In 2018, the US’ Agriculture Improvement Act, also known as the 2018 Farm Bill, federally legalized the production and sale of hemp, and it also removed hemp-derived cannabinoids from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s controlled substances list. This opened a whole new market for hemp nationwide, and businesses are now moving to capitalize on it.
While both hemp and marijuana come from the same plant, Cannabis sativa, hemp is legally defined as a variety of cannabis that contains 0.3% or less Delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on a dry weight basis. Delta 9 THC is the active component responsible for the psychoactive ‘high’ associated with marijuana use. While marijuana, which can contain upwards of 25% Delta 9 THC, remains illegal at the federal level, hemp can now be produced legally (under certain regulations). The 2018 Farm Bill also ensures that state governments cannot prohibit the interstate transport of hemp, creating a space for nationwide e-commerce retail of hemp and hemp-related products.
Seeing this huge opportunity, entrepreneur Gary Hall founded the Wildflower Hemp Company in 2018, soon after hemp’s legalization, to grow, process, and sell quality organic hemp products to customers across the US. Initially offering just hemp flowers, Wildflower soon expanded into THCa and CBD concentrate products, and it also carries various hemp-related edibles and accessories.
Before establishing Wildflower, Hall has been supplying medical cannabis since 1998. From his experience in the medical marijuana space, Hall developed a passion for producing the highest-quality organic cannabis products. With medical cannabis being used by people with cancer and other debilitating conditions, Hall believes it is extremely important to ensure all-natural purity to avoid adding any toxins that could worsen the patient’s condition. He is bringing that same philosophy to recreational hemp use.
According to Hall, Wildflower’s exceptional hemp products allow customers to experience the pure essence of nature. The company is dedicated to cultivating the finest quality hemp using the time-tested method of growing in living soil, resulting in a truly unmatched flavor. It also takes great care in the growing process and harvesting the flower at the right time, ensuring that its Delta 9 THC content does not exceed the federal limit of 0.3%. Each carefully cultivated plant undergoes a one-month curing period before processing, guaranteeing the perfect moisture ratio of water to the flower, resulting in a smooth and enjoyable burn with every gram.
Hall says that in Wildflower’s organic growing method, instead of feeding the plants with artificial fertilizers, it feeds the soil with beneficial microbes, and the soil, in turn, feeds the plants. This results in higher overall plant health and eliminates the need for pesticides that can contaminate the substances being smoked or ingested by customers. Furthermore, organically grown cannabis plants have a higher terpene content, which is a primary component of the essential oils that give hemp its characteristic taste and aroma.
Wildflower also prioritizes sustainable and eco-friendly practices, ensuring that its products have minimal impact on the environment.
“I consider myself a cannabis nerd, and I can’t produce something I don’t believe in,” Hall says. “My more than 20 years in the cannabis business have taught me that organically grown products always come out better. Organic hemp smells and tastes better, and those are the two most important things for me and everyone else.”
Written in partnership with Tom White.
