The 2018 Farm Bill made hemp growth and production legal, allowing growers such as Michael Wisniewski of Barnside Hemp to share a remedy for his own ailments with others who may be struggling. 

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one facet of the hemp industry that has seen rapid expansion since the passage of the bill. CBD is a non-psychoactive portion of a cannabis plant, and is usually administered as an oil. It has been reported to help users with inflammation, PTSD, anxiety and chronic pain. Wisniewski found relief from CBD for a lingering injury, and acquired his federal license to grow his own product in 2019. 

Wisniewski sells his own Barnside Hemp CBD oil at the Temple-Wilton Community Farm, House by the Side of the Road in Wilton and Blue Seal and Perfect Pets of Milford. He also has a virtual storefront online at barnsidehemp.com. The business is not his full-time job, as he is also the maintenance director of High Mowing School. Wisniewski hopes to grow the business into a storefront but recognizes the plan is “a few yars down the road.” 

After being told not to take his usual antiinflammatory before a leg surgery, Wisniewski began taking CBD oil, and no longer needed Advil.

“I was like, ‘Wow, I haven't had any Advil, like, a month now,’” said Wisniewski. “And I feel great.”

Wisniewski went on to use the CBD for another injury, and discovered the far-reaching effect of the oil.

“I had post-traumatic arthritis in my ankle. I could always tell when there was a storm coming, you know; it just was horrible. And since I've been taking it, I haven't had any, literally no issue. So I was like, ‘Wow, there's something to this stuff.’ And then I went to a seminar on it. And I was hooked,” said Wisniewski. “I got to start doing this in 2019, and I got my license and started doing it for hoping that other people would get relief from it.”

Some pet-owners use CBD oil to help with anxiety in their animals. It can also have a similar effect in regards to the pains that can arise in elderly dogs. 

“I have a golden retriever who's getting up in years and I've been giving it to him,” said Wisniewski. “He has no problem taking it and I just put it on in his mouth with a dropper. He's fine with his stuff, and it seems to help them.”

Wisniewski acknowledges that the broad umbrella of aid that CBD can offer customers is not a guarantee, but that there is merit to the product. 

“It's almost like snake oil back in the day because there are so many things that it can help with,” said Wisniewski. “You know, all things don't work for everybody. It may not work for you, but it's totally worth worth trying to see if it does, and I feel you got to give it a little bit of time to get into your system.”