ABOVE: Cameron Kabe and Brandi Minscer, owners of Advanced Core. The business recently opened in Fairmont and offers a variety of CBD products.

FAIRMONT– A new business that recently opened in Fairmont is offering products that have been becoming increasingly more popular. Advanced Core, located at 800 E. Blue Earth Ave., sells CBD products and plans to also offer THC products in the near future.

The business is owned by Cameron Kabe and his fiancé, Brandi Minscer.

CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) are two of the most prominent cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant.

Kabe runs Crowing Fields Organic Farms, which he’s been growing cannabis on, along with other organic crops, through the state hemp program. He said for four years he’s been learning and growing and in the past year began working on marketing.

“We feel that a lot of people can gain from these products. Fairmont has a market, it’s just reaching them,” Kabe said.

While they’ve been selling their own products at the Fairmont Farmers Market for the past two years, they decided to open a store in order to offer their products and provide people an opportunity to pick what’s best for them.

They’re renting from Fairmont Ford, which owns the building, and the space they’re in was formally Serenity Salon. While they were looking at a few other options, they were both pleased with this location.

“It was beautiful. We didn’t have to do any remodeling. It worked out perfectly,” said Minscer.

Right now, Advanced Core sells a variety of CBD products and is really focusing on the health and wellness side of its CBD line.

“We have some products that we make ourselves but we carry some other local products, too. We have some from Alpha, some from here in town and some from a company in the cities,” said Minscer.

Advanced Core carries CBD oils and CBD tinctures, CBD rollers and lotions for pain relief. They also have capsules.

“We just started a pet line. We have dog treats and cat treats,” Minscer said.

Like with humans, CBD products for pets can be used for anxiety and pain management. Kabe said he had a dog that was sick and not eating and within 20 minutes of having some CBD product, the dog was up and moving and eating.

“She ended up living another six months and died of old age in her sleep. She lived

those last six months pain free, with no signs of it, anyway,” Kabe said.

In October, the city of Fairmont passed an ordinance regarding the sale of THC products. This came after a new state law passed in Minnesota in July which allows those 21 years and older to purchase certain edibles and beverages containing THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.

The ordinance requires businesses that want to sell the products to license the premise and the business cannot be within 300 feet of any park, school or public sports field. The ordinance also says THC products must be sold face-to-face and not through vending machines. There can also be no free samples or donations. The ordinance passed unanimously and a license fee of $200 was set.

Kabe said that their business is zoned correctly and right now a background check is being done, as is standard. Coming up at the next city council meeting on Monday, Jan. 9, the council will vote whether or not to accept a license application for the sale of THC products at Advanced Core.

“I have no reason to believe they won’t say yes,” Kabe said.

Like any other business that sells a substance, Advanced Core will be subject to compliance checks.

Both Kabe and Minscer understand that there can be controversy surrounding the products as there are stigmas associated. However, Kabe said it comes down to being responsible and taking the proper dosage.

“Whether you’re talking about CBD or THC, it’s like taking aspirin. If you take too much you get sick, if you take too little it does nothing. In our store, we’re giving the proper dosage and the proper products with the education behind it to explain how to use it,” Kabe said.

He acknowledged that the products maybe don’t work for or are desirable to everyone, but there are people who swear by and praise the products.

Both Kabe and Minscer are excited for people to come in, ask questions and check out their products. Advanced Core plans to be open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 8 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“We’re hoping to broaden the reach more and to educate people on the benefits of the products,” Minscer said.