Why Hemp Matters More Than Ever
Where wellness meets community — and where a simple plant is at the center of a national conversation about health, freedom, and our right to choose natural options that work.
Where Wellness Meets Community
Hemp is more than a product on a shelf — it’s a daily lifeline for millions of people. As we open the doors of The Advanced Apothecary & Coffee Joint , we want to take a moment to talk about why this plant matters so much, and why we’re fighting to protect it.
This isn’t just a business launch. This is a movement rooted in wellness, community, and the right to choose natural alternatives that genuinely improve our lives.
Hemp in Everyday Life: A Plant With Purpose
For thousands of years, hemp has been used to restore balance, ease discomfort, calm the mind, and support mental health. Today, it’s become part of many people’s everyday wellness routines — in everything from carefully dosed edibles and tinctures to functional coffee and drinks.
People tell us the same thing every day:
That’s the magic of hemp — not artificial, not addictive, not meant to harm. Just a plant that helps people live their lives with more peace, comfort, and control.
Modern hemp as we know it was unlocked in the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act (the Farm Bill) , which removed hemp from the federal list of controlled substances and recognized it as an agricultural crop, not a crime.
At The Advanced Apothecary , we’re proud to offer products that support this kind of wellness, because everyone deserves options that work for their body and their lifestyle.
A Wellness Community, Not Just a Store
We built this shop for the people who need relief.
For the parents who can finally sleep.
For the workers who can finally relax.
For the individuals who can finally show up for their families again.
This isn’t just retail — it’s empowerment. It’s why we offer one-on-one consultations and honest product guidance instead of pushy sales.
Our Mission, In One Line
Every conversation, every recommendation, every product we place on our shelves is guided by one mission:
The Advanced Apothecary & Coffee Joint is a home for education, transparency, and genuine care. We aren’t here to sell you anything you don’t need. We’re here to help you understand what might help you live a better life — in person, online, and through our educational blog.
The Fight We Face: Protecting Hemp & Protecting Our Rights
Right now, the entire hemp industry is under attack.
A federal restriction on hemp-derived THC products was quietly tucked into a recent spending bill — language that could effectively roll back key parts of the Farm Bill hemp framework and severely limit or ban many hemp-derived cannabinoid products like gummies, drinks, and vapes that people rely on for relief.
Reporting from national outlets has made it clear: this provision would “wipe out” a wide range of hemp products by closing what lawmakers are calling the “THC loophole,” while businesses, farmers, and patients warn it could devastate a multi-billion-dollar industry and eliminate thousands of jobs.
You cannot place a band-aid over seven years of progress. You cannot punish responsible businesses because of political shortcuts. And you cannot take away citizens’ rights to natural wellness.
This is bigger than one shop. Bigger than one state. Bigger than one product.
It’s about freedom, choice, and the right to decide what goes into our bodies.
What the Law Actually Says
Legalized hemp (≤0.3% delta-9 THC) nationwide & shifted oversight to USDA.
Recognizes hemp as a viable crop and sets up the state hemp program.
New spending bill language seeks to sharply restrict hemp-derived THC products.
Learn more via the USDA hemp overview, the South Carolina Hemp Farming State Plan, and recent national coverage on federal hemp restrictions — and see how those policies impact what’s on our shelves today.
Why We Advocate
We speak up because silence lets the wrong voices win.
We advocate because we’ve watched hemp change lives — safely, naturally, and responsibly. While agencies wrestle with how to regulate CBD in foods and supplements, consumers keep using hemp products for pain, anxiety, and sleep — not to get high, but to feel okay.
We raise our voices because our community deserves to be heard, and because the people who rely on hemp deserve protection, not restriction. That’s why we publish educational pieces like “A Local Guide to Hemp-Derived Wellness Products in Columbia, SC” and “How Wellness Boutiques in Columbia, SC Are Building Community Through Hemp & Coffee.”
If you believe in natural wellness, small business, community rights, and personal freedom, then we need you — right now.
Reach out to your South Carolina Senators and tell them to oppose federal language that harms responsible hemp businesses and the people who rely on them.
Want to see how this advocacy connects to real products and real people? Visit us in person at our Columbia wellness boutique , explore our online shop , and check out verified product testing results.
Want to Go Deeper? Start Here.
How is hemp different from marijuana? ›
Under U.S. law, hemp is cannabis with no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight. Anything above that is classified as marijuana. Hemp is regulated as an agricultural crop and used for wellness products, fiber, food, and more, while marijuana remains tightly controlled at the federal level.
Is hemp legal to grow in South Carolina? ›
Yes. South Carolina operates a licensed hemp program under the South Carolina Hemp Farming Act and an approved state plan with the USDA. Farmers, processors, and handlers must apply through the South Carolina Department of Agriculture and follow strict testing and reporting rules.
Why are hemp-derived THC products being targeted now? ›
After the 2018 Farm Bill, entrepreneurs used hemp extracts to create low-dose intoxicating products like delta-8 and THC seltzers. Because these products weren’t clearly addressed in the original law, they existed in a gray area. Lawmakers are now trying to “close the loophole,” but broad language risks sweeping up responsible products and businesses along the way.
If you’re brand-new to this space, our local guide to hemp-derived wellness products in Columbia, SC is a perfect next read.