Sunset Lake CBD
Farmer Owned | Vermont Grown
The whirlwind of another harvest is complete. This year makes three. There is still some processing to do, but the fieldwork is finished.
As Director of Sales and Sustainability, I wanted to take a moment this Giving Tuesday a reflect on our social philanthropy from this past calendar year— who we donated to, how we saw alignment between our missions, and any other thoughts that happen to cross my mind.
Amount: $10,800.00 with a $10,800.00 match from The Majority Report
We had a productive year at Sunset Lake CBD and wanted to do one more big philanthropic push before the end of the year. Our strongest business partnership is with the Majority Report with Sam Seder and we decided as a team that we wanted to collaborate with them on this project. We reached out to Sam, Julie, and the rest of the MR crew to see what they wanted to do. Sam proposed GiveDirectly.org.
We agreed and decided that we wanted to give back a portion of our Gross Sales from November 22 through December 1, 2021. We were absolutely humbled by the response and were able to donate more than $10,000.
Amount: $6,135.69
The Alburgh Family Clubhouse project was brought before us by my business partner’s mom, Janet Bellavance. She’s the defacto company mom at this point. This project straddled 2020 and 2021, and I’ve already written about it here.
Lack of childcare is a crisis in America, especially in rural and economically underdeveloped communities like Alburgh. If we are going to continue doing business in the Champlain Islands, we must give back.
Amount: $1,000.00
Vermont is called the Green Mountain State, and for good reason. Exploring the mountains are an inextricable part of being a Vermonter. The Green Mountain Club’s mission is to make the Vermont mountains play a larger part in the life of the people by protecting and maintaining the Long Trail System and fostering through education, the stewardship of Vermont’s hiking trails and mountains.
The Green Mountain Club’s mission for land stewardship, creating common space with equal access, and promoting health by getting out into nature is exactly what we are about here at Sunset Lake CBD. As an avid hiker too, it was a no-brainer to contribute to this cause and we will continue to donate as long as we exist. If you want to support them, too please check out their donation page.
Amount: $2,500.00
Fun fact: Did you know that donations to union strike funds are not tax deductible? Just another way that the rules are set up against working-class people.
This project made perfect sense to us due to our connection with Worcester, Massachusetts via our Director of eCommerce, T.J. You can read our original press release about the donation. Although we are a small company, we feel it’s important to take a stance. It’s a moral crisis in our country that these companies run profits in the hundreds of millions and then work their staff to the bone, depress wages, and negotiate in bad faith. It’s not about return on capital invested, or Wall St., or comparables— it’s about doing the right thing and having a strong middle class. We will continue to principally and financially stand in solidarity with workers.
Amount: $3,000.00
We are farmers, first and foremost. Many Vermont farms have a mission to donate extra produce and allow gleaners onto their property to collect produce for people suffering from food insecurity. Unlike other farms though, we don’t grow any food, but this doesn’t absolve us of the responsibility to donate what we can to combat hunger here at home. That’s why we decided to collaborate with the Farm to Fork Fond, an annual bike ride through the Vermont Islands, and to donate to the Chittenden County Emergency Food Shelf.
Amount: $1,000.00
Did we mention that we love the Majority Report with Sam Seder? We share a political and economic perspective on how this country can improve. So when Sam Seder and his co-host, Emma Vigeland, promoted a go-fund-me for Afghani refugee resettlement, it piqued our interest. And, when Sam said that he would wear a tank top and flex his pythons if his audience donated enough money— well, that had our attention! See a brief clip of the gun show here.
On a more serious note, the news of America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan was a historical event, even though this country had no plans on how to manage the fallout. America should be opening its doors to Afghani refugees. We are a small company, but felt it was a moral imperative to help.
Amount: $2,500.00
We wouldn’t be here without the support and banking services of Mascoma Bank. You can read more about our successful partnership here. One day, when we walked in to withdraw some petty cash, they proposed that we sponsor a charity 5k.
Well, we love our pets here at Sunset Lake CBD, so we decided to sponsor the Humane Society of Chittenden County’s 5K Doggie Fun Run. It was a great opportunity to support our community, our pets, and introduce pet owners to our great CBD pet line. Pets deserve high-quality CBD, too!
We plan on building on this momentum in the coming year, but for now, we’re going to settle in for the holidays and thank our lucky stars that we have such a great group of customers. Thanks so much for making all of this possible.
-Cy Kupersmith
Cannabidiol (CBD) is available in so many forms including infused oils, capsules, topical creams and lotions, and smokables. The ideal CBD dosage for you may depend on the frequency of use and what form you take it in.
There is limited research on CBD dosages and medical applications, so medical professionals have yet to confirm dosage guidelines for certain illnesses or if CBD has any FDA-approved applications beyond helping manage seizures.
In this post, we’ll be talking about
Continue reading “How Much CBD Should You Take: CBD Dosages Made Easy”
As more and more of us are introduced to cannabis flower and cannabis products, the topic of CBD vs. THC comes up quite a bit. Both are naturally occurring compounds (cannabinoids) in the Cannabis Sativa L. plant. Both interact with your body’s native endocannabinoid system. So what’s the difference between CBD and THC?
In the rest of this post, we’ll cover,
Continue reading “CBD vs. THC: Differences and Similarities”
A simple construction that needs no introduction
Today, we’ll be talking about everything prerolls,
With the rise of CBD’s popularity among us humans, is it any wonder that there’s growing interest in CBD for dogs? Pet wellness trends come and go, but CBD has some staying power. Don’t think so? Nearly half of American veterinarians say they’re comfortable bringing up CBD with patients now. 1
In this post, we’ll talk about canine CBD products, if and how your dog could benefit from them, and how to find reputable products for your pup.
CBD is a cannabinoid found in both hemp and cannabis plants. Unlike THC, the psychoactive cannabinoid that can hurt your pup, CBD is non-psychoactive and generally regarded as safe for canine use.
While no FDA-approved medications or treatments for dogs exist, many veterinarians have started prescribing CBD products for their patients because of its wide range of applications.
CBD (and other cannabinoids) interact with a dog’s endocannabinoid system. The canine endocannabinoid system is similar to a human’s in that it’s a network of signaling cells that triggers to help with sleep, pain, and memory, among other functions.
CBD can help your dog’s endocannabinoid system run more efficiently, helping manage pain, improve joint health, and reduce stress.
Below are some conditions that CBD may help your dog with.
This study, published in 2023, found that CBD decreased total seizures and the number of seizure days in dogs with statistical significance, meaning it couldn’t be explained by other factors.
Specifically, researchers found that 9mg of full-spectrum CBD oil per 2.2 lbs of the dog’s body weight daily helped reduce the dog’s seizure days by 24%.2
The reduction of seizure frequency and intensity is a big reason why CBD is now legal. The FDA has approved one CBD-derived drug called Epidiolex for children who suffer from rare treatment-resistant forms of epilepsy. It only makes sense that this benefit would carry over to dogs, too.
CBD may be able to help your anxious dogs, too. In a preliminary study out of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, 83% of dogs given “CBD chews” prior to a stressful event showed a decrease in stress or anxiety-related behavior.
More research is needed to determine optimal dosages and to better control “stressful events,” but the early data is promising.
Regarding dosing longevity, a 13-year study published in the Frontiers of Veterinary Science concluded that long-term dosing for healthy dogs was safe.3
Anecdotally, Sunset Lake serves a lot of folks who use CBD to help manage their dog’s anxiety. To which we say great. Use it as you see fit. However, if you’re interested in using CBD to manage your dog’s anxiety, we wouldn’t recommend it for young dogs or puppies. Younger dogs can actually become more high-strung and energetic when given CBD-infused products.
Cornell published a study in 2018 about CBD’s anti-inflammatory and anti-pain properties of CBD for dogs with osteoarthritis— a disease that diminishes cartilage in the joints, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling.
Researchers gave dogs between 2-8mg of CBD per 2.2 lbs of body weight. They found that over 80% of participating dogs experienced a decrease in pain and improvements in mobility and activity.4
CBD products that contain trace or no amounts of THC, according to this study, seem to be safe for dogs. THC, the psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis products can, in higher doses, be toxic for dogs.
Because CBD for dogs is completely unregulated, no CBD supplements are approved for pet use. That doesn’t mean that you can’t use them. It doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t use them. But it does mean you should do your homework and look for products tested for safety and potency.
A commonly searched question about CBD’s safety is: Can dogs overdose on CBD? While CBD is generally safe, you should always follow the recommended dosing guide or schedule provided with your product. CBD can cause side effects, but there’s no evidence that CBD can be fatal in dogs when used responsibly.
As with most herbal, natural remedies, CBD can cause some mild side effects in us humans and in our four-legged friends. Some of the most commonly observed side effects observed in canine CBD use are,
The best way to avoid unwanted side effects is by consulting your vet. They will have some insight into your dog’s specific condition and can offer more personalized advice.
Your dog’s ideal CBD dosage will depend on factors unique to your dog, like body weight, age, and whether or not they’re already on a medication. Only your veterinarian can give you an accurate assessment of your dog’s needs.
However, without knowing anything about your dog, we always recommend starting slow and low with CBD oil. Start with 1-2mg of CBD for every 10 pounds of your dog’s body weight.
For example, if you have two dogs, a 40-pound medium dog, and a 15-pound small dog, we recommend starting them on 4-8mg and 1.5-3mg of CBD per day, respectively. Once you know how they respond to their dosage, you can adjust it up or down.
If you’re looking for a safe and effective CBD product for your dog, check the vendor’s website for a certificate of analysis. It should be produced by an accredited third-party (neutral) laboratory and should tell you the amounts of CBD and THC present in the product.
If you need a little help finding a CoA, please check out our guide here.
CBD is not the same as “hemp.” CBD comes from CBD-rich hemp flower, but the term hemp may also include hemp-seed oil that’s totally CBD-free. If you’re interested in CBD products, you’ll need to specify that during your online searches.
If you search for “hemp for dogs,” you may end up on Amazon, a site that disallows CBD products— beware. The hemp products listed on Amazon are designed and marketed to trick less experienced buyers into thinking that they contain CBD.
Ask yourself this question: What’s in the product? Insist on seeing the ingredient list and look for any unnatural additives. Don’t be afraid, too, to reach out to the vendor and ask about any ingredients you’re unsure of.
If you wouldn’t take it, is it acceptable CBD for your dog?
CBD drops, another name for CBD Oil Tinctures, are safe for your dog provided that they are formulated for pets and you use them as directed. Most CBD drops are formulated with only two or three ingredients:
CBD is safe for small dogs, provided that you abide by the dosing instructions. Start your small dog on 1-2mg per 10 lbs of body weight. If you’re having trouble finding treats or chews that contain less than 5mg of CBD, we suggest trying CBD Oil. You will have much more control over your dog’s dosage with an oil-based product.
We don’t recommend giving your dogs CBD gummies formulated for humans.
In smaller amounts, like those found in full-spectrum CBD products (<0.3% THC by weight), THC won’t harm your dog.
However, please don’t give your dog any THC-specific products or cannabis products. Too much THC can hurt your dog, and they won’t be able to tell you.
While it’s better to stick with CBD products designed for dogs, using a flavorless CBD oil designed for humans should be fine in a pinch.
We actually recommend folks check out our 750mg Full-Spectrum CBD Oil Tincture if they have large dog breeds (100lbs+). The ingredients in our unflavored tinctures and pet tinctures are the same. The only difference is the CBD concentration.
Sources
This post was originally published on August 11, 2021 and was updated by the original author on September 23, 2024.
We here at Sunset Lake CBD are asked this question all the time: How much CBD oil should I give my dog? A great question! CBD is a relatively new product that a lot of people are approaching for the first time, let alone with their four-legged friends. Luckily, we’re here to help.
If you’re unsure if CBD is right for your pet, check out our previous blog post on CBD for Pets: What You Should Know. Continue reading “How Much CBD Oil Should I Give My Dog?”
While searching the internet for information about how to discern high-quality CBD products from the rest, you may have come across a few articles referring to “pure CBD.”Well, what does that mean? Does it mean whole-plant hemp? Does “pure CBD” refer to the cannabidiol molecule itself?
In this piece, we’re going to
CBD gummy bears are a great jumping-off point for folks new to cannabidiol; they taste good, they’re colorful, and unlike CBD oil, gummies are usually THC-free.
Are CBD gummy bears right for you? In this post, we’ll talk about
In solidarity with the striking nurses of St. Vincent’s, a Worcester hospital, and in honor of National Nurses Day, Sunset Lake CBD is donating $2,500 to the nurses’ strike fund. As workers ourselves, we want to support fellow workers fighting for better conditions and contracts.
The nearly 10-week strike is for better pay and staffing levels, the latter of which St. Vincent nurses say were far too low to ensure adequate patient care.
If this pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that all workers are essential. Without workers, our grocery stores wouldn’t be stocked. Deliveries would languish on warehouse floors. Garbage would pile up on the curbs everywhere.
Without workers— nurses, janitors, physician assistants, doctors— who would help us recover in our hour of need? Certainly not wealthy healthcare executives.
As a majority worker-owned business, we understand just how important workers are. That’s why we offer our workers a starting minimum wage of $15/hour and a host of other perks. But we know that it’s not enough to stand by our own workers. We’ve got to invest in the well-being of workers all over.
While we know it’s no substitute for standing on the picket line, we’re hoping that this modest donation of $2,500 can help meet some of the needs of St. Vincent’s striking nurses that are holding strong for better contracts.
See our official press release below:
BURLINGTON, VT May 2021 — Sunset Lake CBD, a majority worker-owned CBD company based in Burlington, Vermont is donating $2,500 to St. Vincent Nurses’ Strike Fund. The announcement of the donation comes on National Nurses Day.
St. Vincent nurses have been on strike since March 8, 2021 over pay and staffing levels, the latter, the nurses say, have been far too low to ensure adequate patient care. Tenet, the Dallas-based healthcare company that owns the Worcester-based hospital, has reportedly posted profits of $97M in the first quarter of 2021.
Sunset Lake CBD, a nearly two-year-old company, has a connection to Worcester through its Director of Operations, T.J. Anania. “As workers ourselves, we think it’s important to stand in solidarity whenever we can, however we can,” Anania said. “We can’t really make it down to the picket line, so we wanted to show support with a donation. This strike just really hits close to home— I used to work downtown and deliver food to St. Vincent’s all the time.”
Sunset Lake CBD is a vertically integrated hemp farm in Northwest Vermont. Originally a dairy farm producing milk for Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, Sunset Lake decided to diversify in 2019 and started growing hemp for CBD. As a majority worker-owned company, Sunset Lake believes in the importance of workers and has a $15/hour minimum wage.
