Stricter state laws regulating hemp went into effect on July 1. As a result of those laws, much less tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, can be contained in consumable hemp products being sold.

“It kicked us in the teeth,” said Keenan Schuur, who co-owns Sunmed CBD with Jack Hanson.

“It took out about 65 percent of our products,” he added.

Sunmed CBD, 1026 Central Ave., is an independently operated franchise. Schuur and Hanson started planning to create the store in late 2021 and achieved that in February 2023.

The store originally sold United States Department of Agriculture certified products, including tinctures, water solubles, gummies, and beauty and bath products.

CBD, scientifically known as cannabidiol, is a naturally-occuriing compound found in high concentrations in hemp. Although CBD comes from the same plant as marijuana, it does not possess the same psychoactive properties.

Schuur and store Manager Nicole Tracy said people frequently have misconceptions about the products and clientele at Sunmed.

“People think of smoke shops and a corner store,” Schuur said.

The reality is far different, they said, as patrons aren’t coming to get high, but to alleviate chronic pain or improve their mental health. On top of that, medical practitioners know what’s up with CBD products, and recommend them to patients, Hanson said.

“It seems like every time I go to a medical professional, they are asking how the store is doing and saying ‘Well, I have been referring people to you,”’ Hanson said.

Tracy added, “There are doctors who really believe in it.”

Schuur said that list also includes chiropractors and nurse practitioners.

After 20 months of operation, about half the Sunmed business is from returning customers, and the average patron age is 57, including people looking to address joint pain or anxiety, Schuur said.

He had time to see the store could be dealing with a big change as the bill led by state Rep. Steve Holt, R-Denison, moved earlier this year. Schuur said he agreed with some bill provisions, such as age restrictions and labeling changes. But he said some legislators who approved the bill had misconceptions on CBD and hemp, like the wider public does.

“I am hoping it gets looked at in the next legislative session,” Schuur said..

But he isn’t counting on it. Therefore, store officials are diving into new products to make up for those stripped away.

Sunmed now has mushroom gummies and libido gummies that are both hemp and CBD free.

“We have a very educated staff on what the products can do,” Tracy said. “We are very transparent on what is in our products.”

Schuur said Sunmed CBD has also added a weight loss product that went through clinical trials, as well as sleep products that also went through clinical trials. There’s also a seltzer considered a healthier alternative to energy drinks.

With the challenging rejiggering of products, Schuur is hopeful for what Sunmed CBD 2.0 can be in the Fort Dodge market.

“Everything has been well run with Nicole at the helm,” he said.

A new re-opening of the store to showcase new offerings will likely happen by early 2025.