Rod Discusses THCa, Hemp Beverages, and the Future of Hemp with Gary Kaminsky on the High Spirits Podcast [PODCAST]

I am a strong supporter for the hemp industry not because of hemp, per se, but rather because I am a cannabis advocate. As we all know, both marijuana and hemp are the same plant. And although medical marijuana made great strides in public awareness in the early days of legalization, hemp has been the “great normalizer” of cannabis in the US for almost a decade. From CBD to CBD flower to intoxicating cannabinoids, and D9 beverages to THCa flower, hemp has not only brought cannabis to people all over the US, in red and blue states alike, but it has also provided a pathway for people -regular people who don’t have political connections or access to massive amounts of capital – to become involved in the cannabis industry and to turn their passion for cannabis into a livelihood.

And while the marijuana industry is in a state of crisis (for instance, I just read an article yesterday describing the NY industry as a quagmire, and legacy marijuana companies are struggling and going out of business) the hemp industry is growing. It is clear that the state-regulated marijuana model does not work. On the other hand, hemp is a way out of the corner that the cannabis industry has painted itself into. Everyone, from multinational MSOs to convenience chains to small-town mom and pop shops and even individual talented growers, can participate in the booming market for legal hemp, which is another way of saying legal cannabis, and its products.

Certainly, hemp should be subject to reasonable regulations for safety and standardization, and access by minors should be limited, but prohibiting it or trying to impose the same types of regulatory barriers and taxation schemes that have harmed the marijuana market is wrongheaded. Instead of destroying the US cannabis market in what amounts to a turf war, I advocate for continuing to expand cannabis access to people and businesses throughout the US and the world. Currently, that pathway is through hemp. For this reason, everyone watching this podcast should let their state and federal representatives know that hemp and hemp products should remain lawful, this is particularly true for the next Farm Bill, which will determine the fate of hemp- which is to say cannabis- for the next 5 years.

October 4, 2023

Rod Kight is an international cannabis lawyer. He represents businesses throughout the cannabis industry. Additionally, Rod speaks at cannabis conferences, drafts and presents legislation to foreign governments, is regularly quoted on cannabis matters in the media, and is the editor of the Kight on Cannabis legal blog, which discusses legal issues affecting the cannabis industry. You can contact him by clicking here.