For years, opponents of hemp and other healthy alternatives have pushed the same tired narrative: cannabis is dangerous, hemp is a loophole, and anyone who chooses plant-based wellness must be naïve or reckless.

These headlines are not accidental. They are coordinated, political, and designed to shape how voters think long before lawmakers cast a vote.

Millions of Americans use hemp-derived products safely and responsibly every single day.

Parents. Veterans. Seniors. Teachers. Nurses. Farmers. Small business owners. People in every community who simply want access to natural products that help them sleep, recover, relax, or reduce stress without turning to pharmaceuticals. AHAA exists to make sure their voices are not erased.

AHAA is the national coalition that unites the full hemp supply chain, from farmers to scientists to retailers to consumers, and we were built to counter exactly this wave of misinformation. We know the truth because we are the community itself. We grow the plants, manufacture the products, staff the storefronts, and rely on these alternatives for our own well-being.

We speak from real experience, not talking points. 

We have dedicated our lives and our livelihoods to this industry. 

We will not stand for the misinformation any longer.

The Reality: Hemp Isn’t the Problem. The Campaign to Mislead America Is.

Across the country, people choose hemp and healthy alternatives because they want control over their own health. More than half of all states have legalized cannabis in some form, not because politicians demanded it, but because voters and patients pushed for better option.

What the opposition ignores is the scale of responsible use. Hemp is not a fringe product. It is part of everyday American life. Millions use federally legal cannabinoids, CBD, hemp extracts, and natural supplements because they help people function, sleep, or manage pain. These products offer a path away from pharmaceuticals for many adults who prefer natural choices.

Yet, despite this broad adoption, coordinated campaigns continue to paint hemp with fear and suspicion. Instead of acknowledging real data on alcohol deaths or opioid overdoses, they work to convince lawmakers that hemp is the threat. What they produce is not journalism. It is agenda-setting.

Hemp Is an Economic Engine, Not a Niche Product

Hemp is not a fringe market. It is a multibillion-dollar economic force woven into everyday American commerce. Farmers rely on hemp cultivation to keep family operations alive, retailers stock hemp-derived products because customers buy them, and manufacturers employ thousands of workers who produce extracts, supplements, fiber, and wellness products that move through mainstream supply chains. AHAA members alone represent the full spectrum of this economy, from cultivation to retail, which is possible only because consumer demand is consistent, widespread, and growing. States would not be introducing bans if the industry were small; they target hemp precisely because it has become a real competitor in the wellness marketplace.

More than 54 million voters are actively engaged in issues tied to hemp access, a number large enough to influence elections and shape policy outcomes. This level of economic participation is proof that hemp is not an experiment or an outlier. It is a mainstream American industry supporting jobs, local economies, and consumer choice nationwide.

The Threat Is Real: Washington Responds to Whoever Shows Up

AHAA’s recent federal threat briefing made one point crystal clear: Washington responds to unity, resources, and simple, defensible messaging [Source: Reality Check: Federal Threats and the Fight Ahead.html]. The other side shows up. They fund their message. They lobby hard. They invest in fear.

Too often, our industry stays quiet, hoping fairness will win out on its own. But silence is not a strategy. Right now, states are aggressively pushing bans on federally legal hemp-derived products, even though hemp is legal under federal law and widely used across the country. These bans threaten family farms, small manufacturers, storefronts, and millions of consumers who rely on these products for daily wellness.

When we stay silent, we lose the narrative. When we lose the narrative, we lose policy.

Who Gets Hurt When Misinformation Wins? Everyday Americans

Opponents of hemp are not protecting families. They are pushing policies that:

• Strip adults of access to the natural wellness products they prefer.
• Destroy small businesses that fuel local economies.
• Disrupt supply chains built by American farmers and manufacturers.
• Funnel people back toward pharmaceuticals rather than allowing alternatives.

AHAA represents farmers, retailers, manufacturers, scientists, and the millions of consumers who would feel the impact of these bans directly. We support reasonable guardrails like age limits, child-safe packaging, and transparent labeling, because responsible access and consumer safety must always stay at the center.

Opponents never mention that part. They skip over solutions and jump straight to prohibition. That is not public safety. It is politics.

The Public Already Supports Hemp. They Just Need to Hear from Us

There is a reason more than 54 million voters engage with hemp-related issues nationwide. Americans understand the value of natural wellness. They know these products are not the problem. They see neighbors, family members, and coworkers benefiting from safer alternatives every day.

But voters can only defend what they understand, and they can only understand what they see. When the public only hears one side of the story, they assume that side must be right.

Our job is not only to educate lawmakers. It is to speak directly to the American people. It is to counter fear with truth. It is to humanize the millions of responsible adults who use hemp and alternatives without issue. It is to take back the narrative that opponents have controlled for too long.

Now Is the Moment to Speak Up

This industry survives when we show unity, consistency, and urgency. AHAA was created because no single business or consumer can fight this on their own. Together, we have the strength to push back against misinformation, shape reasonable regulations, and protect the right of adults to choose natural alternatives.

If you care about access.
If you care about fairness.
If you care about protecting American small businesses.
Then your voice is needed today.

Join AHAA. Stand with the people who grow, make, sell, and depend on these products. Your voice strengthens the movement and helps ensure lawmakers hear from the people who live with the consequences of their decisions.

Or call the congressional switchboard and ask to speak to your representatives: 202-224-3121.

AHAA is here to protect America’s right to choose healthy alternatives. But we cannot do it silently. The other side is loud. It is time we get louder.