Under the 2018 Farm Bill, the production of hemp was authorized in the U.S., and hemp and hemp seeds were removed from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s schedule of Controlled Substances. This means that hemp and hemp-derived products like cannabidiol (CBD) are legal in all 50 states. CBD has been growing in popularity for its use for anxiety, pain, inflammation, stress, sleep and countless other concerns. This natural product can provide much-needed relief.

Often confused with cannabis, hemp is a different variety of the same plant. Hemp was bred to contain only trace amounts of THC—the substance which causes a high. In fact, those who grow hemp must take care to ensure the levels of THC in their plants remain below 0.3 percent.

Dr. Kristine DeMarco, a Doctor of Chiropractic, is one such hemp farmer. She has been practicing holistic medicine for over 21 years at Black Rock Holistic Health Center, currently located in Bridgeport. There, she integrates chiropractic, acupuncture, nutrition, physical therapy and more to help patients achieve better health. Now, she’s added her own home-grown CBD to her wellness toolkit. “I have a lot of patients who have pain, and I want to get them out of pain,” she says. “I’ve used many different modalities... I used CBD myself and noticed I had less pain and inflammation. It was like a perfect fit.”

Research is ongoing, but CBD has been able to help people with varied types of chronic pain and inflammation—present in many health conditions. According to an article from Harvard Health Publishing, “A study from the European Journal of Pain showed, using an animal model, CBD applied on the skin could help lower pain and inflammation due to arthritis.”

When contemplating the integration of CBD products into her life and her patients’ lives, DeMarco was struck with the realization that she could make a difference in the industry. “I was buying CBD and it wasn’t great quality or great tasting. It was expensive. I thought, ‘I could grow my own.’ I just wanted to produce the best product possible,” she explains.

From that can-do attitude was born Black Rock Holistic CBD, which is organic, pure and locally hand-grown by the doctor herself from quality hemp seeds. DeMarco’s family farm in Washington County, New York was the perfect place to put that plan into action. After applying for a license to grow hemp, DeMarco set to work preparing a one-acre portion of land on the farm that has been in her family for over 100 years.

She acquired high-quality, organic hemp seeds from Oregon CBD (OregonCBDSeeds.com), a federally-legal cannabis research and development company which focuses on the creation of their award-winning, non-GMO, organic hemp seeds. The two popular strains that DeMarco chose to plant are the Lifter, an energizing pick-me-up, and Suver Haze, a relaxing strain great for anxiety, sleep, inflammation and pain.

The process was a true labor of love. Prior to planting, DeMarco had the soil tested, adding manure for better nitrogen levels and creating optimal growing conditions for the seeds. She began the seeds in trays, then transplanted them into the ground when they were strong enough. Each weekend, DeMarco made the several-hour drive to the farm to check on the seedlings, till the soil, weed and take care of anything else the precious plants needed. Several times during the week, she had a workman check in to water the plants. Other than that, DeMarco was the “lead investigator” of this hemp operation.

DeMarco regularly sampled the plants to check that THC levels remained less than 0.3 percent. “In November, I harvested, cut and hung the plants for four to six weeks,” she explains. “Then I manually took all the hemp off the stick, which produced the biomass for the company that does all the chemical extraction.”

After her first season of growth in 2020, DeMarco achieved almost perfect results. The hemp plants yielded an incredibly high percentage of CBD—only 5 percent away from perfect for the plant. Her products currently available for purchase are the 1,200mg CBD oil, as well as organic CBD buds of either Lifter or Suver Haze, good for use in a tea or smoked. Bulk sales are available to retailers and wholesalers.

Black Rock Holistic CBD products include a certificate of analysis and toxic screen, which verify the make-up of the product and are performed by an independent testing company. DeMarco is currently working on the creation of a topical CBD salve, which will be for sale, in addition to being used as a therapeutic tool in her office to treat pain in joints and muscles.

One of her clients, who has much experience with CBD, compliments DeMarco on the excellent taste and great effect of her product. “Many of my patients comment about the comfort they have in knowing where the hemp is from and how it was grown,” she says.

Black Rock Holistic CBD products are available for purchase online, by phone or in person at Black Rock Holistic Health Center. DeMarco is currently accepting new patients as well, and accepts many major insurance plans.

DeMarco is looking forward to the hemp season of 2021, which will begin in April. 

For more information and to purchase products online, visit BlackRockHolisticCBD.com. Connect with Dr. DeMarco at 203-333-6544 or Facebook.com/Dr.KristineDeMarco. Black Rock Holistic Health Center is located at 4 Calderwood Ct, in Bridgeport. See community resource guide listing, page 29.

Black Rock Holistic Health CBD - 4 Calderwood Ct, Bridgeport, CT

Black Rock Holistic Health Center has the most feminized Organic CBD Oregon Seed products on the market. We offer CBD oil, as well as CBD Buds. Organically Grown in Washington County, NY.... Read More » 

Michelle Bense is a freelance editor and writer for Natural Awakenings magazines. Connect at [email protected].