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

2012

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.

July 2012

Miller and four farmers and activists join, ultimately forming the Kentucky Hemp Industry Council (KHIC), aimed at introducing and passing hemp legalization.

2013

April 2013

SB 50 signed into Kentucky law, legalizing hemp in the Bluegrass State.

September 2013

Comer and KHIC representatives meet with Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), plotting path toward federal hemp legalization.

2014

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.

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.

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.

2017

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 (USHR).

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).

2018

May 2018

USHR seeds funding for the establishment of the U.S. Hemp Authority (USHA), an independent SRO to administer the guidance plan for industry standards.

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.

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.

2019

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.

May 2019

General Counsel, Jonathan Miller, testifies at the FDA’s first public hearing on hemp-derived CBD.

August 2019

Collected data for the development of a federal multi-peril crop insurance program for hemp, providing affordable options to U.S farmers.

October 2019

USHR Board meets with the USDA to discuss the Interim Final Rule for the U.S. Domestic Hemp Program; USDA adopts most of USHR’s proposed recommendations.

2020

July 2020

Launched its Minority Empowerment Committee (MEC) and adopted an ambitious equity and inclusion framework, designed by the prestigious Annie E. Casey Foundation.

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.

September 2020

Led lobbying efforts to ensure hemp farmers were eligible for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program(CFAP).

October 2020

New York released hemp regulations reflecting USHR feedback to remove age restrictions on ingestible hemp products and cosmetics.

2021

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.

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.

October 2021

California passed AB 45 after a three-year effort led by the USHR and local hemp groups to end the state's prohibition on retail sales of CBD products.

2022

February 2022

Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) introduced The Hemp Advancement Act of 2022 with strong support and collaboration from USHR.

April 2022

Hosted a D.C. Fly-An for Board TMmbers to meet with 14 members of Congress and staff.

July 2022

Vice President and CEO of Kentucky-based Ecofibre, Eric Wang, testified at the first House Agriculture Committee hearing on hemp and CBD.

September 2022

Hosted a D.C. Fly-An for Members to meet with Congressional leaders and staff, culminating in a private dinner with Sen. McConnell and former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.