KING WILLIAM-Glow Holistic was founded in 2018 by hemp grower Benjamin “Ben” Clark and his wife Eunice Clark. The couple decided to leave their current jobs and sell cannabidiol (CBD) products full time in 2019. Eunice had previously worked as a math and science teacher at Covenant Christian School, while Ben worked aboard the Jamestown Ferry.
Hemp-extracted CBD products are legal in all 50 states when grown and manufactured in accordance with Section 7606 of the 2014 Federal Farm Bill. The Virginia General Assembly came aboard in 2018 and allowed farmers to grow industrial hemp without being connected to a university research program. The Clarks’ hemp plants contain less than .3 percent THC and are in compliance with federal and state laws.
Eunice Clark said the difference between hemp and marijuana plants is the amount of THC in the plant. “When you buy a hemp plant in the state of Virginia, it should have less than .3 percent of THC,” said Clark. “If the plant has .3 percent or less THC content, that’s a hemp plant; and if the THC content is above .3 percent, it’s technically called a marijuana plant.”
She explained that CBD products are popular with consumers because of their healing properties. “There’s no cerebral activity, but there is body benefit,” said Clark. “That’s why they call it ‘healing without the high.'”
CBD products have been known to assist people with pain relief due to fibromyalgia and migraines, as well as taming tremors associated with Parkinson’s disease and combating stress, anxiety, and insomnia.
“A lot of college kids take the CBD oil to help them focus while studying instead of taking a bunch of medication,” said Clark. “Instead of taking pills for anxiety, they go this route, the natural route,” said Clark.
While the couple tossed around the idea of opening a brick-and-mortar, local farmers markets and the company’s online shop have lent suitable exposure for the time being. In addition to the Historic Triangle, the Clarks also sell their CBD products at farmers markets in Newport News, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Richmond, and Stafford.
“We have about ten local businesses that sell our products,” said Clark. Heart Felt Touch Massage in Gloucester carries some of Glow Holistic’s creams, oils, and bath bombs, and The Prescription Shoppe in Williamsburg offers various CBD products.
Clark said that customer satisfaction and word-of-mouth referrals have been crucial to the company’s growing success. “We keep in contact with a lot of our customers, and it’s really gratifying to hear their stories of how CBD has benefited them,” said Clark. “Our mission is to help people.”
For more information on Glow Holistic’s products, please call (804) 413-7196 or click here to visit their website.