Charlotte’s first CBD dispensary and “bud bar” is now open on Central Avenue

Longtime friends and owners Mike Sims, Dan Hentschke and Lindsay Adams are extremely passionate about educating Charlotte on the benefits of the potent (and totally legal) plant extract.

Sims says their goal is to create a space where a grandmother and her grandson would both feel comfortable shopping for CBD products.

Cannabidiol, more commonly known as CBD, is an extract from the cannabis plant that’s popping up in everything from cookies to cocktails lately.

Unlike its cousin THC, CBD is non-psychoactive and legal in all 50 states, which means it won’t get you high.

But it may still make you feel good.

CBD is celebrated for its medicinal properties and used in treatment for a range of conditions from epilepsy to anxiety and depression. Sims even credits it for making him a better father, saying CBD makes him more patient and manages pain so he can play with his kids.

At Charlotte CBD, you’ll find CBD available in a number of forms, including sublingual oils, edibles, vapors and even dog treats.

Products are priced anywhere from $5 to $420 and the team is adamant that there is something for everyone at any price point.

All Charlotte CBD products are third-party tested and they keep a monster binder full of all the certificates of analysis in the back. This isn’t mandatory but the CBD industry is still a wild frontier so they pay for the testing to ensure quality and safety of all products sold in the dispensary. They also sell online.

I left with a Rocky Mountain High hemp drink, CBD honey and Kingdom Harvest sublingual CBD oil.

Yep, you can smoke it too.

Charlotte CBD has a “bud bar” where you’ll be able to buy loose hemp flower (that they can roll right there at the counter for you) along with CBD coffee and tea.

Yes, the hemp flower looks exactly like weed and the only way to tell the difference between the two is to test it. That’s why they’ll send you home with paperwork on your products in the event police question you on your questionable possession.

Opening a CBD dispensary in Charlotte is no small task.

Although it’s completely legal, Sims said they had trouble securing a bank, credit card processor and space all due to concerns about the “nature of their business.”

They’re currently processing payments with Square but Sims says even that won’t last and they’ll have to find another solution. But he, Hentschke and Adams won’t relent.

In addition to the brick and mortar storefront and their existing e-commerce business, the team is committed to educating the public about CBD and eliminating the stigma surrounding the product.

Charlotte CBD is located at 2419 Central Avenue. Store hours are Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. You must be 18+ to enter.