By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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MACHESNEY PARK — Tim Stotz’ foray into CBD started as a frustrated and ultimately disappointed customer.
Some of the early places he researched on Amazon sold hemp oil despite a search for CBD due to the online giant’s policies. Other places had inconsistent dosages and quality or were too expensive, and he found it hard to get his questions answered.
“I finally found some that worked pretty well from a highly reviewed company online, but it was still very expensive and it was still a little bewildering,” Stotz said. “I thought there’s got to be a better way. I think there would be more people who would use this stuff if we just took out the weird roadblocks of information.”
So Stotz partnered with a small team with similar experiences to create a company focused on education, health and well-being through the use of CBD and hemp products. He, along with Belle Lindsey, Kenny Martin, Jeff Larsen, local hemp growers and other partners formed ACS+ Hemp Dispensary.
“We thought, ‘Why don’t we just do it,’ and so therefore we did,” Stotz said.
Related: You Gotta Try This: CBD-infused coffee at Wired Cafe in Rockford
The company marked 4/20, the unofficial marijuana holiday, with a soft opening of its store at 7007A N. Second St.
“There’s still much to be done,” Stotz said of branding Wednesday as a “super soft” opening.
There’s still new signage and other cosmetic changes to be made, and they’re working on more creations in the on-site lab where the gummies and edibles are made.
“The next step in the evolution is slightly different versions of edibles that we already have, or different things to try or consume,” Stotz said. “But we’re actually expanding into other types of more health and wellness supplements, too.”
Lindsey, a former culinary student, is the company’s chief candy chemist who earned the nickname Weedy Wonka for her work in the lab creating the gummies and other edibles. She said she approached finding the right production process like a chemistry problem.
“I actually stopped production and just pulled out a pad and paper and was like, alright, let’s think of this like a chemistry equation because there’s a literal reaction that happens in the recipe during the process of making them,” Lindsey said.
Related: Rockford barbecue shop adds cannabis-infused sauce to the menu
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ACS+ makes and sells vegan gummies without any high-fructose corn syrup under its Comfort Food brand. There are also cereal bars, delta-8, delta-9, delta-10 and THC-O, tinctures, topical creams, pet treats, flower and smokeables. The flagship product, Stotz said, is also its most basic offering: CBD drops. Those drops, he said, offer the most health benefits such as reducing inflammation and managing pain. And it’s made with just two ingredients: CBD (cannabidiol) oil and MCT (medium-chain triglycerides) oil
“It’s really what got us started,” Stotz said. “There are no gimmicks there: two ingredients.”
Related: The Bubble Hive in downtown puts a spotlight on local artists for 4/20
The next creations the company offers will be determined by the needs and wants of customers.
“Everything we make is for the people,” Lindsey said. “It’s genuinely for the health and benefit for other people.”
The Comfort Food lineup is all priced under $35 on the company’s website, part of its goal to be a more affordable option.
“Without shaving our own noses off, we definitely wanted to make it easily accessible for other people and not this ungodly privilege to be healthy,” Lindsey said.
Part of that affordability is “because we do make it ourself, there’s no middle person,” Stotz said.
4/20 Super Soft Opening celebration
ACS+ Hemp Dispensary is celebrating its opening from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, with samples, discounts and giveaways.
Contact | ACS+ Hemp Dispensary
Address: 7007A N. Second St., Machesney Park
Email: advancedcomfortsolutionscbd@gmail.com
Phone: 815-627-6827
On the web: facebook.com/AdvancedComfortSolutionsHemp; advancedcbdsolutions.com/
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.