About

Our Mission

The mission of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable is to advocate for science-driven, equitable, and inclusive law and regulation for hemp industries – including agriculture, oilseed, fiber and extracts, such as CBD – to produce a reliable, sustainable supply chain of responsible commerce.

The U.S. Hemp Roundtable is a coalition of dozens of leading companies and organizations committed to safe hemp and CBD products. We proudly represent the industry’s major national grassroots organizations, and are leading the way forward for hemp and CBD products through education and action.

OUR VALUES

The U.S. Hemp Roundtable works closely with its members and advocacy partners to support policies, legislation or initiatives that reflect one or more of our “seed” values — 

Sustainability: Promoting research and development opportunities for the advancement of hemp fiber production as a sustainable, climate-smart agricultural commodity. 

Ethics and Accountability: Ensuring best practices and high standards that protect hemp producers, retailers and consumers. 

Equity and Justice: Providing economic empowerment, restorative justice, and equitable access to communities of color and minority-owned enterprises.

Diversity and Inclusion: Creating a more diverse and inclusive industry by engaging underserved, minority producers with more resources to participate in the market.

Science and Reason: Using scientific evidence and real-world data analyzed by experts and discussed amongst the industry to establish sensible rules and regulations for products and producers. 

OUR PRIORITIES

1

Pass legislation to require FDA regulation of hemp extracts such as CBD as a dietary supplement and food and beverage additive.

2

Ensure passage of hemp-friendly 2023 Farm Bill, including priorities for hemp-extracts, certified seeds, removing the hemp felon ban, and raising allowable THC in the field to 1%.

3

Make meaningful impacts in justice and sustainability, which includes working with HBCU’s, the U.S. Hemp Authority, and the U.S. Hemp Sustainability Foundation to develop sustainability standards for hemp growth and products.

Join Our Efforts

The U.S. Hemp Roundtable is the nation’s ONLY hemp business advocacy organization committed to shaping the future of hemp through state and federal policy. Make your voice and opinion matter in Washington D.C. and around the country. Learn how you can get involved with our efforts today!

GET INVOLVED

A Decade In The Making

2024
October 2024
Following the 2023 establishment of the USHR Adult Use Cannabinoid Committee to help guide the regulation of intoxicating hemp products, the U.S. Hemp Authority’s Adult-Use Certification launches.
October 2024
USHR sues Governor Newsom over a proposed emergency ban on all hemp products with any amount of THC.
September 2024
USHR meets with 40 Senate offices, and hosts luncheon with Sen. Wyden (D-OR) to unveil S.2451, the Cannabinoid Safety & Regulation Act.
June 2024
USHR establishes Beverage Committee to address priorities of the more than three dozen member companies selling hemp beverages, and ensuring a united, holistic industry approach.
April 2024
Hosted a D.C. Fly-In with over 80 meetings for Members to meet with Congressional leaders and staff.
2023
September 2023
Hosted a D.C. Fly-In for Members to meet with Congressional leaders and staff, which featured a Staff Briefing and luncheon to promote legislation that would regulate CBD with representatives from CRN, CHPA, and AHPA.
August 2023
U.S. Hemp Roundtable responds to Congressional Request for Information (RFI) regarding CBD regulation.
July 2023
Jonathan Miller testified as lead witness and worked closely with House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) to secure the first ever hearing calling on the FDA to answer for their lack of regulation of CBD products.
May 2023
U.S. Hemp Roundtable establishes Adult Use Cannabinoid Committee to help guide the regulation of intoxicating hemp products.
April 2023
Hosted a D.C. Fly-In for Members to meet with Congressional leaders and staff, which featured a Staff Briefing and pizza luncheon to promote hemp industry priorities for the upcoming Farm Bill with representatives from the HIA and the NIHC.
2022
September 2022
Hosted a D.C. Fly-In for Members to meet with Congressional leaders and staff, culminating in a private dinner with Sen. McConnell and former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.
July 2022
Vice President and CEO of Kentucky-based Ecofibre, Eric Wang, testified at the first House Agriculture Committee hearing on hemp and CBD.
April 2022
Hosted a D.C. Fly-In for Board Members to meet with 14 members of Congress and staff.
February 2022
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) introduced The Hemp Advancement Act of 2022 with strong support and collaboration from the U.S. Hemp Roundtable.
2021
October 2021
California passed AB 45 after a three-year effort led by the U.S. Hemp Roundtable and local hemp groups to end the state's prohibition on retail sales of CBD products.
May 2021
Supported the introduction by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) of the first Senate bill which would establish a legal and regulatory pathway for the sale of hemp-derived extract products, such as CBD, as dietary supplements or food and beverage additives.
March 2021
Worked closely with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services to develop a regulatory pathway for CBD in food and beverages for the state.
2020
October 2020
New York released hemp regulations reflecting the U.S. Hemp Roundtable's feedback to remove age restrictions on ingestible hemp products and cosmetics.
September 2020
Led lobbying efforts to ensure hemp farmers were eligible for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP).
September 2020
Worked closely with Reps. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) and Morgan Griffith (R-VA) on the introduction of the first House bill to establish a legal and regulatory pathway for the sale of hemp-derived extract products, such as CBD, as dietary supplements.
July 2020
Launched its Minority Empowerment Committee (MEC) and adopted an ambitious equity and inclusion framework, designed by the prestigious Annie E. Casey Foundation.
2019
October 2019
The U.S. Hemp Roundtable Board meets with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to discuss the Interim Final Rule for the U.S. Domestic Hemp Program; USDA adopts most of USHR’s proposed recommendations.
August 2019
Collected data for the development of a federal multi-peril crop insurance program for hemp, providing affordable options to U.S farmers.
May 2019
General Counsel, Jonathan Miller, testifies at the FDA’s first public hearing on hemp-derived CBD.
March 2019
Working with Reps. Ed Perlmutter (D-OR) and Andy Barr (RKY), USHR helps secure an amendment to the SAFE Banking Act providing a safe harbor for hemp farmers and CBD businesses.
2018
December 2018
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announces its opinion that CBD ingestible sales are illegal, but will work toward a regulatory pathway for their sales.
December 2018
After years of lobbying by the USHR, and the leadership of McConnell, 2018 Farm Bill is signed into law with provisions to permanently legalize hemp and hemp products like CBD.
May 2018
The U.S. Hemp Roundtable seeds funding for the establishment of the U.S. Hemp Authority (USHA), an independent SRO to administer the guidance plan for industry standards.
2017
August 2017
Understanding the need to develop high standards and best practices for the industry, USHR works with industry leaders to develop a guidance plan for an independent, self-regulated organization (SRO).
February 2017
With dozens of members from across the country, and the fight for federal legalization paramount, KHIC is rebranded as the U.S. Hemp Roundtable.
2015-16
2015-2016
KHIC leads lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill to ensure federal spending bills include riders to prohibit DEA from interfering with state pilot programs.
2014
August 2014
Comer, assisted by the KHIC, wins a federal court battle with the DEA, allowing hemp seeds to be imported and pilot programs to commence.
February 2014
Under McConnell’s leadership and that of Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), 2014 Farm Bill passes with provision to allow states to launch hemp pilot programs.
2013
September 2013
Comer and KHIC representatives meet with Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), plotting path toward federal hemp legalization.
April 2013
SB 50 signed into Kentucky law, legalizing hemp in the Bluegrass State.
2012
July 2012
Miller and four farmers and activists join, ultimately forming the Kentucky Hemp Industry Council (KHIC), aimed at introducing and passing hemp legalization.
January 2012
Jonathan Miller publishes article in the Huffington Post, arguing for cannabis legalization; Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer reads it and enlists Miller’s help in efforts to legalize hemp in Kentucky.

MEET THE OFFICERS

Jena Murray

President
Medterra

Arthur Massolo

Executive Vice President
Cycling Frog

Clifford Starke

Chairman
Just Brands

Inga Selders

Vice President for Membership
American Shaman

Jeromy Sherman

Vice President for Audit
Bayou City Hemp

Jim Higdon

Vice President for Marketing and Outreach
Cornbread Hemp

Aaron Nosbisch

Vice President for Direct to Consumer
BREZ
Frederick Cawthon

Frederick Cawthon

Vice President for Minority Empowerment
Verge Agritech

Cameron Ruffin

Secretary
Frost Brown Todd
John Copeland

John Copeland

Treasurer
Blue & Co Accounting

MEMBERS

*Denotes Non-Profit Advocacy Partner

MEET THE TEAM

Rend Al-Mondhiry

Rend Al-Mondhiry

FDA Counsel
Nolan Jackson

Nolan Jackson

Regulatory Counsel
Katelyn Wiard

Katelyn Meckes

Director of Operations
Jonathan Miller

Jonathan Miller

General Counsel
Brooke Parker Robertson

Brooke Parker Robertson

Chief of Staff
Ashish Talati

Ashish Talati

FDA Counsel