Hemp Legally Speaking

Jonathan Miller interviews Gillian Schauer, Executive Director of the Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA), and Jessica Burgess, Deputy General Counsel of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, about hemp policy from the purview of state regulators. If you have questions about the episode or ideas for Hemp related topics, email us at [email protected].

Hemp Industry questions covered in the episode: 

1. What is the Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA) and what is its role in developing national and state hemp policy?
2. What has CANNRA recommended to Congress in terms of the federal regulatory treatment of hemp products?
3. How does CANNRA work to provide consistency among state hemp regulatory approaches in the absence of federal regulation?
4. What is the legal status of products containing CBD and THC in Massachusetts?
5. How can the hemp industry better promote diversity and equitable treatment of individuals within the industry?

Jonathan Miller interviews Robert Hoban, a leading national attorney in the hemp and cannabis space, about the brewing policy conflict emerging between the hemp industry and its cousins in the cannabis industry. If you have questions about the episode or ideas for Hemp related topics, email us at [email protected].

Hemp Industry questions covered in the episode: 

1. What is the war between hemp and marijuana and how did it get started?
2. What do leading cannabis associations say about the rise of hemp products that are potentially impairing?
3. Is there any common ground between the hemp and marijuana industries on the issue of adult cannabinoids?
4. What is the legal and regulatory future for intoxicating hemp products and how should companies in the space be prepared?

Jonathan Miller interviews Rod Kight, one of the nation's leading hemp attorneys, on the optimal path forward for the regulation of adult hemp cannabinoid products. If you have questions about the episode or ideas for Hemp related topics, email us at [email protected].

Hemp Industry questions covered in the episode: 

1. How did the adult cannabinoid product market emerge and what is its current status?
2. What is Kight's suggested "three pillar" approach for regulating cannabinoids?
3. What is THC-A and how should it be treated under federal and state law and regulation?
4. How important is self-regulation to the industry and what's the role of the US Hemp Authority?

Jonathan Miller interviews Chris Fontes, President of the US Hemp Authority about that organization's upcoming adult product certification program. If you have questions about the episode or ideas for Hemp related topics, email us at [email protected].

Hemp Industry questions covered in the episode: 

1. Why did the US Hemp Authority decide to implement an adult product certification program?
2. What does the current marketplace look like for hemp products that potentially impair consumers?
3. How is the adult certification program different from the current non-intoxicating certification program?
4. How will this program help keep adult products out of the hands of children?
5. Why should a brand owner choose to certify their products through the program?
6. How should state and federal regulators take notice?

Jonathan Miller interviews Nolan Jackson, partner at Frost Brown Todd and regulatory counsel to the US Hemp Roundtable, about major legislative and regulatory changes being made at the state level during 2024. If you have questions about the episode or ideas for Hemp related topics, email us at [email protected].

Hemp Industry questions covered in the episode: 

1. What is the impact of new laws passed by state legislatures in CT, SD, FL, GA, IA and TN?
2. What is the impact of new regulatory and administrative actions taken in DC, KY, and MD?
3. What is the status of legislation pending in CA, IL, LA and OH?
4. How can an individual or company keep apprised of the detailed changes being made on a regular basis in the states?

Jonathan Miller interviews Bill Bookout, President of the National Animal Supplements Council, about an exciting new study on the impact of hemp and CBD on household pets. If you have questions about the episode or ideas for Hemp related topics, email us at [email protected].

Hemp Industry questions covered in the episode: 

1. What is the current marketplace for hemp supplements for pets?
2. How are pet owners finding value for administering hemp and CBD?
3. What were the results of the new study NASC commissioned on the use of hemp and CBD for pets?
4. How will this study shape future regulatory action from the FDA?
5. What advice do you give to pet owners on hemp and CBD pet products?

Jonathan Miller interviews Uttam Dhillon, the former Acting Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration and current partner at Frost Brown Todd, about federal law enforcement views of hemp and cannabis, and the potential rescheduling and descheduling of cannabis. If you have questions about the episode or ideas for Hemp related topics, email us at [email protected].

Hemp Industry questions covered in the episode: 

1. As the DEA head when hemp was legalized, why was the agency so concerned about hemp prior to legalization?
2. What are the prospects of rescheduling cannabis, and what would serve as the regulatory framework?
3. Why is law enforcement so generally opposed to cannabis legalization?
4. Why does the DEA care about hemp/cannabis when there are so much more dangerous drugs affecting the country like heroin or fentanyl?
5. What are the most common misperceptions about DEA agent and their motivations?

Jonathan Miller interviews Jim Carroll, the former White House "Drug Czar" and current partner at Frost Brown Todd, about federal law enforcement views of hemp and cannabis, and the potential rescheduling of marijuana. If you have questions about the episode or ideas for Hemp related topics, email us at [email protected].

Hemp Industry questions covered in the episode: 

1. How does federal law enforcement view cannabis and its potential legalization?
2. Are there more nuanced views toward hemp and CBD at the federal level?
3. What is the status of the Biden Administration's potential efforts to reschedule cannabis at Schedule 3, and what would it mean?
4. What would be an appropriate regulatory regime for cannabis under Schedule 3?
5. How should the cannabis industry prepare for rescheduling?
6. How would rescheduling impact hemp and hemp extracts?

Jonathan Miller interviews Deb Hackathorn, Frost Brown Todd principal and the U.S Hemp Roundtable's lobbyist in Columbus, about legislative efforts to ban certain hemp products in the Buckeye State. If you have questions about the episode or ideas for Hemp related topics, email us at [email protected].

Hemp Industry questions covered in the episode: 

1. Ohioans passed a referendum in November to legalize adult-use marijuana.  What was the reaction of the Governor and legislature on its implementation?
2. What was the nature of legislation proposed in December that could have posed severe restrictions on hemp products in Ohio?
3. How did the hemp industry secure defeat of provisions that could have devastated Ohio farmers?
4. What are the Governor and legislature planning to do in the new year on these issues?
5. How can citizens make their voices heard in a meaningful way on this issue?

Jonathan Miller interviews CMDMd's Chief Science Officer Sibyl Swift and General Counsel Lance Blundell on the safety and future regulation of CBD.  If you have questions about the episode or ideas for Hemp related topics, email us at [email protected].

Hemp Industry questions covered in the episode: 

1. Is CBD safe?  From a legal perspective? From a scientific point of view?
2. Why does the FDA continue to caution the public about the safety of hemp extracts like CBD?
3. What are the steps Congress needs to take to ensure safe regulation of CBD?
4. How should Congress approach the issue of potentially-impairing cannabinoids like delta-8 THC?
5. What does Dr. Swift have to say about the growing #Swiftie movement?