Rational Hemp’s products (which include Full Spectrum Hemp Extract and Full Spectrum Hemp Extract Cream) include hemp-derived CBD and organic hemp seed oil. The East Hampton based company aims to uncomplicate CBD and eliminate confusion in the marketplace, while providing a high quality product.
The hemp is sustainably farmed using organic methods by eighth generation hemp farmers in Kentucky. Products are then tested by an independent lab for quality. Every bottle is traceable from “Seed to Shelf.” The Full Spectrum Hemp Extract offers 2400mg in 30ml bottle. Products are vegan, pesticide free, and non-GMO.
Thirty percent of proceeds from the sale of Rational Hemp will be donated to the East End Cares/Clamshell Foundation Fund for Food supporting local food pantries. You can purchase a few of their products on the shop local section of our site. We caught up with Kathryn Perry of Rational Hemp to learn more.
What inspired you to start Rational Hemp?
I discovered the benefits of CBD about two years ago. I found that using it an hour before bedtime greatly improved my sleep. A friend who is a long time marathoner told me that regular use of CBD had made a remarkable difference in his legs — they felt 20 years younger. Another friend said rubbing the oil on her hands made her arthritic pain subside. But I also quickly learned that most products — and not only on the East End — were just ridiculously overpriced at 10 to 20 times the cost of production. I decided to enter the marketplace with the highest quality CBD but at a sensible price so people can actually afford to make it a part of their daily health regimen, just like vitamins, herbal teas, or other health supplements. Most brands charge eight to 17 cents per mg for their CBD Oil. Rational is under four cents –- before any promotion.
I decided to call our product Full Spectrum Hemp Extract rather than CBD Oil because it better reflects that our oil contains all the beneficial ingredients of the hemp plant.
Tell us a little about the business:
My goal was to uncomplicate CBD. Most every brand out there offers an array of CBD oils diluted down to 300mg, 600mg, 1000mg in a 30ml bottle. People often do not know how many milligrams of CBD are in the bottle they JUST bought -– nor as a result, how much they are taking in their dropper. Oftentimes because of this some consumers weren’t getting a dose that was therapeutic for their own system and decided it just didn’t work. Or they were spending money on this bottle and that bottle and decided it was too expensive. It was overmarketing and just plain confusing to the consumer.
Rational Hemp offers only two sizes of Full Spectrum Hemp Extract –- 2400mg in 30ml and a half size 15ml with the same strength oil, so 1200mg. As you may know, a lot of people think that 2400 is too strong but that’s not the case — the benefit of buying 2400 is that you simply adjust your dose with your dropper. A typical dose of 20mg to 40mg a day (or a quarter to half a dropper) means your bottle lasts 2 to 4 months. (But if you are using CBD for severe pain of course you could take a full dropper and some of our customers do.) You can think of it like concentrated laundry detergent –- you use less and your container lasts longer.
What are some of the benefits of using Rational Hemp products?
CBD Oil is not one size fits all when it comes to benefits. It all depends on your own Endocannabinoid System, which is kind of like the body’s Master Regulator. In most basic terms it helps your body get back in balance. So it may help you with sleep issues, pain, cellular level inflammation, stress and anxiety, and more. If used upon waking, it may help some people with focus and concentration. As with any health supplement, if you have an underlying medical condition or are taking any prescription medications it is important you speak to your doctor before using CBD.
I have also added a Full Spectrum Hemp Extract Cream in a 2 oz jar with 300mg CBD — in a moisturizing base with a hint of fragrant bergamot. It can help to soothe muscles and joints but many people use it for dry skin on hands and feet and to refresh their complexion overnight. Rational Hemp will be offering a Sports Balm soon as well.
Not all CBD is the same. It is important to check the label and independent third party lab results (Certificate of Analysis) before you purchase a new product. Some companies buy their biomass from a bunch of different sources so what you get in the bottle is not always the same.
Our Full Spectrum Hemp Extract comes from eighth-generation Kentucky hemp farmers with their own in-house FDA-registered processing facility so it is traceable “seed to shelf.” They are U.S. Hemp Authority, use GMP and farm sustainably using organic methods. Rational Hemp is non-GMO, vegan, pesticide-free and made only from buds and flowers. No added ingredients — just hemp-derived CBD and organic hemp seed oil. And we test it at two separate third party labs to ensure quality and consistency. The COAs are posted on our site and available directly from the QR code on our boxes.
How have you had to pivot your business due to COVID-19?
Our products are in high end drug stores, spas and health food stores in the tri-state area such as White’s Apothecary in Southampton, East Hampton and Sag Harbor; Grannick’s Drug Store in Greenwich; 90th St Pharmacy on Madison Avenue; Beacon Pharmacy (Beacon NY); City Chemist in Brooklyn; Bodhi Spa in Hudson, NY; Greenport Market (North Fork) and more — and of course online at www.rationalhemp.com. We have offered a variety of online specials to lower prices even further as so many are facing financial uncertainty and job loss.
What’s next for Rational Hemp?
Even though much of the hype of the last year two years has died down (when CBD was found everywhere from convenience stores to car washes), there is still a great deal of confusion in the marketplace. Consumers need to apply the concept of unit pricing to their CBD purchases just like they do with their potatoes in the supermarket. While you might spend less at checkout for this or that brand of CBD Oil, you might be getting only 300 or 600 or 1000mg of CBD in your 30ml bottle, meaning your bottle will not last long. There is a lot of education that has yet to be done.
