Redefining cannabis culture in Burke

Shaun Simons, owner of Morganton Hemp, is taking the hemp industry in Morganton to the next level. Hemp, a plant classified under the botanical class of cannabis, officially became legal in North Carolina for cultivation in 2017. In 2022, the General Assembly permanently declassified hemp as a controlled substance.

As customers come in and out of Morganton Hemp, the sense of community is hard not to notice. The staff can be heard giving product recommendations to newcomers and regulars, whether they want something for enjoyment or to reduce symptoms of an ailment.

Morganton Hemp was birthed six years ago when Simons decided to break away from a franchise of CBD stores to begin an independent hemp store. Morganton Hemp has 36 strands of hemp flower. A flower, also known as “bud,” is a flowering plant with dried leaves, similar to a “nugget” of marijuana. 

“The federal definition of the difference between hemp and marijuana, is that they consider anything above 0.3% Delta 9 THC as marijuana and anything below that, they’ll consider to be a hemp product,” Simons said. “The THC that comes from that, as long as it’s derived from hemp, in edibles or other products, we can still have up to 0.3% by dry rate volume potency.”

According to Simons, other shops in the area lean more toward prepackaged goods, while Morganton Hemp provides an open display, “deli-style” approach with flower strands in jars, allowing customers to touch, smell, and judge the products for themselves. Selections of flower range from standard to premium quality strands of hemp. 

In addition to flower, Morganton Hemp carries THC drinks, edibles, bath bombs, vape pens, tinctures, topical pain relievers, and CBD products for pets.

Although hemp and marijuana are of the same species, the difference between the two plants lies in the cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content. 

According to WebMD, CBD is a chemical found in cannabis and hemp plants that does not cause a high and has been used to treat various health conditions. THC is the chemical found in the cannabis plant that gives the users psychoactive effects, also known as the feeling of being “high.” 

According to Business Insider, THC activates neurons in the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thinking, coordination, and time perception. 

Hemp contains 0.3% THC content, which is not enough to provide the psychoactive effect of feeling high. 

Marijuana has a higher percentage of THC content and is not federally legal in all states. Currently, marijuana is legal for recreational use in 24 states, while 17 states have legalized marijuana solely for medical purposes. North Carolina has not approved either use.

Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) is a cannabinoid found in a raw cannabis plant. When THCA is heated, it converts to Delta 9 THC. This process, called decarboxylation, occurs when hemp or flower is heated via smoking, cooking, or vaping. Decarboxylation activates Delta 9 THC’s psychoactive effects. 

While some customers enjoy the psychoactive experience, according to Medical News Today, many people use cannabis and cannabis products as a treatment for chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, and mental health conditions.

“I’m still shocked at how many people come in regularly strictly for some type of medicinal health alternative — whether they’re having trouble with sleep, arthritis, pain management, or trying to build appetite as opposed to just coming in trying to find something to get a buzz from … and we’ve got plenty of that too,” Simons laughs. 

According to Medical News Today, cannabis has been scientifically proven to:

• relieve chronic pain
• reduce nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy
• reduce muscle spasms
• improve sleep
• relieve depression
• relieve post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms
• reduce seizures

In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a medication containing CBD to treat two forms of epilepsy. A 2017 review by Science Direct, suggests that using cannabis may help people with alcohol or opioid dependencies treat their addictions.

According to customers, Morganton Hemp provides a safe space, free of shame for people to come and enjoy the product. The company offers customer loyalty programs, discounts, promotions, and rewards.

For your health and relaxation needs, visit Morganton Hemp.