By Liz Moomey
liz.moomey@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Sam and Alicia Post pushed through pain and lack of sleep until they found a solution: CBD.

CBD, or hemp-derived cannabidiol, is gaining popularity nationwide. In December, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a farm bill that made it legal to grow hemp, a cannabis plant that has low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

The Posts saw an opportunity.

They are bringing their solution to Salisbury at the PhenomWell CBD Store, 704-B Jake Alexander Blvd. W.

“We want a sustainable business to support our family and to make a contribution to the community and to make a difference in people’s lives. That’s what we really want,” Sam Post said. “That’s what we’re out to create.”

On Thursday, they opened the store with 51 products in the form or capsules, gummies, honey, droppers and salve. The products may help with anxiety, depression, inflammation and pain.

The Posts say they do not want their shop to resemble a vape shop. Inside, the walls are painted a calm blue and products are displayed with information.

“We want people our age to feel comfortable here,” Sam Post said. “It’s not a vape shop that sells CBD. We don’t want it to be like that. We want people our age to feel comfortable here.”

CBD is a recent discovery for the two. Alicia Post said she was having trouble sleeping. She doesn’t like taking medicines such as ibuprofen. She tried melatonin but she would wake up a couple of hours afterward. She said she wants to share the remedy that worked for her with the community, especially people who are older.

“That’s a big benefit to doing this for me, because I think a lot of people our age walk around with a lot of pain or suffering from lack of sleep and we just carry on that way,” Alicia Post said. “For me, it’s such a relief to find something that will help.”

Sam Post had a similar experience with back pain keeping him up at night until he tried CBD.

The stigma of CBD and its cousin marijuana was something that they were mindful of, especially when laying out the shop. They have a seating area in the back of the store with literature on CBD.

“I had never considered CBD,” she said. “It just wasn’t on my radar, but I would never go to the vape shop over there. I wouldn’t even consider going in. For my age — and I did have stiffness and muscle soreness and so forth — I would feel self-conscious. This is what we’re aiming for — for it to be comfortable.”

The Posts talked to several other business owners in the region who sell CBD products, and that ultimately got them on board to open PhenomWell.

“One thing that was appealing about this business is the other business owners that we talked to, their customers were so grateful,” Sam Post said. “They appreciate the products. That was appealing. It does seem to make a difference.”

They understand that some people have misconceptions about CBD or may not even be aware of what it can do. Having a storefront will allow customers to see it firsthand.

“It’s an opportunity to shop and really look at everything,” Alicia Post said. “For me, I’m more of a tactile person and so I want to see things, look at it and touch it with my hands before I buy it.”

PhenomWell is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday. On Fridays, the shop will close at 7 p.m., and on Saturday, at 6 p.m.