in many ways, they differ in their phytochemical composition. Hemp has lower concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which is the psychoactive compound in marijuana that gets you “high.” It has higher concentrations of CBD, which doesn’t produce the “high” of marijuana. CBD was first discovered in 1940, and is the second-most prevalent of about 113 identified cannabinoids in cannabis plants.

It’s important to note that CBD is NOT the same as marijuana and CBD from hemp is legal in all 50 states, while CBD from marijuana is not.

Hemp Oil v. CBD Oil

You may see hemp oil sold online and in stores, but hemp oil and CBD oil are not the same. While hemp oil is high in omegas, vitamins, and other nutrients, hemp oil is usually pressed from hemp seeds and contains no CBD. Our CBD is extracted from the entire hemp plant. We eventually end up with a compound that is 99+% pure CBD.

Because CBD is not yet regulated by the FDA, be sure to buy your CBD products from a reputable seller. Unscrupulous merchants will market CBD products with far less CBD (and sometimes more than .03% THC) than listed on the label. If the products aren’t tested in a lab there can be harmful chemicals and/or contaminants present. Sunrise CBD products are 100% pure and third-party lab tested so you can be sure there are no pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, and bacteria present, and the product is always THC-free.