The day is August 7, 2017. It is the grand opening of the Sacred Leaf Cannabinoid Oil shop in Lawrence, Kansas and Trevor Burdett, the owner and founder of Sacred Leaf, is flushed with excitement.

Upon opening, two women walk into the store and Burdett quickly greets them and begins explaining the healing properties of CBD oil. The women tell Burdett about their lifetime of chronic pain, and he offers them a sample to try. Burdett watched as the women left the store, and to his surprise, they returned after about an hour. The two were very adamant that Burdett had gotten them high because they were laughing and giggling all throughout lunch.

Burdett asked them if they were to go back 18 years, before they had this pain, would they have been giggling and laughing? The women responded with a simple yes. The small sample of CBD oil took away 18 years of pain from these women’s lives in less than an hour. The fast-acting properties of this oil result in a feeling of relaxation, not a high.

Due to the recent legalization of recreational marijuana in nine states, and the legalization of medical marijuana in 29 states, cannabis has become a popular topic of discussion. The cannabis industry is one of the largest-growing in the country, with front runners in Colorado, Oregon and California leading the way. Although Kansas seems to be far away from pro-cannabis legislation, Lawrence is a whole different story.

A green sign reading “Honk for Hemp” has been reported on the side of Massachusetts Street for years, held by a man decked out in pro-cannabis merchandise. He often stands outside of the city’s courthouse, and the overwhelming amount of honks he receives clearly show the city’s position on cannabis. This was one of the reasons Burdett chose to open his CBD oil store, the Sacred Leaf, in Lawrence.

“Honestly, I made the decision to open the store in Lawrence because of the city’s atmosphere. Because of what the product is, there’s a big learning curve,” Burdett said. “Lawrence was significantly more familiar with the product than Manhattan would have been.”

CBD oil is made of the legal, non-psychoactive, part of the cannabis plant. The oil has thousands of different medical uses, and is completely legal in all 50 states. One of the biggest hurdles Burdett has faced through owning Sacred Leaf is overcoming the stigma of cannabis culture. Although CBD is made from cannabis, it will not get you high.

“The oil responds to certain transmitters in the body. Whether its transmitters for pain, anxiety or regular bodily functions. CBD itself works with the endocannabinoid system and attempts to bring your body to a homeostasis,” Burdett said. “CBD responds with receptors to eliminate the pain from happening in the first place, and alleviates any pain remaining.”

Considering CBD oil is not evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and should not be considered a prescription medicine, customers are taking a small risk by trying these products. Although it is not FDA-approved, many health specialists and nutritionists speak highly of the medicinal benefits of CBD oil.

When Burdett was asked what the biggest misconception is surrounding CBD oil, his response was a simple “you will not get high.” Although the CBD oil business is newly-developed, it is expected to grow 700% by 2020. If you suffer with chronic pain, anxiety or any other daily symptoms, CBD oil may be the answer you have been searching for.

CBD-based products are available at Sacred Leaf Lawrence, which is located at the intersection of 19th and Massachusetts street.