Industrialized Hemp Legalization Helps Oklahoma CBD Manufacturers

Lawmakers legalized industrial hemp in Oklahoma this week, paving the way for a new crop for farmers.

One Oklahoma CBD manufacturer said the plant will revolutionize the state economy.

Can-Tek Labs in Oklahoma City has been refining CBD products since it was legalized in 2016, but now they'll finally be able to sell a fully Oklahoma-based product.

“We produce everything from ingestible sublinguals to topical products and even products for your pet here,” said Can-Tek Labs CEO Ryan Early. 

Early stocks about 70 percent of the state's CBD shops, which are multiplying exponentially this year.

He's been importing his hemp from Colorado, using university researchers to ensure it's 100 percent THC-free. That piece of the puzzle will soon be coming home.

“We're currently outlining the framework to be able to integrate Oklahoma grown hemp into some of the country's largest manufacturers,” Early said. 

He said farmers are already lining up to convert their crops and with 25,000 documented uses for the plant, the prospects are appealing.

Oklahoma's pilot program does require university oversight of the plants, but Early's retailers said that's a good thing.

Cann-Help Wellness owner Travis Evans said he sees customers come in from unaffiliated shops, complaining about failed drug tests and even trips to the ER.

“There's people out there that are doing these things in their garages and their back rooms. There's just no controls in that,” Evans said. 

Early is already expanding his facility in preparation for what's to come, and believes hemp will be one of the solutions to Oklahoma's economic problems.

“Oklahoma produced more hemp per acre in 1942 to help win the war than any other state in America, and I believe this won't be any different. I think Oklahoma will be at the forefront of this revolution,” Early said. 

Early hopes to see Oklahoma farmers planting hemp seeds by the end of the year.