Hemp advocates are activists who advocate for the legalization of hemp-derived products such as CBD. Hemp advocates work to support and pass legislation in order to help grow and flourish this industry, educate others on its benefits, and may provide financial assistance for projects related to hemp.
Cannabis Law PA in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s Judith Cassel has been honored with the 2023 PBA Medical Marijuana and Hemp Advocate Award. This honor recognizes an individual who has advanced Pennsylvania medical marijuana or hemp programs or assisted people involved with them. Cassel’s practice centers around transactional and regulatory matters for growers, processors, dispensaries, industry stakeholders in Pennsylvania as well as nationally.
“Having someone with great passion for their industry who works to push change forward at a national level is of utmost importance,” Kight stated. “Thankfully there are hardworking men and women out there doing just that and trying to make this all come together.”
Hemp has a relative in marijuana or “weed,” which contains high concentrations of the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). By comparison, hemp contains only trace amounts of THC and has been widely used throughout history in paper production, clothing manufacturing, rope making, food production and medicine production – although its usage was outlawed worldwide after becoming mistakenly perceived as hallucinogenic over time.
Now that marijuana has become legal in many states and has gained broad consumer approval, the federal government needs to change how they view hemp and marijuana. Current policies of classifying both as Schedule 1 controlled substances is an immense impediment to growth in this industry – thus the need for advocates who can lobby on behalf of legislative action on this matter.
Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell has long been one of the leading advocates for hemp. He is leading efforts to remove it from the Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) list of banned drugs. Working together with Kentucky farmer James Comer, McConnell hopes to bring this issue before Congress this year.
Comer, who cultivates hemp in Kentucky, believes cultivation will become easier once the Drug Enforcement Agency deschedules it – and is hopeful a bill to do this will pass this year.
Since 2000, Vote Hemp has been advocating to move industrial hemp regulation away from the Drug Enforcement Agency and toward state departments of agriculture. They also work against any laws or policies which might restrict hemp commerce.
The 2018 Farm Bill specifically recognized FDA’s authority to oversee hemp derivatives, yet this authority remains unused by industry players. As such, they have relied upon existing nutritional product and dietary supplement laws in order to ensure that any hemp-derived products they sell remain safe for consumers.
While lack of explicit FDA regulation means the hemp industry could run afoul of the law, this doesn’t have to be seen as negative; FDA has plenty on its plate already and if they choose not to move swiftly on hemp markets that’s their choice and not necessarily related to industry practices.