Celebrating Hemp Week: Be an Advocate!

By Michelle Bodian

Jun 10, 2020

“Hemp Week is the largest educational campaign about hemp in the U.S. The campaign raises awareness about the environmental sustainability, health benefits, regenerative agriculture potential, and new technological applications of industrial hemp.” – Hemp Week

The United States has made huge leaps and bounds to revive a vital and versatile crop—hemp! However, there are still steps that hemp advocates and industry participants can take today to help this crop and fledgling industry survive and thrive. As we reflect on progress during Hemp Week, let's also take action to move this industry forward with the following vital initiatives:

• Encourage USDA to designate hemp as a specialty crop so hemp farmers can receive much needed financial aid.

• Demand that USDA’s final hemp regulations are practical and reasonable. Hemp farmers should not be overly regulated or be expected to meet unachievable standards.

• Advocate for a change in law that ensures the THC threshold is raised from 0.3% to 1% to allow hemp genetic material time to stabilize.

These changes, and others, are possible through advocacy. We encourage you to speak or write to your elected officials at the federal, state, and local levels to promote change. Locate your senators and representatives here, and take a look at these sharable advocacy resources:

• Hemp Week Take Action Page
• Vote Hemp Take Action Page
• U.S. Hemp Roundtable Action Page
• Volunteer with National Hemp Association
• Sign the Hemp Pledge

Happy Hemp Week!