POCATELLO — A new CBD business will soon be opening its doors, inviting the community to enjoy a relaxing afternoon of free samples, fresh grilled hotdogs and exclusive discounts.

Area residents are invited to the grand opening of OC CBD at 4 p.m. today at its new brick-and-mortar store located at 450 E. Day St. Suite E. The store will feature new products and rebranded favorites and is seeking to distribute across the entire Gem State. Guests can also sample a variety of CBD products and enjoy grilled hotdogs and a free raffle.

The new business, known as OG CBD, is the creation of local resident James Rupp who formed the company after an amicable split from Nugget CBD.

Rupp was one of the initial founders of Nugget CBD in East Idaho back in 2019, helping establish the business as a staple in the community. But over the years, due to issues with manufacturers being unable to fulfill its needs, including one that went out of business and took a portion of Nugget CBD’s money with them, Rupp decided it was time for a fresh start.

The vision for OG CBD was to provide high quality, reliable, trustworthy and Idaho-legal products in the community. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a naturally occurring compound found in the cannabis plant. The product itself is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, meaning it does not produce the high that one might experience with marijuana.

While OG CBD will be crafting its own products, it’s not involved in any of the extraction processes. The company receives it from a trusted supplier who has already gone through the extraction process, removing all the THC, testing it thoroughly and ensuring the product is legal and safe in Idaho.

“We have much more flexibility in that,” Rupp said. “Being able to actually take custom orders and have a much wider range of possibilities, along with keeping that price point very low as well, and being the most competitive in the United States for the quality that we offer.”

Rupp continues to reaffirm the businesses stance that none of its products are meant to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent illnesses or medical diagnoses. Generally, CBD products are often utilized to manage anxiety, pain, addiction, seizures and even psychosis, but there is insufficient evidence in proving that CBD is effective in treating these ailments.

But its dedicated clientele may tell a different story. From topical salves, ingestible gummies and a variety of other products, CBD businesses in Idaho continue to provide a niche service to the community.

“None of our products that are crafted in Idaho are going to have any kind of psychoactive effect whatsoever and so it doesn't mess with your mental capacity,” Rupp said. “You can go to work, you can go to family events, and still be able to function without feeling like you have something in your head that is slowing you down. It's more about the absence of different feelings. People are coming to us for relief and for the benefit of sleeping and (reducing) anxiety.”

OG CBD is also seeking to expand its products to stores and businesses in Pocatello. The new business has already partnered with local metaphysical supply store Enchantments, who will be carrying a wide gambit of its products for people and pets alike.

But OG CBD won’t be sticking exclusively to the Gate City and Rupp said he already has plans to expand to Idaho Falls, Rexburg, Downey, Preston, Soda Springs and eventually moving over towards Twin Falls, Burley and Boise.

“That way we can really get our products out there and make it easier for people to access those as well,” Rupp said.

For the grand opening, OG CBD will be joined by its neighbors at Freedom Fabrication, a veteran-owned business located in Suite F at 450 E. Day St. that specializes in full service fabrication along with in-house and mobile welding. Both businesses are grateful for the community’s support and hope to continue to build on those relationships.

In branching out with his own vision for a business, Rupp said he harbors no hard feelings toward Nugget CBD, relaying his gratitude that he were able to grow alongside them. Nugget CBD will continue to function as its own franchise alongside OG CBD.

“It just came down to being able to plant our own roots and really grow and be able to have more flexibility with our community, with our pricing, with our events,” Rupp said. “We are really trying to go back to our roots and develop something that can be trusted, especially in Idaho. I appreciate the continued support from my loyal customers, investing partners and the general public throughout the obstacles and delays we have experienced. We wouldn’t be able to continue serving our community without them.”