Illustration by Lynne Carty

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We’ve been seeing hemp, and its soothing extract CBD, everywhere since Congress decriminalized the innocuous strain of cannabis in December. The stock market never misses a fad, so public companies are eagerly adding hemp to their product lines.

Hemped-up cosmetics, clothes, and nutritional supplements could achieve good sales. The analysts at Cowen & Co. foresee several billions worth of sales for the industry. But it’s hard to find obvious winners in what’s shaping up to be a crowded field. “You are going to see a Wild West environment for a while,” said Joe Dowling, CEO of the CBD supplement seller CV Sciences (CVSI).