CBD Nationwide is one of the largest, most-established contract and bulk hemp cannabidiol (CBD) manufacturers in the United States. For the past decade, the San Diego-based manufacturer has been a pioneer, earning itself a reputation for integrity, quality, innovation, compliance and consistency, and in turn, it has profoundly legitimized the industry.

CBD Nationwide isn’t just a great company that offers outstanding products; it’s a great story to tell. The company was established by Katie Devoe and Mike Plomgren, a sister-brother team who recognized a need in the market, researched the science behind it and developed a vision and passion for developing cannabis-infused products and delivering their countless advantages to a wider population.

Ten years ago, the opportunity to help others using cannabis-infused products arose when Plomgren, who owned a hauling company, was asked to dispose of what was deemed unusable trim from a friend’s grow operation. While the material was considered undesirable, he recognized that the trim still had medicinal benefits that could be extracted and used in non-traditional ways.

Just like that, a new venture was born. The Paradise brand originated in a condominium kitchen in Carlsbad, California with the creation of a cannabis-infused hard candy, the first of its kind to hit the market. At the time, CBD was still an unknown cannabinoid, so the focus was tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Their research identified sublingual absorption as the ideal delivery format for cannabinoids like THC and CBD, as it promotes optimal absorption into the bloodstream for maximum potency versus digesting edibles or smoking. As such, the lozenge made the most sense as a starting point – and the rest as they say, is history.

From then on, Devoe, Plomgren and their team have worked hard to create high-quality, effective medicines for people who need them, simultaneously educating the industry and the public as to the countless benefits of hemp-based products, eliminating misconceptions and empowering people to make decisions that best support optimal health and wellness.

When CBD was discovered in 2007, it set a new trajectory for the company which now manufactures lozenges, edibles, tinctures and skincare lines under its Paradise and Sacred Biology brands, in addition to its private label contracting services.

Paradise offers a variety of CBD- and THC-infused edibles, including gummies, tablets and tinctures that promise to be effective and tastier than the competition, taking customers to paradise, wherever or whatever their paradise may consist of.

Sacred Biology is a women-owned enterprise in a male-dominated industry under the leadership of Devoe and her sister-in-law Katie Elliot. Like Paradise, it has been at the forefront of industry as the first to introduce CBD-infused skincare and topical products made from responsibly sourced, cruelty-free, organic ingredients, with no artificial dyes, scents, parabens, or phthalates.

“We were looking at skincare for pain management,” Devoe explained. “My husband is a disabled veteran, my brother dealt with chronic pain, and his now wife, who joined our team, had access to the UCSD Cancer Research Center. She was a scientist there for eight and a half years,” which provided a deep knowledge base from which the company could draw in the development of new products.

Devoe explained that at Sacred Biology there is a belief that, “Every body is sacred, so you should treat it as such and give it what it needs,” and the company’s topical products such as muscle rubs, lotions, balms and deodorants are a great way to do just that. Topicals are an ideal way to introduce new users to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the hemp plant in a targeted application that quickly delivers relief at the source. They also pose the fewest regulatory barriers to market entry, as they are not ingested.

Both the Paradise and Sacred Biology brands experienced amazing success and ultimately, it was this success that led to the creation of CBD Nationwide. As Devoe explained, “We started to get asked to white label products here and there and to expand our lines,” which was not something the team initially planned to do but saw it as an opportunity to have a greater impact in the market and on the industry.

Devoe emphasized the efforts of CBD Nationwide, as well as Paradise and Sacred Biology, to operate consciously and sustainably. She explained, “We’re not here to make a buck; we’re here to provide products to the masses that are going to have the most medicinal benefits out there to optimize the health and wellness of all.”

CBD Nationwide remains at the cutting edge of the industry by working with experts, formulators, flavorists and food scientists to develop new formulations and capabilities, and as an increasing number of cannabinoid isolations are discovered, it will magnify the company’s ability to have a positive impact.

Devoe noted, “Whether it’s your mother-in-law that comes down with cancer or the neighbor’s kid who has epilepsy or someone who has depression or anxiety, this incredible little compound can support those people to feel better. And the more people know, the more empowered they feel to make those choices to feel confident in what they choose.”

To this end, education is a big part of CBD Nationwide’s impact. The company created the first CBD education platform to help consumers gain confidence in decisions relating to CBD-infused products and the various ways they contribute to improved health and wellness. To serve food and alcohol, for example, there are designated food handling and bartending courses, and Devoe would like to see the same standards implemented in the cannabis space. As such, the Canna-Certified platform was created to give people an opportunity to be educated, inspired and empowered.

Instead of focusing on growing, extracting and manufacturing cannabis products as so many industry resources do, Canna-Certified is an online certification program that focuses on the information people need to know about cannabinoids, the difference between CBD and THC, the endocannabinoid system, product knowledge, the benefits of each, and so much more.

For Devoe, “The premise is to share confidently, market responsibly, and sell passionately if you choose to have a career in this industry.” Canna-Certified can be accessed via canna-certified.com and offers advanced modules for business and medical professionals to better understand the science behind cannabinoids and their use.

Further to education, Devoe also highlighted the value of traceability through the chain of custody and how that protects the integrity of the industry, the company and its products. Across CBD Nationwide’s operations, products undergo a rigorous testing process to verify materials and ensure quality output.

Third-party tested and ISO certified, the company continues to demonstrate why it is a trusted CBD manufacturer. From its products to its operations, decisions are made consciously and with the health and wellbeing of both people and the environment in mind.

As true believers in the efficacy of its products and the company mission, CBD Nationwide is one of the longest running, true in-house manufacturers of CBD products in the country, and quite possibly the world. “We may not be the biggest or have the most money behind us, but we have certainly supported those along the way that are,” said Devoe.

The goal is to continue to build upon the success of Paradise, Sacred Biology, CBD Nationwide and Canna-Certified to further legitimize the industry, giving it the credibility it deserves by allowing the best products to be introduced to market. And, if its growth over the last couple of years is any indication, the company will remain a trusted manufacturing partner, educator and pillar of the industry for decades to come.