URGENT: Protect Indigenous Hemp Interests in Face of Potential Threats – Act Now!

As members of the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association, we are deeply concerned about a new amendment proposed in the upcoming House Farm Bill hearing. This amendment, introduced by Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL), poses a significant threat to the U.S. hemp industry and our communities' interests in advancing wellness, industry, and economies.

The proposed amendment seeks to federally ban all ingestible hemp products containing any level of THC. This would not only impact potentially impairing products like Delta-8 but would also extend to non-intoxicating CBD products with any quantifiable amount of THC. Such a broad prohibition would effectively eliminate 90-95% of the hemp products market, jeopardizing the livelihoods of countless farmers, entrepreneurs, and Indigenous communities relying on the hemp industry for economic sustainability.

Furthermore, the proposed redefinition of hemp to include THC-A calculations could wreak havoc in the fiber and grain market, exacerbating the challenges faced by Indigenous farmers and producers.

We urge all members of Congress to recognize the detrimental impact of the Mary Miller amendment on Indigenous hemp interests and the broader hemp industry. This cynical effort, influenced by monopoly-seeking marijuana companies, threatens to undermine the progress made since the legalization of hemp in the 2018 Farm Bill.

We implore you to take immediate action by contacting your Representative and urging them to oppose the Mary Miller amendment. The vote is scheduled for today at 11 AM, leaving us with less than three hours to make our voices heard. Utilize the Federal Action Center provided to send an urgent message to your Representative and share this notice widely with your networks.

Tribal nations, tribal businesses and operators, and communities must be bold in protecting hemp as a plant medicine and viable agricultural industry. We must push back against the criminalization of hemp and defend our rights to cultivate, process, and utilize this sacred plant for the betterment of our people and our future generations.

Together, we can defend the interests of Indigenous hemp farmers, entrepreneurs, and communities and ensure that the U.S. hemp industry continues to thrive as a driver of wellness, industry, and economic prosperity.

In solidarity,

Rob Pero

Founder and CEO

Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association