Knowledge is power, and no one knows this better than Seth Hyman, who spent years researching alternative medical treatment options for his daughter, Rebecca, who suffers from a severe genetic disorder that causes multiple seizures daily.
His quest led him not only to champion the legalization of medical marijuana in Florida, but to become an expert in navigating the legal and regulatory demands placed on cannabis operators and those who use medical marijuana, CBD or hemp-based products. Now he is helping to spread that knowledge through his support as a sponsor of the USA CBD Expo, coming to Miami Beach, FL from Aug. 2-4.
“My hemp industry and CBD passion started in Florida; it has always been a very personal issue for me,” explained the founder and owner of Hempagenix™, a consumer-based product and marketing company that develops hemp- and plant-based products. “My goal was to help my daughter and other children with complex medical issues to have access to medical marijuana through the passage of the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act; I wouldn’t be here without that.”
While trying to find relief for Rebecca, who suffers from 1p36 Deletion Syndrome, Hyman banded together with many other parents of medically compromised children to lobby Florida legislators to pass the law. He then went on to work for the law firm Kelly Kronenberg to help them build a medical marijuana practice group, all the while developing firsthand expertise in what can be a very daunting field.
“When the farm bill passed in 2018 making it legal to grow industrial hemp on a national level, there was a lot of confusion about the legalities of CBD, and today, there are still obstacles concerning CBD products in the eyes of the FDA,” explained Hyman. “Recently a grandmother in Orlando was arrested for going into Disneyworld with a CBD tincture for arthritis; she was charged with a felony and spent the night in jail! The charges were later dropped, but this just shows how many unknowns there are, including between legal products in the industry and law enforcement.”
According to Hyman, education is key to clearing up the confusion. “A conference like the USA CBD Expo gives people in the industry the opportunity to band together, and to show that their products are beneficial to consumers and are manufactured in a safe way. It also coincides perfectly with the recent passage of the hemp bill.
“Having so many industry leaders and so many great speakers in one place gives people the chance to hear from experts in this ever-evolving industry, which can be incredibly helpful. And there haven’t been many events like this in the U.S.—especially on this large a scale.”
The Expo will also give participants and visitors the chance to learn more about the latest hemp and CBD products. Hyman will be showcasing a range of products, including Hempagenix’s™ newest, Cannanumb, which was launched in late May.
“While I was doing my research, I realized that the hemp plant had great potential to have other medicinal benefits outside the scope of CBD and THC products,” he explained. “I’ve been an entrepreneur my entire life, and I knew that because hemp had numerous benefits from a medical standpoint, it would eventually become a booming industry.”
To this end, Hyman established Hempagenix™ to develop products that would appeal to the marijuana, CBD and hemp markets, as well as mainstream America. Cannanumb™ is an FDA-registered, over-the-counter drug that optimizes hemp seed oil, maximum strength lidocaine, menthol, arnica, glucosamine and Boswellia Serrata Extract to target aches and pains by deeply penetrating the body to sooth aggravated nerves.
“Cannanumb™ is in the same class as Icy Hot, Tylenol and Motrin,” said Hyman of the unique hemp-based formula that doesn’t contain either THC or CBD. “We’re very excited to introduce it for our first time at the USA CBD Expo.”
The Expo, which is open to farmers and growers, eCommerce stores, wholesale distributors, vape and smoke shops, CBD retailers and manufacturers and more, will be held in the Miami Beach Convention Center from Aug. 2-4. There will be special business hours each day, and the event is also open to the public on Aug. 3 from 3-7 p.m. and Aug. 4 from noon to 6 p.m.
