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Monica Hailey Sharpe understands the value of organic hemp.

She used CBD gummies and oil to help with stress while her daughter Christina, a malignant tumor survivor, benefited from products during chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

She now enjoys educating others about the benefits of hemp. Sharpe is the owner of Carolina Hemp Company in Locust at 11624 Red Bridge Road, which opened at the beginning of April. She also owns another Carolina Hemp Company store in Mint Hill.

First established in Asheville in 2014, Carolina Hemp Company has expanded to 15 stores, according to its website.

Initially apprehensive about how successful the Locust location would be, Sharpe said business has so far been better than she could have predicted. She made roughly $14,000 in sales in April.

“Everybody that has come in has been really, really welcoming,” she said.

Sharpe sells a variety of products including CBD oil, CBD gummies, CBD vape cartridges, CBD pet products and CBD skincare. CBD is short for Cannabidiol, which is a chemical found in marijuana, though it is not impairing, meaning it does not cause a “high,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

One of the best parts of the job for Sharpe is when people let her know that the products have helped them manage their own pain or stress.

“These days, everyone is going through something, and I love that I can educate them on hemp,” Sharpe said, according to a quote on the Carolina Hemp Company’s Locust website.

In addition to selling CBD products, Sharpe is also an author, having written a book called “Redemptive,” about being a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. Copies are available at both of her stores.

The business is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sharpe plans to open on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. beginning in June.