SunKissed Greenz Offers Locally-Grown CBD, Hemp Products In New Lenox

NEW LENOX, IL — When one of Misty Nelson's daughters developed respiratory syncytial virus as a baby, doctors gave her pharmaceuticals for treatment. Nelson researched the drugs and found that many of them came with some serious potential side effects.

Nelson's husband suffers from chronic pain after having surgery on both of his hands. She also has a cousin-in-law who developed brain cancer and also continues to suffer from the side effects from those treatments.

Even the Nelson's family dog was suffering from seizures four to five times a day.

All of these experiences pushed Nelson to create her own CBD- and hemp-based business as a means to help others who want to supplement their treatments with all-natural options.

"Everything that we have in us, and the passion we have for doing this, a lot of it hits home for us," Nelson said. "We're not exempt from this. This is how the world is."

Nelson, a Frankfort resident, started SunKissed Greenz in 2020 as an online shop, and opened the store's first physical location at 252 Stone Court in New Lenox in February this year.

SunKissed Greenz is not like a smoke shop and it is not part of a chain of stores, Nelson said. It has its own laboratory on site, and everything in its product line is formulated and made by SunKissed Greenz.

Customers are welcome to come to SunKissed Greenz between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday to speak with staff there about any products they are considering purchasing. Evening and weekend hours are also available by appointment.

"We want people to feel comfortable with what they're buying, and we just don't want anybody thinking, 'Well, I think I need this,' if they're really not sure at all," Nelson said. "... We don't want anyone to wing it on their health care on a website."

The hemp and CBD sources it uses to make its products come from local farmers, Nelson said. Those sources are sent to independent test laboratories in Colorado and Florida, where the sources are tested for pesticides, mold, lead and any other imperfections.

If the CBD and hemp sources pass those tests, SunKissed takes the sources and turns them into the products it sells.

But before the products land on the store's shelves, another round of testing is done to measure the potency of the product so that customers can be sure the amount of CBD or hemp in a specific product has the correct amount listed on the product, something that other CBD shops do not do, Nelson said.

"We make sure we know what's going in there," she said.

SunKissed Greenz uses its natural ingredients to also create CBD-infused edibles and drinks. It even has its own line of products specifically for pets. The company also offers party platers, events and more.

Plus, when customers purchase SunKissed Greenz products they are not only helping out a locally-owned business, but they are also helping in the global effort to combat climate change. For every Facebook or Google review of SunKissed Greenz, or for every purchase of any SunKissed Greenz merchandise, the company will donate a tree in that customer's name through One Tree Planted, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is dedicated to global reforestation.

"We are huge nature lovers. We would live outside if we could," Nelson said of the partnership. "We are also big on giving back and wanting to help."

Much of the packaging and merchandise available at SunKissed Greenz is 100 percent recyclable, Nelson said. The store's T-shirts, for example, are made from recycled water bottles, she said.

Nelson credited her grandmother for her own interest in and passion for all-natural options from an early age. It was Nelson's grandmother who first taught Nelson techniques to create all-natural products, and Nelson continues that generational knowledge today.

Although the popularity of CBD- and hemp-based products has become increasingly popular over the past few years as an alternative option for sleep, pain and anxiety symptoms, Nelson stressed that customers who use her products or any other CBD- and hemp-based products should always consult with their physician before using any supplements.

"You owe it to yourself and your family to look into what you're taking and other options if they're out there," said. "... Our goal is really just to build [SunKissed Greenz] up and get people feeling better naturally so they can enjoy their life. You only have one life. You don't want to feel miserable. You want to feel good so you can go out and enjoy it."

Readers interested in learning more about SunKissed Greenz and the products it offers can visit the company's website by following this link.