HoCo Native Brings the Ceuticals

This feels like a big deal to me but I suspect that’s merely because I’m behind the times.

Native Ceuticals DMV: We are proud to announce we will be opening a retail location in The Mall in Columbia this summer! Stay tuned for the grand opening date, and much more!

Native Ceuticals sells a variety of CBD products both for humans and pets.

Our hemp-powered wellness products focus primarily on pain, sleep, stress & focus issues. However, there are many benefits to cannabis outside of these.

The company’s home base is in North Carolina. The stores opening around the country are run by franchisees.

The founder of the new local franchise is Austin Kopnitsky.

What’s his background?

Austin Kopnitsky, Journalist

Founder of Native Ceuticals DMV

Former Award-Winning Meteorologist

Baltimore Based

Kopnitsky was the on-air meteorologist on Channel 3000 in Wisconsin. I stumbled upon this tidbit from his last broadcast. His bio at Channel 3000 mentions his academic credentials: Austin is a graduate of University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences.

Even better, some academic preparation of a more local kind:

For the past month, Austin Kopnitsky has been grappling with constitutional issues. Is it OK to ban smoking in Howard County restaurants? Should government officials be allowed to meet in secrecy? “Grappling with the big issues”, Karen Nitkin, Baltimore Sun, May, 2006

The article describes the academic preparation of fifth grade students at Atholton Elementary School as they ready for their Simulated Congressional Hearings, a rite of passage in Columbia/HoCo public schools. Yes, Mr. Kopnitsky is a local, although many of his bios read “Baltimore born and bred.” He was a top golfer at Hammond High School, where he also played baseball. Kopnitsky is a 2013 graduate of Hammond High School.

Howard County already has a variety of businesses selling CBD products. It’s also the birthplace of beverage company Zen Hemp Infusions whose drinks contain hemp extract. I’m curious. Why do we need a store like this at the mall? These products are not regulated by the FDA. Then again, GNC has been there forever selling all sorts of unapproved supplements and weight loss treatments. It’s not like there isn’t a precedent.

I’m not a CBD expert or aficionado. Perhaps you can explain this phenomenon to me. Plus, do you think a mall location will be profitable? Will this local boy make good in his home town?

Tell me.

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