You know that moment. The house is finally still, the washing up is done, and tomorrow’s clothes are ready. You switch off the bedside lamp, get under the blankets, and just expect sleep to follow. Instead, your mind starts going through tomorrow’s appointments, the conversations you’ve left unfinished, and three things you completely forgot to do today. You turn onto your other side, fiddle with the pillow, and try again. In some way, the simplest thing you wanted from the day is just out of reach.
If you’ve ever been there, you’ll know that getting sufficient rest isn’t always as simple as just going to bed earlier. Your days may be full, your duties may be heavy, and your mind may be absolutely determined to keep going when the rest of the world is winding down. Finding a approach to nighttime wellness can take a bit of patience, some curiosity, and a readiness to explore what works for you individually.
For Joshua Bean, co-founder and CEO of Public Hemp Co., that search started long before he ever envisaged himself building a business around the hemp plant.
When Rest Becomes a Long-Standing Challenge
Joshua’s problems began during childhood. All the comfort rituals his parents could think of: warm cinnamon milk and gentle foot rubs, didn’t seem to make any difference at all. He’d lie awake in the dark, looking out of the bedroom window at the stars, the bamboo trees swaying in the breeze, listening to the generator in the house constantly humming.
Mornings were a particular problem. Getting up late could mean arriving at school late, missing the start of a surf session or losing a significant amount of time on a daytime spear fishing trip. Over the years, the details of his life changed, but the problem of quality sleep did not.
Most people have experienced the frustration of trying one thing after another and just not getting anywhere. When rest becomes difficult to achieve, a domino effect follows. How you feel in the morning and how you go about your day are considerably influenced. It is understandable to look for new options, although no single product or routine works for everyone.
For Joshua, it eventually became a significant part of his personal journey. It started as an exploration of the plant and ultimately had a big impact on both his own approach to wellness and on the business that he went on to help build.
From Island Life to the Cascade Mountains
In spring 2018, Joshua left Kaua’i for central Oregon, swapping his island lifestyle for the spectacular terrain of the Cascades. The motivation for the move was to get into hemp farming, a venture that obviously required a significant amount of commitment, financial risk, and a real willingness to build something from scratch.
Public Hemp Co. was not yet a fully formed business. It grew out of friendships, through a lot of shared effort and a number of challenges over the years that really tested the mettle of the founders. It wasn’t an easy journey by any means, but there was a principle that underpinned everything: to produce hemp-based products with care and maintain standards the brand could stand behind.
Today the company describes its approach as “farm-to-package”. The brand’s work brings together hemp cultivation, processing, and product development, allowing the team to remain closely involved in the process. The company claims its hemp is naturally sun-grown, and its products are laboratory-tested. The farming methods used don’t use pesticides, herbicides, or harsh chemicals at all. Those commitments form part of the brand’s identity.
When you’re looking at a wellness brand, the story of the brand is something that’s worth understanding. The motivation of the founder doesn’t in any way prove the efficacy of the product, but it does go some way to explaining why the brand exists, what it stands for, and how that in turn shapes the end product.
Understanding Hemp and Its Place in Wellness
Hemp is a variety of Cannabis sativa. It’s a very versatile plant. Its fibers have applications in textiles and other industries; the seeds are edible, and the extracts contain cannabinoids, which are compounds that are the subject of increasing scientific interest.
Among these compounds are cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabinol (CBN). They all have different chemical structures, and research into their potential effects is still very much in its infancy. The endocannabinoid system is involved in a number of physiological processes, including aspects of nervous system function and the maintenance of homeostasis. That doesn’t necessarily mean that every cannabinoid product will have a predictable effect.
If you’re looking at hemp-derived wellness products, then it’s useful to know the difference between what is proven and what is still under investigation. The research into cannabinoids and sleep has been fairly mixed, and the evidence at present does not support CBD, CBG, or CBN as a treatment for insomnia. That distinction is important. You’re entitled to clear information about what a product contains, what the research can tell you, and where the uncertainty lies. Knowing the ingredients is a good place to start to make an informed choice.
Snooze Button: A Product with a Personal Story
One product holds particular significance for Joshua: Snooze Button, a vanilla-mint hemp oil developed in 2021. According to his account, he began using the formula nightly and found the experience personally meaningful. It became a major reason he continued investing his time and energy in the plant, even during difficult periods for the business.
That personal connection is what gives the product a different place in the company’s story. It’s not just another product in the catalog. It’s a product that has grown out of the founder’s own interest in hemp-derived products as a response to a problem he’d been struggling with for a very long time.
The formula is full-spectrum CBD with CBG and CBN. The company offers two strengths: a 1,800 mg option which is 900 mg CBD, 600 mg CBG and 300 mg CBN, and a 3,600 mg option which is 1,800 mg CBD, 1,200 mg CBG and 600 mg CBN. The ingredients are organic MCT oil, full-spectrum hemp extract, and natural mint and vanilla flavorings. Check the current product label and laboratory report for the exact formulation and cannabinoid content.
If you are considering CBD oil for sleep, look beyond the name or the appeal of a nighttime formula. Review the ingredients, check the available third-party laboratory results, and be aware that your response may differ from someone else’s. Full-spectrum products can contain trace amounts of THC, so that’s something you’ll need to consider within your own set of circumstances, for instance, if you regularly drug-test for work.
Joshua’s experience is why the product is so important to him. It should by no means be construed as a guarantee that you will get the same results. Always seek medical advice prior to using any cannabinoid products, especially if you’re on medication or have an existing health condition.
Why the Way a Product Is Made Matters
When you’re buying a hemp-based wellness product, the contents of the bottle are just as important as the story behind it. Ingredient transparency, consistent manufacturing, and readily available laboratory testing results are all things that will help you assess what you’re buying.
This kind of information is useful when you’re comparing different hemp-derived products. Look for a certificate of analysis that identifies cannabinoid concentrations and provides relevant contaminant testing. Check whether the report corresponds to the specific product and batch you are considering. Clear labeling and straightforward usage instructions also make it easier to evaluate your options.
These tests won’t guarantee that a product will achieve a specific result, but they can certainly help you make a more informed purchase decision. The more you can evaluate the evidence behind a brand’s claims, the more meaningful that brand’s commitment to quality becomes.
For Joshua and his team, maintaining those standards is intrinsically linked to the roots of the company. As the business grows and starts to produce formulas for other companies, the intention is to remain involved in the farming and production practices that shaped its early identity.
Extending the Conversation to Your Pets
The company’s interest in hemp-derived products also extends to animals with the Furry Friend salmon-flavored pet oil which is formulated with broad-spectrum CBD, CBG, and wild Alaskan salmon oil. The stated formulation is 150mg CBD and 150mg CBG in a one-ounce bottle.
If you share your home with a dog or another beloved companion, you may also be interested in understanding the products available for their care. Animals have different requirements and sensitivities, and products designed for humans should not be assumed to be suitable for use on pets.
Speak to your vet before introducing any cannabinoid product, especially if your pet is on medication or has an existing health condition. Your vet will be in a position to assess the potential risks and advise you on whether a particular product is suitable.
The inclusion of a pet-specific formula in its range is in line with the company’s wider interest in hemp-based products. It also underlines the fundamental principle that good wellness choices start with an understanding of the individual’s needs, whether that individual has two legs or four.
Finding Your Own Approach to Nighttime Wellness
Exploring a hemp product is just one potential element of a wider strategy for rest. You can also pay attention to your evening routine, maintain a consistent sleep/wake cycle, reduce your caffeine intake in the afternoon/evening, and make the transition from the day to night as quiet as possible.
Perhaps that brings you back to the quiet bedroom, the pillow you’ve fiddled with three times, and the thoughts still waiting for you. You may not have an answer in the space of a night, but you can start with a more informed approach to sleep, one considered choice at a time.
