The Georgia Hemp Company: Hemp Education, Growth, and Packaging

The Georgia Hemp Company has grown since Sana Packaging first spoke with co-founder Joe Salome in 2021.

At the time of the original interview, the company operated three retail locations in Georgia and had been working with Sana Packaging since July 2020.

The conversation covered hemp education, business growth, packaging materials, product recovery, water conservation, and the challenges of operating in a rapidly changing industry.

This updated customer spotlight revisits that conversation while distinguishing the information shared in 2021 from current company details.

A Georgia Hemp Business Built Around Education

The Georgia Hemp Company describes itself as operating since 2017.

Founded by Joe Salome and Ryan Dills, the company built its retail experience around helping customers understand hemp-derived products and the differences among available formats.

During the 2021 interview, Joe described the stores as serving experienced customers, newcomers, and people who wanted help understanding the product selection.

Education was therefore more than a marketing theme. It shaped how the company approached its stores, customer service, product sourcing, and community presence.

Joe and Ryan also brought different professional backgrounds to the business. Joe had experience in sales and marketing, while Ryan’s work included entrepreneurship and water conservation.

Their shared goal was to make hemp products more understandable and accessible while building a business that could adapt as the market changed.

Growing Beyond the Original Three Stores

When Sana Packaging conducted the original interview, The Georgia Hemp Company had locations in Decatur, Sandy Springs, and Woodstock.

The company subsequently expanded beyond those three stores. In a February 2025 update, it reported six locations in the greater Atlanta area.

Store locations, hours, products, delivery options, and services can change. Visit The Georgia Hemp Company website for current information.

The company’s growth provides useful historical context for the original interview. It captures the business at an earlier stage, before several of its later locations and services were introduced.

Working with Sana Packaging

Sana Packaging began working with The Georgia Hemp Company in July 2020.

During the 2021 interview, Joe explained that the company had been looking for packaging options made with different material inputs. That search led the team to Sana Packaging for selected pre-roll and vape-cartridge packaging.

At the time, The Georgia Hemp Company used Sana Packaging tubes made from plant-based hemp plastic.

Sana Packaging’s hemp plastic is 100% plant-based and petroleum-free. It is not biodegradable or compostable and should not be placed in a composting system. At the end of its useful life, it should be discarded in the trash unless it is accepted by a specific recovery program.

Learn more in our guide to understanding hemp plastic packaging.

Packaging material is only one part of a finished package. Product compatibility, child-resistance requirements, labeling, available recovery systems, and the complete container-and-closure configuration must also be considered.

A 2021 Packaging Take-Back Snapshot

The original interview also described a customer take-back program.

At the time, The Georgia Hemp Company reported that each store had a collection bin for used vape cartridges, joint containers, gummy containers, and other packaging. Customers who returned eligible items received a discount on a future purchase.

The company also reported transporting collected material to a recycling center.

These details describe how the program operated in 2021. They should not be interpreted as a current description of the company’s stores or recovery practices.

Collecting a package does not guarantee that it will be recycled. The result depends on the material, contamination, component separation, local processing options, transportation, and the requirements of the receiving program.

Brands considering a take-back program should confirm what the receiving facility accepts and how each collected component will be handled.

A Snapshot of the 2021 Product Mix

Delta-8 products featured prominently in The Georgia Hemp Company’s product selection during the original interview.

Joe identified Delta-8 gummies as an important product category at that time. Several of the photos preserved in this article also show products available during that period.

Those images provide a visual record of the 2021 interview. They should not be interpreted as a current catalog or statement about product availability.

Hemp-derived product selections, formulas, packaging, retailer inventories, and legal requirements can change. Visit the company’s official website for current product information.

Water Conservation and Business Decisions

Water conservation was another priority discussed during the interview.

Joe described it as an issue that mattered to both him and Ryan. Ryan’s professional work in water conservation influenced how the partners thought about resource use and the environmental effects of business decisions.

The conversation also highlighted the role of business partners and suppliers.

Joe summarized the company’s approach with a simple phrase:

Do what you can when you can.

That principle reflected an incremental view of improvement. A business may not be able to change every product, process, or material at once, but it can continue to identify practical opportunities and ask better questions.

Environmental progress should still be supported by specific information. Material composition, quantities, dates, recovery methods, and documented results provide more useful context than broad claims about a company or product being “green.”

Packaging Is Part of a Larger Relationship

Customer relationships often extend beyond containers, closures, artwork, order quantities, and delivery dates.

Our 2021 conversation with The Georgia Hemp Company offered a closer look at the people behind the business, its emphasis on education, and the environmental questions it was considering as it grew.

If you are evaluating packaging for a cannabis or hemp-derived product, contact Sana Packaging to discuss your product, intended market, quantity, timeline, and customization needs.

Last reviewed: August 31, 2026.

This article revisits an interview conducted in 2021. Products, locations, personnel, programs, operating practices, and other company details may have changed. Visit the company’s official website for current information.