By Nicole Collins, Co-Editor/Writer
Cottonmouth Smoke brings a little more variety to the business landscape in downtown Woodruff.
The tobacco shop, which opened in June, offers a range of products including kratom, CBD, glass, vape and more.
“We love the location and saw Woodruff as perfect location for us to build relationships in the area,” said Jon Randall Lofgren, one of the owners.
Lofgren and two of his friends choose Woodruff as the location of their first business. As for knowing how Woodruff would be a good fit for a tobacco shop, Lofgren said it was “research and our gut feeling, if you will, pushed us in this direction.”
He adds, “[The products we carry] have been in demand for decades and are increasingly in the public eye. I think people are seeing the benefits of the products and are eager to try them for themselves.”
High demand products indeed. The Global CBD Hemp Oil Market is expected to grow from $187.7 million in 2019 to $2,385.67 million by 2027, according to a study from Fior Markets released in February 2020.
CBD stands for cannabidiol and it is derived from the hemp plants, which is a cousin to the marijuana plant. Harvard Health reports that while more research is needed on the safety and benefits of CBD, it may help manage anxiety, insomnia and chronic pain.
Kratom comes from the leaves of an evergreen tree grown in Southeast Asia. Kratom leaves can be chewed, and dry kratom can be swallowed or brewed. The National Institutes of Health reports that while no clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate the benefits of kratom, it is known that people in Western countries use kratom to try to treat pain or manage opiod withdrawal symptoms. Traditionally, in Southeast Asia, people chewed the leaves or made them into a tea that was used to fight fatigue and improve work productivity.
[Editor’s Note: CBD and Kratom are not currently regulated in the United States. In the meantime, your safest option is to work with your doctor to find other treatment options.]
“We provide world class customer service to the area while providing products that our community wants,” said Lofgren.
Cottonmouth Smoke is located at 115 S. Main St. in Woodruff and opened Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sundays from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Follow Cottonmouth Smoke on Facebook for its latest products and deals.