TR Photo by Lana Bradstream — Tyler Anderberg, owner of Pure ReLeaf, recently received approval and an official state license to sell CBG (cannabigerol) products. The store is the only store in town and one of the few in the state that can offer such products to consumers.
The 13th Street District store is one of the few businesses still offering cannabis-related products in Iowa. Pure ReLeaf recently received approval and license from the state to sell CBG (cannabigerol) items.
“I think other people have products, but I think I'm the only one in Iowa that carries CBG,” owner Tyler Anderberg said. “These are legal medicines and this is no joke. This is not candy to get you high.”
He said all available products are free of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound found in cannabis. He also carries CBD (cannabidiol) products in the form of legal topicals and tinctures.
“The difference between the two is that CBD is the primary cannabinoid and CBG is the mother of all cannabinoids,” Underberg said. “All cannabinoids start out as CBG, which is also an energy booster. So if you need to go to work pain-free, CBG is perfect for that.”
Pure ReLeaf was in business before a new state law went into effect July 1 restricting consumable hemp products. From that day on, Mr. Underberg had to break the news to his customers that the product was no longer available for purchase.
Tyler Anderberg, owner of Pure ReLeaf, displays CBG (cannabigerol) products at his store in the 13th Street District. He is one of the few companies legally offering such products to consumers.
“These people were really suffering and were left hanging,” he said. “Some of them had stocked up before July 1. Some came back, but I had to send them back and it broke my heart.”
The law also addressed several loopholes that could prevent some businesses from closing.
“They found a lot of different ways to shut everyone up,” Underberg said.
For example, even if some products were within legal limits, businesses would still be unable to sell them because of the labels, he said. Fortunately, Underberg manufactures its products in a facility in Colorado, so it was able to address the labeling issue.
Underberg said the new regulations passed by the state Legislature and Gov. Kim Reynolds will only harm the state and its residents.
“I shouldn’t have had to comply because I wasn’t selling THC in the first place,” he said. “My customers are seniors, not kids. They’re not using CBD, they’re consuming real marijuana, and they’re not consuming marijuana for joint pain or lower back pain. I promise not.”
Before the law took effect, Mr. Underberg attempted to obtain the necessary licenses, but the process took longer than expected. He is still waiting for DOH approval for the CBG capsules, which have to go through the Iowa Department of Health (DOH) and the state Office of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing.
Mr. Underberg hopes his actions will inspire other business owners to pursue selling CBG and CBD products.
“It's doable,” he said. “I was a little worried that they would judge me, but they didn't do that. I can't speak to THC products because the THC has been removed. We would like to sell it wholesale to other companies who wish to sell it.”
For now, Underberg wants to get Pure ReLeaf up and running again.
“I don't know if there's still time for other companies to respond,” he says.
His focus is on getting needed products to customers, who Anderberg said are primarily senior citizens.
“I'm still open and I want people to know they have a place to go,” he said. “If people see what I'm doing and it gives them hope, then I want them to do it too. If they want to do this business, it's possible.”
Business information:
Name: Pure Relief
Address: 209 N. 13th St.
Business hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Phone: 720-304-5890
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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611, ext. 210 or liter
bradstream@timesrepublican.com.
TR Photo by Lana Bradstream — Tyler Anderberg, owner of Pure ReLeaf, recently received approval and an official state license to sell CBG (cannabigerol) products. The store is the only store in town and one of the few in the state that can offer such products to consumers. Tyler Anderberg, owner of Pure ReLeaf, displays CBG (cannabigerol) products at his store in the 13th Street District. He is one of the few companies legally offering such products to consumers.
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