The Urgent Need to Protect the Hemp Industry
- Ishqa Hillman
- Dec 15, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
The clock is ticking. As the years speed by, there is no time to waste hoping things will improve for our industry. Hoping the president will reschedule or that they won't ban hemp is not enough. The time for hoping is over.
Why the Hemp Industry Must Be Saved
Below are key points to educate yourself and others on why this industry is vital. The potential hemp ban could cause irreparable damage to hundreds of thousands of employees, families, and even more patients.
1. Job Creation in the Hemp-Derived Cannabinoid Industry
The hemp-derived cannabinoid industry supports more than 328,000 American jobs. A recent national economic analysis found that over 328,000 workers are employed across the hemp cannabinoid supply chain. This includes farmers, lab workers, processors, retailers, delivery drivers, designers, marketers, and compliance teams.
2. Economic Impact of Hemp-Derived Products
Hemp-derived products generate nearly $28.8 billion in consumer sales annually. These wellness products are actively chosen by Americans for sleep, pain relief, stress management, and mental well-being.
3. Broader Economic Contributions
The broader economic impact of hemp exceeds $79 billion. When including upstream and downstream businesses—packaging, testing labs, distributors, logistics, agriculture, design, and retail—the hemp-derived cannabinoid sector contributes over $79 billion to the U.S. economy.
4. Small Business Dominance
Over 70% of hemp businesses are small, independent, family-operated companies. This industry is not dominated by corporations; it represents Main Street, not Wall Street.
5. Accessibility for Consumers
The hemp market serves millions of consumers who do not have access to legal cannabis. In many states, hemp products are the only accessible wellness option, especially for:
Seniors
Veterans
Pain patients
Low-income communities
Rural populations
6. Impact of Federal Hemp Restrictions
Federal hemp restrictions may limit access for an estimated 45 million adults who currently use CBD or hemp-derived cannabinoids. Consumer surveys estimate that 1 in 6 American adults uses hemp-derived wellness products regularly.
7. Threat to U.S. Agriculture
The 2025 hemp definition threatens U.S. agriculture. Over 90,000 acres of hemp farmland may lose commercial viability. Farmers who invested in genetics, equipment, and infrastructure now face extreme uncertainty ahead of the 2026 hemp ban enforcement date.
8. Risk to Seeds and Genetics Sector
Seeds and genetics—a multi-hundred-million-dollar sector—are at risk. The North American hemp seed market is estimated at $427 million annually, and many of these genetics will fall outside the 2025 federal definition.
9. Retailer Closures
More than 4,000 hemp retailers could close as enforcement begins in late 2026. Thousands of small stores depend on hemp-derived wellness sales for the majority of their revenue.
10. Growth of the Hemp Market
Hemp is one of the nation's fastest-growing wellness markets. CBD alone accounts for $6–$7 billion in annual retail sales, and minor cannabinoids represent the fastest-growing segment of plant-based wellness in the U.S.
11. Consumer Demand and Safety Risks
Restricting hemp does not eliminate demand; it pushes consumers back into unregulated markets. Consumers will shift to unsafe, untested, or illicit alternatives, creating unnecessary public health risks.
12. Impact on Vulnerable Populations
The law disproportionately harms vulnerable people who rely on hemp. Millions use hemp to manage:
Chronic pain
Insomnia
Anxiety
PTSD
Menopause symptoms
Inflammatory conditions
Restricting hemp without creating alternatives removes support from those who need it most.
13. Reducing Healthcare Strain
Keeping hemp accessible reduces strain on healthcare systems. Studies show that many consumers use hemp as an alternative to:
Prescription sleep medications
Anxiety medications
Pain medications
Reduced access increases healthcare costs and pharmaceutical dependency.
14. Supporting Small Farmers
Hemp restrictions contradict federal goals of supporting small farmers. Over 75% of hemp farms are small family operations. Restricting hemp seeds and cultivars undermines U.S. agricultural stability and innovation.
15. The Need for Descheduling Cannabis
Descheduling cannabis is the most effective long-term solution. Hemp and cannabis are the same plant. A unified regulatory framework would:
Protect access
Improve safety
Support research
Protect farmers
Reduce enforcement costs
Strengthen economic resilience
The Call to Action
READY TO ADVOCATE?
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