An update from Geoff Whaling, Chairman, National Hemp Association

It’s been several months since our last true NHA newsletter and, consequently, some time since I’ve had the opportunity to share a Chairman’s update.

If you’ve been wondering what we’ve been doing, I can assure you that the silence hasn’t been for lack of activity. Quite the opposite.

These past several months may prove to be among the most consequential in the National Hemp Association’s history. We’ve welcomed new leadership, brought together people from across an industry too often divided, developed comprehensive proposed federal legislation, launched a targeted educational campaign and pursued international opportunities for American hemp farmers, processors and manufacturers. Much of it has been accomplished with volunteers who share one conviction: America’s hemp industry deserves a future.

“America’s hemp industry deserves a future.”

New Leadership and renewed sense of purpose

First, I’m delighted to welcome Sully Sullivan, who began serving as our Executive Director in April. He has hardly had a moment to catch his breath. Since arriving, Sully has immersed himself in putting NHA on sound organizational footing, listening to and learning from our members, and developing a national hemp industry survey to better understand the needs and priorities of those we represent.

All the while, he has managed NHA’s day-to-day responsibilities, kept SCOHO engaged and contributed to the Goodness of Hemp effort. It is a substantial undertaking for anyone, particularly while getting to know an organization and an industry as complex as ours. I appreciate his energy, commitment and willingness to roll up his sleeves.

For nearly 14 years, NHA has worked to establish hemp as a legitimate American agricultural commodity, concentrating on farmers, fiber, grain, processing, manufacturing and a domestic supply chain. That mission hasn’t changed. What has changed is our recognition that protecting industrial hemp’s future may require us to engage more broadly than ever before.

From Pushing Progress to the Goodness of Hemp Act

Over two years ago, recognizing that hemp fiber and grain had largely been left at the curb amid the rush toward cannabinoids—both the good and the bad—NHA made a deliberate decision to concentrate on protecting American industrial hemp farmers and building a domestic supply chain.

For me personally, however, the cannabinoid sector was hardly unfamiliar territory. My early advocacy included co-founding the Coalition for Access Now and Athletes for CARE, helping patients, families and athletes seeking access to cannabinoids. I also served as Co-Founder and President of Canopy Growth’s HIP division and as an advisor to its Board on cannabinoids, where research, access and responsible policy were among my principal responsibilities. In many respects, returning to this space feels like coming full circle.

The turning point came during a meeting at the White House. Dr. Heidi Overton, now nominated to serve as FDA Commissioner, encouraged us to take a broader leadership role in developing an actual strategy for hemp. My takeaway from that conversation was unmistakable: repeated appeals from across the industry to “just regulate” were falling on deaf ears. Government needed something more useful than another request. It needed a coherent, workable proposal.

“It needed a coherent, workable proposal.”

That conversation helped change our direction. Late last year, we launched Pushing Progress around a straightforward proposition: the hemp industry cannot expect Congress to resolve its challenges through fragmented proposals, competing interests and temporary fixes. We needed to bring people together and present solutions, not simply demands.

Our persistence on agriculture had already produced meaningful progress. The House version of the 2026 Farm Bill contains language providing distinct treatment for fiber and grain hemp—an objective we have pursued for years. Although that progress must still be protected as Congress works toward final legislation, it gave me confidence that NHA could engage the broader industry without abandoning our agricultural priorities.

It also prompted a personal decision. After nearly 14 years working with Congress, administrations, federal agencies and agricultural leaders, I value the relationships and reputation we have earned. Broadening our engagement could put some of that at risk. But what good is hard-earned credibility if you are unwilling to put it to work when it matters?

Cannabinoid products and hemp-derived beverages are already in the marketplace. Leaving responsible businesses without clear rules does nothing to protect consumers, farmers or hemp’s future. I began hearing from people across these sectors who wanted meaningful oversight and a legitimate regulatory pathway. I believed NHA could help bring them together.

Introducing the Goodness of Hemp Act

ONE INDUSTRY. RESPONSIBLE REGULATION. A FUTURE WORTH BUILDING.

Pushing Progress has now evolved into the Goodness of Hemp Act (GOH), a legislative proposal exceeding 40 pages. It reflects collaboration among farmers, agricultural specialists, processors, manufacturers, cannabinoid researchers, beverage representatives, regulatory experts, attorneys and others who might never previously have sat at the same table.

GOH puts American agriculture first: protecting fiber and grain while advancing domestic processing, manufacturing, animal feed opportunities and rural economic development. It also proposes distinct federal pathways for naturally occurring cannabinoids and appropriately regulated hemp-derived beverages, while addressing synthetic cannabinoids, chemical conversions, consumer protection and enforcement. The objective is not to preserve an unregulated marketplace or carve out favors for particular businesses. It is to give Congress a substantive framework to consider and improve.

Nobody owns the Goodness of Hemp Act. It is not my legislation, nor is it designed for one association, company or sector. It is an industry-developed proposal intended to offer a common starting point for resolving issues that have divided us for too long.

I cannot adequately thank everyone who has volunteered their knowledge, countless hours, professional relationships and, in many cases, personal financial resources. Our policy development team is made up entirely of volunteers. I do, however, want to recognize Morgan Tweet in particular. While serving as CEO of IND Hemp and raising two young children, Morgan has devoted what seems like almost every waking moment to GOH. Her extraordinary commitment, judgment and work ethic have been invaluable. Morgan embodies the generosity and determination of everyone who has stepped forward, and I am deeply grateful to her and to the entire team.

From introduction to enactment—not another excuse to wait

Developing legislation is one thing. Getting it introduced, building support and seeing it enacted is another. We have shared GOH materials with the White House and congressional offices across the political spectrum, including offices working on their own hemp proposals. We are looking for common ground, not asking Congress to choose among rival industry factions.

Our immediate objective is to secure sponsors and introduce GOH, then work through the relevant committees to refine it and build the support required for passage. Our targeted, geofenced educational campaign has begun with outreach focused on Washington and congressional offices. A subsequent phase is designed to reach communities and constituents in congressional districts with information about the proposal and opportunities to engage. Learn more at www.thegoodnessofhemp.org.

Based on our recent conversations with congressional offices and the White House, our clear impression is that another extension—or a so-called “bridge” that merely postpones difficult decisions—is not what they want from us. They are asking for comprehensive, workable language and have indicated a willingness to do the hard work of considering it. We must meet that challenge.

Introducing GOH must not become the excuse for yet another extension. Some will argue that legislation could take months in the next Congress and therefore a bridge is unavoidable. If Congress ultimately determines that additional time is necessary, our position is that any bridge must incorporate the relevant guardrails proposed in GOH: meaningful consumer protections, appropriate restrictions on synthetic and chemically converted cannabinoids, clear oversight and protection for legitimate agricultural production. An extension that simply preserves the existing marketplace would leave the underlying problems unresolved.

A bridge without guardrails is not a solution. We should focus on getting comprehensive legislation introduced and doing the work required to enact it—not kicking the can down the road again.

“A bridge without guardrails is not a solution.”

Protecting the agricultural progress we have made

Our broader legislative engagement does not dilute NHA’s commitment to fiber and grain. The House’s 2026 Farm Bill includes provisions distinguishing industrial hemp production from other hemp production and reducing certain burdens on industrial hemp farmers. As House and Senate work continues, protecting that language remains an NHA priority. GOH and our agricultural work are complementary, not competing efforts. We must never lose sight of the farmers who started this journey with us.

Building international markets for American hemp

Meanwhile, NHA has spent months preparing and submitting two applications under USDA Foreign Agricultural Service grant programs. Our goal is to develop markets for American-grown hemp and American-developed technologies in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia—regions where agricultural development, food security and sustainable manufacturing offer opportunities for American farmers and businesses.

We want American farmers growing crops with customers, American manufacturers exporting innovative products and rural communities benefiting from the activity that follows. Our international relationships helped inform these applications, and we anticipate funding decisions in January. Awards would give us another opportunity to move beyond advocacy and help build actual demand and supply chains.

Fourteen years later, the mission is bigger than ever

When I began this journey nearly 14 years ago, I believed hemp could help change the world. I still do. I’ve seen what this plant can offer farmers, manufacturers and communities here and abroad. I’ve also seen how much opportunity has been lost to uncertainty, division and our inability to present a unified approach to government.

That can change, but it requires us to put aside organizational rivalries and the notion that any one person or association should control this industry. It requires rules appropriate to the legitimate uses of hemp—and people prepared to contribute rather than stand on the sidelines.

GOH belongs to everyone willing to help build a responsible, sustainable hemp industry. We welcome your knowledge, constructive criticism, relationships, participation and financial support. Our volunteers deserve the resources to give their work a meaningful opportunity to succeed. Whether you are a farmer, processor, manufacturer, retailer, researcher or simply someone who believes in hemp’s potential, there is a place for you.

Our ambition is bigger than passing legislation. It is about creating the certainty needed to build an American hemp supply chain, support rural communities, encourage investment, protect consumers and open new markets. For me, it would bring nearly 14 years of advocacy closer to the goal that inspired me in the first place: using this extraordinary plant to help change the world for the better.

To our members, Sully, our Board, our extraordinary volunteers, our industry partners and everyone who has supported NHA over the years: thank you. There is much more work ahead, and we are going to need all of you.

No ownership. No egos. Let’s just get the job done.

And so, if you’ve been wondering what’s been happening with NHA, now you know!

With gratitude and determination,

Geoff Whaling
Chairman, National Hemp Association
A Stronger America Grows Hemp

Geoff Whaling is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of The National Hemp Association (NHA) is a non-profit, grassroots, organization supporting all aspects of the hemp industry. NHA works to bring to life all of the potential this crop has to offer for farmers; for economic development in rural communities; for increased sustainability of products we all consume on a daily basis; and for American leadership in global industries and markets that are rapidly evolving to deliver the many valuable benefits of hemp to people all around the world.