Reality Check: Federal Threats and the Fight Ahead for Hemp
At CHAMPS Fort Lauderdale, JD McCormick and Drew Hull delivered a warning the industry cannot afford to ignore.
The federal landscape is shifting quickly. State legislatures are preparing for another round of restrictions. Opponents are coordinating. And for the first time since 2018, the future of a thirty billion dollar industry will be decided by whether hemp businesses can unify and fight back with the same discipline as the forces working against them.
Their seminar, “Reality Check: Federal Threats and Upcoming State Fights,” broke down what is coming, what is already in motion, and what every company needs to understand if this industry is going to survive the next two years.
The Core Message: Unity or Defeat
JD and Drew stressed that Washington responds to unity, resources, and simple, defensible messaging. Fragmented statements and competing policy positions give our opponents openings. Lawmakers repeat whatever message is delivered the most consistently, not the message that is most accurate.
The only winning strategy is a single, unified industry voice. That means no competing milligram caps, no contradictory definitions that split hemp into artificial categories, and no policy proposals that weaken market protections.
According to JD and Drew, the industry must present one clear position: ending prohibition, protecting state regulated markets, and rejecting federal attempts to impose THC caps or redefine the plant through moving legislation.
The Campaign: A Twenty Million Dollar Fight
The coming federal fight is projected to be the most expensive political battle this space has ever faced. The first benchmark is a five million dollar raise from the hemp sector. A single donor has pledged to match that number.
The political vehicle leading this charge is already spending roughly one point two million dollars per month on national media, policy influence efforts, and campaign infrastructure. JD and Drew explained that if the hemp industry wants protection, it must plug into the machine that already has momentum and the strategic capacity to win.
This is not a membership-association initiative. Those groups have a role, but they cannot shoulder a national political campaign. Their responsibility is message discipline, avoiding fragmentation, and helping members understand what is at stake. JD is coordinating communications across groups to keep everyone aligned and prevent last-minute shifts that weaken the coalition.
Why Lawmakers Are Moving Against Us
The political pressure behind the attacks on hemp is not mysterious. JD and Drew pointed to three primary forces.
First, powerful legacy industries feel threatened. Alcohol consumption is dropping among younger generations, and THC products are filling that cultural space. Tobacco and pharmaceutical interests are also active.
Second, some policymakers see the hemp market as an unintended consequence of the 2018 Farm Bill. They are driven by ego, not data, and want to reverse a policy they consider a blemish on their legacy.
Third, opponents know the hemp industry is fragmented. They assume we will not unify, so they continue to push restrictive language into any moving federal vehicle.
State-Level Fights Are About to Escalate
The federal fight and state battles are now intertwined. If Congress adds restrictive language to a federal bill, states will respond quickly. Some will use federal language as justification to limit or ban state markets. Others will move preemptively.
JD and Drew warned that local enforcement has been quiet for now, but that window will not stay open. Legislatures are preparing for 2025 sessions, and the rhetoric around “intoxicating hemp,” “loops,” and “synthetics” will be used aggressively.
Long-Term Strategy: 2026, 2028, and Beyond
This is not a one-year fight. JD and Drew laid out a multi-stage plan.
• Rescheduling and banking reform will dominate 2026
• Presidential agenda influence will be the focus in 2028
• A coordinated fifty state defensive strategy will protect markets from bans and caps
The hemp industry will also be a critical asset in upcoming conversations around cannabis scheduling. Unity makes our sector useful in those negotiations. Fragmentation makes us expendable.
Every Company Has a Role
Not every business can contribute large sums. JD and Drew made clear that political power is not only measured in dollars. It is measured in scale.
Forty thousand small businesses represent millions of workers, voters, and community touchpoints. Every company can testify to job creation, tax contributions, and real estate investment. Every company can contact lawmakers. Every company can amplify unified messaging.
The campaign will provide TV spots, social media assets, and message guides so that even small operators can participate meaningfully.
Infrastructure Is the Missing Piece
The political machine is strong, but technology and communication infrastructure are not yet built for a coalition this large. The next phase involves building the digital backbone needed to connect tens of thousands of businesses, distribute coordinated messaging, and mobilize supporters at scale.
Developers, marketers, and organizers are now being onboarded to accelerate this work.
What Happens Now
JD and Drew outlined clear next steps for industry participants.
• Connect with the administrative team to get aligned
• Use standardized messaging and media assets
• Support the distribution of five thousand to ten thousand AHAA table tents each month
• Help launch a consumer donation program and encourage retailers to promote it
• Share the call for unity with peers, customers, and policymakers
The Takeaway
The hemp industry does not lose because opponents are stronger. It loses when it hesitates, fractures, or assumes someone else will handle the fight.
This is the moment to decide whether hemp remains a legal American industry or becomes a cautionary tale in the next round of federal negotiations.
AHAA will continue coordinating partners, providing unified messaging, and mobilizing national advocacy to protect this sector. If you operate in this space, you are part of this fight, and the stakes could not be higher. 
