Wildwood Labs’ HempSticks: The Natural Choice for Recovery

From the rolling hills of Lakeside, Ontario, a groundbreaking medical cannabis company is transforming how Canadian patients approach hemp-based wellness. Wildwood Labs has emerged as a leader in the medical cannabis topical market, developing innovative full-spectrum hemp stick products that prioritize healing over intoxication, embodying their core principle of "healthy, not high."

In December 2024, Wildwood Labs made history when they launched their flagship hemp stick product at Little Leaf Cannabis Co. in Stratford, Ontario. This milestone represented a culmination of a four-year journey that began with a leap of faith during the uncertain summer of 2020.

The Wildwood origin story

The story of Wildwood Labs begins with vision, resilience, and faith. In 2020, as the world paused and retreated, four visionary families in Lakeside, Ontario, embarked on an extraordinary journey. They planted 60 acres of hemp, driven not by recreational pursuits but by a belief in the healing potential of the cannabis plant.

"A lot of people are under the impression that cannabis can get you high, and of course it can if you're smoking it or certain edibles can have a psychoactive effect if they have THC in them," explains Shane Wiebe, managing director and co-owner of Wildwood Labs. "But our product is very rich in CBD and in CBC and in CBN and CBG and all these other cannabinoids that specifically target inflammation and pain, restless muscles, these kinds of things."

By fall 2020, their fields yielded a bountiful harvest, sparking the next phase of their vision. The families developed a unique, proprietary pelletization process that perfectly dried the biomass without compromising the hemp's beneficial properties. This innovative method preserved the plant's essence, marking the birth of Wildwood Extraction Labs.

The company's leadership brings diverse expertise to their mission. Eric Puff, Director of Operations, contributes extensive experience in manufacturing, extraction, brewing, and winemaking. David Grieve, Field & Security Director, leads the growing team with his farming expertise. Together with Shane Wiebe, whose background spans nutraceuticals and music (he was a top-five finalist on Canadian Idol), they've built a tight-knit, family-first company.

Where nature meets precision

What sets Wildwood Labs apart in the crowded CBD topical market is its commitment to full-spectrum hemp products. Unlike many competitors who isolate individual cannabinoids, Wildwood preserves the complete profile of beneficial compounds found naturally in hemp.

"Our product is a full-spectrum hemp product – it's not made from marijuana; it's made from hemp," Wiebe emphasizes. "Instead of having one or two cannabinoids, I always joke we have between nine and nine million in there because there's only about 20 cannabinoids we can test for right now."

This approach leverages what scientists call the "entourage effect" – the theory that cannabis compounds work synergistically to enhance therapeutic benefits. Full-spectrum products contain various cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids that work together, potentially providing superior effects compared to isolated compounds.

Meet the HempSticks

Wildwood Labs has developed four distinct hemp stick varieties, each expertly formulated for specific wellness needs. Available through Hero Dispatch, these products represent the pinnacle of topical cannabis innovation.

Lemongrass & Lavender: Their flagship product combines the soothing properties of lemongrass and lavender, which provide gentle, continuous release, effectively managing muscle and joint tension. 
Ingredients: Beeswax, coconut oil, shea butter, full-spectrum hemp extract, and organic essential oils of eucalyptus, wintergreen, lavender, and lemongrass.

Cool Menthol: Designed for immediate cooling relief, this variant offers traditional muscle rub sensations enhanced by CBD benefits. Perfect for post-workout recovery or daily comfort needs. 
Ingredients: Beeswax, coconut oil, shea butter, full-spectrum hemp extract, organic menthol, eucalyptus, and wintergreen essential oils.

Warming Cinnamon Ginger: This unique blend delivers deep, lasting warmth through carefully selected essential oils. The heating sensation helps manage physical stress while supporting overall muscle and joint health. 
Ingredients: Beeswax, coconut oil, shea butter, full-spectrum hemp extract, plus organic essential oils of cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, wintergreen, clove, and orange.

Extra Strength: Their most potent offering delivers triple the strength of regular sticks for users with more intense wellness needs. 
Ingredients: Beeswax, shea butter, full-spectrum hemp extract, coconut oil, eucalyptus, wintergreen, lavender, and lemongrass essential oils.

A vision beyond the buzz

Wildwood Labs' success story reflects broader trends in cannabis normalization and wellness integration. Their field-to-skin approach, controlling everything from cultivation through final product, ensures quality and consistency that resonates with health-conscious consumers.

The company's artisanal approach to small-batch production, combined with its proprietary extraction methods, positions it uniquely in Canada's evolving cannabis landscape.

"We've really wanted to target people who are grandmas and great grandmas' age because there's so much that is not known about the cannabis market; they really do think of it as a recreational drug to get high, and that's not at all what our ethos is about," explains Wiebe.

As regulatory frameworks continue to develop and consumer education improves, companies like Wildwood Labs are poised to lead the transformation of cannabis from recreational novelty to essential wellness tool. Their story demonstrates that with vision, expertise, and unwavering commitment to quality, it's possible not only to thrive but also to push the boundaries of possibility in a rapidly evolving industry.

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