The CBD Curators, Bringing Health Solutions to Their Local Community

By StoryStudio March 3, 2020 4:58 PM. View the full article here.

On March 1^st, at 180 Bedford Street, Stamford welcomed The CBD Curators. Cannabidiol, CBD, is a non-psychoactive chemical compound derived from the hemp plant. Unlike its close cousin, marijuana, which has approximately 20% THC, hemp only has .3% THC or less.  Hemp has over 100 different compounds known as cannabinoids of which CBD is the largest.  Legalized with the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, the market has seen a flurry of hemp products coming to market. 

Rob MacArthur, Co-founder, has been a chronic pain sufferer for thirty years, having had 3 lower back surgeries.  Since 2016, Rob has been reliant on opiates for his pain.  By 2018, his quality of life was at an all-time low, as his pain medication triggered many side effects, including depression.

In January 2019, MacArthur discovered CBD.  Within days, he experienced an improvement in his quality of life.  The pain relief from CBD reduced the need for opioids.  It also reduced withdrawal symptoms from the pain medication.  After a month his depression lifted.  Suddenly, he found he was sleeping better, felt less anxiety, and reached real pain relief for the first time in years.

Rob spent the prior 25 years in the investment industry providing propriety research to hedge funds.  He is obsessed with research and has an innate curiosity.  Thus, began his quest for the best products and at the best prices. There are now over 2,000 companies selling CBD products.  Rob spent an entire year sampling and researching dozens of companies and products, most simply didn’t work. 

The CBD Curators is the product of that research.  Chiseling down dozens of brands he tried to less than 20, the store carries only the best products MacArthur could find. 

Rob then sought out his mentor, Eric Meyer, and shared this life changing experience. Meyer, a native of New Canaan, is a serial entrepreneur who engaged in many start-up companies, always looking for the next opportunity.  Meyer has decades of experience starting companies, building infrastructure, and bringing together the best people he can find.  He immediately sensed Rob’s newfound passion for helping others.  “Rob is determined to constantly deliver a flow of new products.” The two began a serious review of the nascent CBD market. Many people reported similar experiences using CBD.  CBD is an alternative to many existing over the counter and prescription drugs. 

And The CBD Curators was born.  MacArthur and Meyer, started visiting hemp farms the same way a wine connoisseur would travel to distant vineyards, meeting the master craftsman of fine wine.  Except instead of grapes, they met hemp farmers, chemists, and the extractors of fine hemp products.  MacArthur considers himself like the purveyor of fine wines; instead, he is a purveyor fine CBD. The collection come from smaller farms that are also passionate about hemp wellness. 

Now, the two entrepreneurs want to share the CBD solutions with others.  MacArthur says, “If I can help just one person feel less chronic pain, one person experiences less depression, anxiety or insomnia, then I’ve had a good day.  I feel compelled to share what I have learned about CBD.” Lots of products just didn’t work because they didn’t have enough CBD or other cannabinoids to aid in the healing process.  In a few years, there will be a flurry of other products based on CBC, CBN, and CBG, other lesser known cannabinoids. 

Because CBD is so new, it became obvious that the industry lacked education. CBD is going to be game changer for the health and wellness industry, but consumers need help learning about how to find and use quality CBD.  “I’ve met a lot of people that tried CBD and didn’t get the results they wanted.  That’s why we wanted to start a retail store chain.  It’s too hard to buy products on the Internet.  For example, most people don’t realize that CBD is a little like alcohol.  The more you weigh, the more you need to take.”

Both have invested substantial personal assets into getting the chain off the ground.  Eric and Rob are bringing their decades of research experience to bear in an effort bring the best brands at the best prices.  “Consumers will find that our products are at a discount to our competitors, while the quality of our products is higher,” said Meyer.  The Store offers an incredible range and depth of products.

Hemp is now being researched as a potential treatment for, PTSD, depression, anxiety, insomnia, even acne and a variety of other conditions.  The United States is playing catch-up to the rest of the world in the area of CBD research.

“While the FDA has been under pressure from lawmakers to rule on whether CBD is a drug, a food, or a dietary supplement. The explosion of the industry indicates that consumers aren’t waiting for the FDA to rule,” MacArthur mused.  Even while CBD products are not yet approved by the FDA, hemp products, including those carried by The CBD Curators, go through substantial testing prior coming to the market.  It is industry standard to test for heavy metals, pesticides, microbes, as well as test for proper amounts of THC. 

On February 26, 2020 FDA Commissioner Hahn gave his first public speech…where he pointedly addressed the topic of hemp-derived CBD products and acknowledged their real value, market demand, and the need for swift regulatory clarity and standards. Commissioner Hahn was very specific in his comments, saying, “…People are using these products. We’re not going to be able to say you can’t use these products. Even if we did, it’s a fool’s game to even try to approach that.” This messaging from FDA leadership signifies a recognition of the value of hemp and its derivative products by federal legislators, an advancement from FDA’s previous position.

The Curator’s aim is to become Stamford/Fairfield County’s, trusted source for CBD information, knowledge, and product. Where Millennials, Baby Boomers, and everyone in between, can and will come to ask questions, get answers, and work with the Curators to create a crafted CBD solution best suited for their needs.

It’s not just about taking CBD, but also about taking the right amount that suits each individual consumer.  The store has a wide selection of gummies, tinctures, and salves.  They also have teas, chocolates, patches, and bath bombs that are also effective.  For women, they have quality brands of under eye creams, facials, and soaps.  For first responders that are tested for marijuana, there are isolate and broad-spectrum products.  Even .3% THC can cause someone to fail a drug test, so the Curators have a section just for them.

The CBD Curators will host its first grand opening party on Friday, March 20th. The festivities begin at 5pm. All are welcome!

You can reach the store at a 475-619-9474. Walk-ins or appointments are welcome. The store will be open from 10 am to 6 pm, 7-days a week. You can also find their products at www.thecbdcurators.comand on Instagram.