Palms Pharmacy โ€” New Tampaโ€™s Neighborhood Pharmacy

Dr. Shahida Choudhry (front) and her friendly, professional staff at Palms Pharmacy in Tampa Palms can match or beat chain pharmacy prices and provide on-site compounding and old-time customer service. (Photos by Charmaine George)

James Kist says he truly enjoys walking into the Palms Pharmacy in The Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms, just south of the Bruce B. Downs Blvd. exit off I-75.

So much so, that when he was recently asked if he wanted a 30-day supply of his prescription or a 90-day supply, he says he would take the 30-day supply so he could come back more often.

โ€œItโ€™s such a pleasure walking in the door and being called by your first name,โ€ Kist says.

Thatโ€™s exactly what owner and Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) Shahida Choudhry envisioned when she opened Palms Pharmacy nearly seven years ago.

Dr. Choudhry was determined to create a place that felt different from a typical chain pharmacy, a place where she knew her customers by name and gave them specialized, concierge service โ€” like what they would have expected from a neighborhood pharmacy decades ago.

Kist says he knows those neighborhood pharmacies better than most.

โ€œMy father had a retail drug store for 50 years, so Iโ€™m used to personalized service,โ€ says Kist, a local CPA who has served New Tampa for the past three decades. โ€œAt Palms Pharmacy, they are professional and truly care about you.โ€

He remembers a time he asked a question, got an answer and left, thinking the conversation was over. An hour later, his phone rang and the pharmacist was providing additional details she had researched after he left.

As a CPA, Kist says he has wondered, โ€œHow do they make any money? Iโ€™m surprised at how low the prices are.โ€

He says the service is so excellent, he would gladly pay more for his prescriptions and other products, but thatโ€™s not necessary at Palms Pharmacy.

Dr. Choudhry says thatโ€™s the kind of service her customers have come to expect. If they have a problem, she and her staff will work to find ways to solve it.

For example, in the wake of post-Covid production and other supply issues (and other factors), some medications have become very hard to come by.

She says for some patients, she often can help them find medications that arenโ€™t available at other pharmacies. For other patients who absolutely cannot get a medication they need that isnโ€™t available anywhere on the market, she tries to find innovative solutions.

โ€œWe have really grown our section of supplements for kids and adults who suffer from ADHD,โ€ she says, referring to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Adderall, a popular ADHD medication is completely unavailable nationwide right now. โ€œIf you canโ€™t get your meds and want to try an alternative, or youโ€™re just curious about what products are out there, come on in.โ€

She recommends that patients talk with their physicians, as well, but says they can get a lot of information to discuss with their doctors by coming in to Palms Pharmacy and learning about whatโ€™s on their shelves โ€œWeโ€™re trying to be innovative,โ€ she says.

National Recognition

Dr. Choudhry and her โ€œMost Influential People in Pharmacyโ€ award.

On a national scale, Dr. Choudhry has been recognized for her innovative ways. She recently won an award for being one of the โ€œMost Influential People in Pharmacyโ€ by the Pharmacy Podcast Network. She came in at number five, ahead of national CEOs and others says she was impressed just to be ranked among them.ย 

Since the award is voted on by her peers in the business, it was especially meaningful to her.

She says that itโ€™s not so much that she appreciates the accolades, but because sheโ€™s truly trying to offer her customers something better than what they get at the big retailers.

For example, Palms Pharmacy offers on-site compounding to make your medications to custom specifications, such as low-dose Naltrexone (to manage alcohol or opioid use disorder and hormone replacement therapy. 

The store also now specializes in diabetic and endocrinology supplies, including being a preferred pharmacy for the continuous glucose monitoring system, DexCom.

And, Palms Pharmacy still offers curbside pickup for anyone who would prefer to stay in their car, rather than walking into the pharmacy.

The staff has grown to 12 people and now supports a second location, called One Source Pharmacy, in Westchase. This location has a partnership with One Source Medical Group, which helps diabetic patients get needed supplies that may not be covered under a pharmacy insurance group to get those supplies through their medical insurance.

Dr. Choudhry opened Palms Pharmacy in 2016, after 10 years as the pharmacist at the Publix in Tampa Palms. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy, then went on to receive her Pharm.D. degree in 2001, both from Long Island University in Brooklyn, NY.

โ€œWe enjoy what we do and really appreciate our customers,โ€ Dr. Choudhry says. โ€œWe know you can go anywhere, so if youโ€™re willing to park your car and come through our doors, weโ€™re going to try to do a little bit extra to make you feel welcome.โ€

Covid Deadline: May 11

Dr. Choudhry says at-home Covid tests will no longer be covered by insurance after May 11.

โ€œMake sure you have Covid tests at home,โ€ she says. โ€œCovid is not going away. Itโ€™s more controllable now because when people get it, they stay home, but you will still want to be able to test for it.โ€

Come in to Palms Pharmacy before May 11 and the staff will help you get four or eight take-home Covid tests at no cost to you, if itโ€™s covered by your insurance. If youโ€™re not sure if itโ€™s covered, feel free to call or text (phone numbers below) or come in so the staff can help you.

Palms Pharmacy also stocks the anti-viral treatment Paxlovid and the anti-inflammatory Medrol often prescribed by doctors with it for their Covid-positive patients.

The front of Palms Pharmacy features niche products that make fantastic gifts, including locally-sourced soaps, candles and honey, plus fun candy and snacks. A popular product called โ€œWarmiesโ€ are soft animals stuffed with lavender. They can be heated in the microwave for 30 seconds and may help your child sleep or can be used as a heating pad. These are just a few items that may make a nice surprise in an Easter basket, for a loved oneโ€™s birthday, on Motherโ€™s Day, as a hostess gift, and for countless other occasions.

Palms Pharmacy is located at 17008 Palm Pointe Dr., Tampa, and is open Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Call (813) 252-9063, text Palm Pharmacyโ€™s secure text-only line at (727) 513-3210. For more info, visit ThePalmsPharmacy.com. Follow Palms Pharmacy on Instagram and/or Facebook.

Oriental Rug Care Can Clean & Repair Your Rug!

Owner Raymond Hosmi says Oriental Rug Care is gentle with your favorite rug and can bring back the rugโ€™s brightness after years of foot traffic. (All photos provided by Oriental Rug Care)

Raymond Homsi has one goal in mind when a customer is in need of his services โ€” and that is to get the customerโ€™s Oriental rug looking as nice as it did the day it was purchased.

That means cleaning it and/or repairing it, but either way, Homsi says he and his team at Oriental Rug Care, which is located on Johns Rd. in the Town & Country area of Tampa, is your best choice to get the job done right.

Homsi has been in the rug business for more than a decade, even previously owning his own Oriental rug shop, and has always specialized in restoring the beautiful colors while protecting the intricate designs of Oriental rugs.ย 

The intricate touches your Oriental rug originally had can be repaired and restored by Raymond Homsi and his Oriental Rug Careโ€™s expert technicians.

He says that cleaning the rugs is the most popular request by his customers. Oriental rugs are often handmade and also are often very expensive/valuable. The rugs can be family heirlooms, or even investments, depending upon the quality. So, a yearly cleaning can be pretty important, although Homsi says a deep cleaning from Oriental Rug Care can last 2-4 years.

โ€œEach rug is treated differently, depending upon the contents of the rug (which are sometimes made of delicate materials, like silk), and depending on the colors,โ€ Homsi says. โ€œIf itโ€™s handmade, itโ€™s a different process we use, but there are all sorts of different processes and different products. It all depends upon the rug.โ€

The care taken by Oriental Rug Care helps preserve many of the qualities of the rug, and is especially useful for people who have pets that may pee or chew on the rug.

โ€œAn amazing rug cleaning company,โ€ says one of the 5-Star reviews on Google.com. โ€œStaff came to my house and gave me a quote for cleaning my four oriental rugs. Price was right and the turnaround was quick. I love the way my rugs came out and I highly recommend this company for any of your rug cleanings.โ€

While you can certainly try to clean your own rug, there is a danger of disrupting the distinctive patterns and even dulling some of the deep, rich colors associated with Oriental rugs โ€” and some fabrics are more easily damaged than others.

โ€œRegular carpeting is just something that is synthetic and very basic and when they get cleaned out, itโ€™s with heavy pressure washing machines or a truck mount or whatever,โ€ Homsi says. โ€œThis is not what we do. We donโ€™t apply heavy water, we donโ€™t apply pressure water. Because that kind of leaves a little bit of, you know, smell and mold. We use a lot of scrubbing from the foam that we create from our natural products.โ€

While there may not be a school someone goes to in order to learn the art of the cleaning, Homsi says these skills are generally learned through many years of practice and experience.

โ€œYears and years,โ€ Homsi says. โ€œOur guys are very experienced. You learn as you go. And you know, youโ€™re working with so many different types of rugs that you just accumulate that knowledge.โ€

If you have both a pet and a valuableย 
Oriental rug at home, you probably will need to call oriental Rug Care.

Oriental Rug Care also will attack pet odors and stain removal, provide sanitizing and deodorizing and also help with unwanted colors that may be the result of heavy traffic.

And not only that, Oriental Rug Care will come out to your home and give you a free estimate. If you decide to use their service, they will pick the rug up and return it to you when your service has been completed.

Homsi says the time between pick-up and drop off can be weeks for some companies, but Oriental Rug Care says they usually can have your rug back in 7-10 days.

โ€œI think thatโ€™s where we stand out in the crowd,โ€ Homsi says. โ€œEven though weโ€™re a small company, the main thing I hear from my clients is that our turnaround is very, very good and very fastโ€ฆWeโ€™re very organized. We work on the rugs as soon as we get them.โ€

Cleaning rugs is just one part of the Oriental Rug Care business. Homsi says he has master rug weavers on staff who can repair even the most delicate Oriental rugs.

That includes repairing or replacing rug fringes, altering the rug size, restoring faded colors, fixing holes or rips or even rebinding the sides to give your rug a few added years of life.

โ€œMy rug was too long for the hallway and I called Ray โ€” he is full of energy and knowledge,โ€ wrote one of Oriental Rug Careโ€™s customers. โ€œHe returned my call, showed up on time, gave me a fair quote to trim the rugโ€™s length, remove the antiquated frills, clean it thoroughly and attach leather bonding to the underbelly. (He) kept me updated often, texting pics, and even delivered the rugs himself!โ€

Oriental Rug Care is located at 6101 Johns Rd., Ste 9, in Tampa. It is open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. If you mention this story, you can receive 25% off any service. For more information, call (727) 377-9577, or visit OrientalRugCareCleaning.com.

Empowered For Performance Helps Athletes & Others Manage Pain

Licensed Massage Therapist Ewaldson Francoisโ€™ Empowered for Performance Massage Therapy is a separate business located at Barefoot Massage in the New Tampa Professional Park in Pebble Creek. (Photos by Charmaine George)

When Olympic track and field athlete Marco Arop took home the bronze medal in the menโ€™s 800-meter race at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, he says he felt lucky to have Licensed Massage Therapist Ewaldson Francois, LMT โ€” who goes by Francois โ€” at the meet with him.

โ€œFrancois traveled with a group of us, and every one of us medaled at Worlds,โ€ Marco says. โ€œThatโ€™s pretty impressive.โ€

The group met Francois when he was the massage therapist for the athletics department at Mississippi State University (MSU) in Starkville.

Now, Francois has opened a new business in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area, as he and his family have moved here for the long term.

His business is called Empowered For Performance Massage, and Francois currently works out of a suite at Barefoot Massage, located in the New Tampa Professional Park in Pebble Creek. He is available to help athletes of any caliber, as well as those who are looking for relief from long-term pain.

โ€œHeโ€™s really special as a therapist,โ€ Marco says, โ€œnot only in the techniques and his ability, but also in his dedication.โ€

Marco says Francois is always eager to learn and try new techniques and that his sessions with Francois have become a huge part of Marcoโ€™s career.

โ€œIโ€™ve seen a lot of improvement over the last year,โ€ Marco says. โ€œItโ€™s not just keeping me healthy, but also building strength through new techniques. I have to give him credit for a lot of my accomplishments.โ€

LMT Ewaldson Francois can help you get Empowered for Performance, too!

Francoisโ€™ background is in sports massage and medical massage, helping people who suffer from chronic pain, and also helping athletes with recovery from injuries, increasing performance and muscle balancing. He is certified to provide not only those types of massage, but also myofascia release (manipulation of the tough membranes that wrap, connect and support muscles) and manual lymphatic drainage (to stimulate lymph system flow).

As a kid growing up, Francois says his aunt always asked him to massage her feet.

โ€œI realized how much it helped her and how much I enjoyed it,โ€ he says, โ€œso I developed a love and passion for massage.โ€

At that time, though, Francois never considered that it could become a career. 

Out of high school, he joined the U.S. Navy and worked in the medical field. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, he decided to extend his stay in the military to โ€œdo his part.โ€ At that time, his sister went to massage school and the seed of an idea was planted for what Francois might do after leaving the military.

While stationed in Virginia and working nights as an x-ray technician at Portsmouth Naval Hospital, he began going to massage school during the day. He graduated with an Associateโ€™s degree from a program at ECPI University. It was at that time that Francois left the military and met his wife, Martisa. He moved to Mississippi, where she was a teacher.

Francois began his massage career at a spa in Mississippi but quickly realized that wasnโ€™t for him. Instead, he began working with the athletes of the track and field team at MSU. He then worked with the football team โ€” traveling with them for two seasons โ€” and eventually worked with all of the sports teams in the universityโ€™s athletic department.

He then started his own business, called Golden Triangle Massage Therapy, in 2016.

โ€œI wanted to work for myself and had the desire to be an entrepreneur,โ€ he says. โ€œI wasnโ€™t scared of the hard work that comes with it.โ€

But, Francois and Martisa knew they didnโ€™t want to stay in Mississippi forever, so they began looking for the perfect home to begin the next chapter of their lives together. Their search brought them to the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area, where they plan to raise their daughters, five-year-old Olivia and three-year-old Hosanna.

Now, Francois works with athletes from the high school level to college and professional, and with weekend warriors such as triathletes and cross-fit athletes.

โ€œAnyone who takes their body to the extreme limit,โ€ he says, โ€œmy job is to help you recover so you can get the most out of your workouts.โ€

He says that often starts with deep tissue massage to increase blood circulation. He also is certified in what is called โ€œmuscle activation therapyโ€ to make sure the smaller muscles are working as well as the larger ones. Francois explains that this therapy is personalized based on the individual anatomy of each athlete and how their muscles get fatigued.

Francois also helps people who arenโ€™t athletic, too, especially those suffering from chronic pain. โ€œMy goal is not just to fix the problem, but also to find out whatโ€™s causing the problem,โ€ he says, โ€œwhich could be simple things in day-to-day living.โ€

He says he has helped people discover the source of their migraines and other headaches, as well as sciatica and other chronic pain โ€” whether itโ€™s the way you sit, how you hold the steering wheel, if youโ€™re always looking down at your phone, or if your home office isnโ€™t set up with proper ergonomics.

Francois adds that heโ€™s helped many people who were hopeless and thought they could never do certain things again.

โ€œMuscle pain โ€” chronic pain especially โ€” takes so much out of your quality of life,โ€ says Francois. โ€œThe doctor will tell you that you need a muscle relaxer or surgery, but thatโ€™s not always the answer.โ€

He says he canโ€™t always explain exactly how he knows how to help people. โ€œItโ€™s a gift,โ€ he says. โ€œI put my hands on somebody and their body lets me know what it needs. Things just make sense to me.โ€

Jeanie Dale is another client who highly recommends Francois. After playing a lot of sports at a younger age, she started feeling the wear and tear on her body in her early 60s, and she developed gait issues during the healing process after a knee surgery.

โ€œHeโ€™s gotten it back to normal,โ€ Jeannie says. โ€œI had to re-strengthen muscles that had lost strength and he definitely helped me. With Francois, massages are not just relaxing โ€” theyโ€™re more therapeutic.โ€

Jeanie says Francois already is tremendously missed in Mississippi, and Marco Arop, the Olympic athlete, agrees.

โ€œI donโ€™t know if other athletes have the same experience,โ€ he says, โ€œbut I feel really lucky to have worked with him.โ€

Empowered For Performance Massage Therapy is located at 8905 Regents Park Dr., inside Barefoot Massage, at the New Tampa Professional Park in Pebble Creek. For more info or to make an appointment, call or text Francois at (813) 461-4591.

New Tampa Players Take First Bows At NT Performing Arts Center!

Producing artistic director Nora Paine (far left) and the New Tampa Players finally got to perform at their new home โ€” the New Tampa Performing Arts Center โ€”ย  fulfilling the dream of NTP founder Doug Wall. (Photos by Charmaine George)

I can remember the first-ever conversation I had with Graeme Woodbrook and Doug Wall about trying to bring a professional performing arts center to New Tampa. It was the year 2001 and Woodbrook and Wall (the founder of the New Tampa Players) were both on the original organizing committee and both of them told me they believed that one day, their shared vision would bear fruit.

Fast forward 22 years, to the evening of March 25, 2023, and even though Wall โ€” who passed away in 2017 after battling pancreatic cancer โ€” unfortunately didnโ€™t live to see his Players take the stage at the sparkling new, 350-seat New Tampa Performing Arts Center (NTPAC), Woodbrook and I were both on hand to see the Playersโ€™ โ€œPrelude & Recognition Performanceโ€ at their new home. 

As new NTPAC general manager Keith Arsenault was proud to proclaim to that eveningโ€™s packed house, โ€œMission Accomplished!โ€


New Tampa Performing Arts Center (NTPAC) GM Keith Arsenault and spoke before the โ€œPrelude & Recognition Performanceโ€ by the New Tampa Players at the NTPAC.

Arsenault, who we introduced in our last cover story about the NTPAC, said he has been involved in Tampaโ€™s arts scene for 50 years, since his mother owned a ballet studio near the University of Tampa. He thanked Woodbrook, former Hillsborough County Commissioner (and State Senator) Victor Crist and former Tampa City Council member (and State Rep.) Shawn Harrison, as well as original Players Lydia Macias, Jennifer Barnakow and Janine Hartfield (who is still a member of the theatre troupe today), current Players producing artistic director Nora Paine (โ€œwho is everywhere and doing everything,โ€ he said) and, of course, Wall.ย 

 Arsenault, who called the NTPAC a โ€œstate-of-the-artโ€ theatre, also said, โ€œWe also would not be here without the continuous efforts of (current Hillsborough County Commissioner) Ken Hagan,โ€ who he then introduced as the eveningโ€™s next speaker.

Hagan, who said he has been involved in trying to bring the PAC to New Tampa for, โ€œat least 15 years,โ€ also thanked many of the same people โ€” and especially focused on Wall.ย 

County Commissioner Ken Hagan both spoke before the โ€œPrelude & Recognition Performanceโ€ by the New Tampa Players at the NTPAC.
The future plaque remembering New Tampa Players founder Doug Wall. The orchestra pit at the NTPAC.ย 

โ€œThe theatre was Dougโ€™s heart, soul and light,โ€ Hagan said, quoting Wallโ€™s cousin Neil Berg, himself a Broadway composer and producer. โ€œWe wouldnโ€™t be here tonight if not for his efforts. We realize Dougโ€™s dream tonight!โ€ย 

Hagan also noted and displayed a photo of a plaque created in Wallโ€™s honor and memory that wasnโ€™t quite finished in time for the โ€œPreludeโ€ performance, and mentioned that until the PAC was completed, the Players were a โ€œtheatre troupe without a home.โ€

Also speaking before the performance was Michelle Giles, the current chair of the Playersโ€™ Board of Directors, who presented Paine with a pre-performance floral bouquet.

The โ€œPrelude & Recognition Performanceโ€ itself included almost 30 musical performances by the 13 current Players, interwoven with explanations of how the troupeโ€™s shows are chosen, how the audition process works (including for directors and choreographers) and other ins and outs of the community theatre business.

The performances themselves were amazing and Iโ€™m sad that I donโ€™t have room here to hit all of the highlights, but here are a few: 

Kyle Fisherโ€™s โ€œOne Last Kissโ€ from โ€œBye Bye Birdie,โ€ Janine Hartfieldโ€™s โ€œNo Time at Allโ€ from โ€œPippin,โ€ Bri Filippelliโ€™s โ€œDo Re Miโ€ and the title song from โ€œThe Sound of Music,โ€ Makayla Raines singing โ€œLittle Girlsโ€ and Olivia Carrโ€™s โ€œTomorrowโ€ from โ€œAnnie,โ€ and โ€œWe Go Togetherโ€ from โ€œGreaseโ€ by the entire company. What a great night!

Speaking of โ€œGrease,โ€ that will be the first show produced by the Players at the NTPAC. As shown in the ad below, the auditions will be held at the Uptown Stage at University Mall on Monday & Tuesday, April 24-25, and all performers are welcome to try out at this open audition.

For more information, to volunteer and/or make donations to the New Tampa Players, visit NewTampaPlayers.org.

For questions about the NTPAC, email ArsenaultK@HCFLGov.net.

Popular New Products Fueling Your CBD Store Of New Tampa

David and Debra Curler are eager to please customers who visit Your CBD Store of New Tampa in the Pebble Creek Collection. (Photos by John C. Cotey)

Battling with anxiety and not quite sure what to do while driving up Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., Alex Colley was looking for a sign.

Little did he know that sign would quite literally be the one that David Curler, the co-owner of Your CBD Store of New Tampa, was twirling on the side of BBD.

โ€œDavid was out there spinning the sign, and it said โ€˜Free CBD Samples, Come On In,โ€™โ€ Alex says. โ€œI had seen him out there before and didnโ€™t think anything, but Iโ€™ve had anxiety for a long time, and I literally was driving by as I was having a panic attack. And I was like, โ€˜I guess thatโ€™s my sign, right? Like, literally, thereโ€™s my sign to go in.โ€™โ€

Alex went in and David gave him a sample that immediately calmed him down, and Alex has been a regular now for four months. โ€œDavid is my CBD doctor,โ€ he says, chuckling.

David is quick to point out, however, that he is not a doctor. He and his wife Debra are just owners of the Your CBD Store of New Tampa, located in the Pebble Creek Collection, and are true believers in the power of CBD and its healing properties.

Pick a malady, and Debra can point you towards the right remedy, with David ready to answer any questions about your choices.

Having trouble sleeping? Theyโ€™ve got you.

Anxiety? Depressed? In a lot of pain? Just need to relax? They have answers.

Looking for relief from the effects of PTSD? Cancer? Arthritis? Thereโ€™s a multitude of CBD products to help with any of those ailments.

โ€œWe love helping people,โ€ Debra says. โ€œItโ€™s why we started doing this in the first place.โ€

They also are true believers because they use some of the products they sell themselves. Debra had a knee replaced and finds that her storeโ€™s SunMed CBD-infused creams bring her relief, while David finds his issues with sleeping washed away with a nighttime gummy.

โ€œI like that they use the products and can tell you from first-hand experience what they do,โ€ Alex said. โ€œItโ€™s not like deciding what to order at a steakhouse and finding out your waiter is a vegetarian.โ€

Debra says new customers like Alex and the friends he has recommended to the Curlers are coming through their doors every day. While they have their regulars, on a recent Sunday, Debra says that every customer who stopped by was a new one. 

While the effects are not guaranteed because everyone is different, Debra says many customers rave about the effects.

CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of more than 100 cannabinoids that grow on cannabis, of which both hemp and marijuana are varieties. Like โ€œweed,โ€ CBD originates from hemp, but contains less than 0.3% of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the ingredient that causes the โ€œhigh,โ€ while marijuana has much higher levels of THC. 

Most of the CBD products at Your CBD Store of New Tampa are offered as โ€œfull spectrum,โ€ which are generally stronger but still contain no more than the legal limit of 0.3% THC, and โ€œbroad spectrum,โ€ which have no THC at all. 

The Delta Experience

The recent explosion of Delta 8 and Delta 9 products has pushed the limits of the THC content in CBD products, making it more important than ever that consumers know they are legitimate. Your CBD Store only sells SunMed products that the company says are vigorously tested. In fact, a QR code on the products can be scanned for the complete independent lab reports for each SunMed product.

The Curlers say SunMedโ€™s Above and Beyond Delta-8 and Delta-9 products (above) are the hottest sellers at Your CBD Store of New Tampa.

SunMed grows its hemp in Oregon and Colorado, and processes it in nearby Palmetto, FL. 

SunMed has recently launched Above and Beyond lines, which have higher levels of THC โ€” but still remain below the legal limit โ€” and are the best sellers for Debra and David.

โ€œThese will be gone by the end of the weekend,โ€ Debra says, pointing to a shelf filled with SunMedโ€™s Above and Beyond products, 

The new product called Above blends Delta-8 with other cannabinoids, which SunMed says delivers a high that is described as โ€œgentle body feels,โ€ as opposed to a psychoactive high.

Meanwhile, Beyond products contain Delta-9 (and 400-percent more cannabinoids than your usual full-spectrum), and come in calming (indica) and uplifting (sativa) versions.

There also is a hybrid version that blends the two together.

David also raves about his Your CBD Storeโ€™s CBG products. 

They arenโ€™t new, but he has a special appreciation for their effectiveness, especially the full- and broad-spectrum neuro-water soluble and the CBG Citrus, which helps with inflammation.

Great For Relief

Jack Martin used to go to the CBD store near his Land Oโ€™Lakes home before it shut down. He says he is thankful he found Dave and Debraโ€™s location, because they have been a godsend.

Once every three weeks, he places an order for CBD and CBG products for his 80-year-old mother. The CBD helps with her sore joints and arthritis, while the CBG, which can be more effective treating muscle soreness, is for the neuropathy in her feet.

โ€œAs long as momโ€™s taking it, itโ€™s like someone flipped a switch,โ€ Jack says. โ€œJust being pain-free and being out of the misery of having the feeling of burning feet all the time, itโ€™s been a wonder.โ€

Jack may not use the Above and Beyond products at Your CBD Store, but he does appreciate the above-and-beyond service provided by David, who delivers Jackโ€™s order free of charge.

โ€œOn a scale of 1-10, they are a 15,โ€ he says. โ€œAnd, you have to be careful where you buy this stuff these days. Everyone is selling it, but I trust the product at Davidโ€™s store.โ€

While CBD products continue to be debated, they also are becoming more commonplace and accepted. As a result, SunMed continues to produce highly-tested, top-quality products.

โ€œThereโ€™s something here for everyone,โ€ Debra says. โ€œWe can help you find what you need.โ€

Like most CBD-related products, they come in various forms โ€” like gummies, water soluble and tinctures, as well as vapes and pre-rolls (primarily for the Above and Beyond line) for those who prefer the smoking effect.

Other products include:

 Immune+, a tincture blend that contains CBGA, the โ€œgrand daddyโ€ of cannabinoids, and CBDA. Both are acids which are converted to CBG and CBD, and Immune+ combines them with cinnamon, clove, blue gum eucalyptus and lemon essential oils and then adds Vitamins A and D3 to give your immune system a boost.

TRIM is SunMedโ€™s first foray into the weight loss product market. TRIM features THC-V, which blocks your appetite-stimulating CB1 receptor (THC-D9, by contrast, causes appetite stimulation). David says he lost 21 pounds using TRIM, although he confesses to gaining a few back. He says weight loss while using TRIM will vary with each customer.

Full spectrum, hemp-infused full-spectrum SunMed seltzers, which come in indica (called Just Chillinโ€™) and Delta-8 (aka Island Time). David says a doctor from nearby AdventHealth stops by for a case of seltzer every month and shares them with his patients.

There also are topical creams and sprays and Debra says the broad spectrum cream and the topical spray, both produce outstanding results. Or, try another one of the newer items, the broad spectrum-infused massage oil.

For your doggies, Your CBD Store offers Chillinโ€™ Out (for relaxation) and Movinโ€™ Easy (for mobility and aches and pains for senior dogs) broad-spectrum hemp chews.

Your CBD Store New Tampa is located at 19651 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Suite B-1. It is open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. 

For more information, call (813) 994-0599 or visit CBDRX4U.com/find-us/florida/new-tampa.