WSWA, Hemp Industry Thought Leaders Host Successful Day of Advocacy on Capitol Hill

Washington, D.C., September 8, 2025 - Last week, Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA), alongside National Industrial Hemp Council of America (NIHC), Coalition of Adult Beverage Alternatives, U.S. Hemp Roundtable, and the Midwest Hemp Council hosted a successful day of advocacy in the nation's capital that drew more than 100 attendees representing the full spectrum of the hemp supply chain, Hill staffers, members of Congress, and media. The day included a roundtable with Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform James Comer (KY-01), a panel discussion opened by Representative Derrick Van Orden (WI-03), targeted meetings with members of Congress, and a reception with remarks by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), all underscoring the urgent need for a responsible federal regulatory framework for hemp-derived products.

"Today's event shows how this industry is a successful partnership between American farmers and American business entrepreneurs," said WSWA Executive Vice President of Government Affairs Dawson Hobbs. "From all levels of the industry we heard a clear consensus that the growth and investment in this industry is real. Prohibition will only serve to open the market to bad actors while costing American jobs, and penalizing industry participants who have already made investments and supported the safe, responsible regulation of intoxicating hemp products at both the federal and state levels."

Opening the day, Chairman Comer, was joined by industry participants from across the hemp supply chain and spanning more than a dozen states who took the opportunity to thank Comer for his early and unwavering support of the industry while voicing both opportunities and challenges. Underscoring the discussion was a call to action to remove language amounting to a de-facto "ban" of hemp-derived products in the current House Agriculture Appropriations Bill.

"I have witnessed firsthand the great potential of industrial hemp and the economic opportunities it creates for our family farmers and American workers. As Kentucky's Commissioner of Agriculture, I spearheaded the state's industrial hemp pilot program and continue to be a strong advocate for the hemp industry in Congress. I am committed to working with allies of the hemp industry, including the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, in this effort to urge House leadership to remove concerning language from the FY26 Ag-FDA Appropriations Bill-and any final FY26 appropriations legislation-that arbitrarily redefines legal hemp," said Chairman James Comer (KY-01).

Next, Representative Van Orden opened a public panel discussion moderated by Policy Director for Americans for Prosperity Jeremiah Mosteller on the wide-reaching economic impact of the hemp industry as well as how developments at the state level are creating a safe, well-regulated, and thriving consumer marketplace. Attendees heard from panelists Ken Meyer, Hemp Farmer and Co-Founder of A.H. Meyer & Sons LLC; Sean Kelly, Chief Marketing Officer, ABC Fine Wine & Spirit; Jared Simon, President of Manitoba Harvest, Tilray Wellness at Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods; and Justin Ashby, Chief Administrative Officer, Southern Crown Partners.

"Today's discussion underscored a critical truth: federal inaction on hemp isn't just a missed opportunity; it undermines state-led innovation, threatens legitimate businesses, and puts consumers at risk. Prohibition has never been an effective response to illicit products. By empowering states to regulate responsibly and establishing a clear federal framework, Congress can protect public health while supporting the thousands of small business entrepreneurs and workers driving this emerging industry forward," said Jeremiah Mosteller, Policy Director at Americans for Prosperity.

Senator Paul wrapped up the day's events at a reception celebrating the industry's efforts towards safe, responsible regulation. After making remarks, Paul spent time answering attendees' questions, discussing the future of the hemp industry, and driving home the need for federal regulation.

Interspersed throughout the day's events, attendees met with more than 200 offices, advocating for regulation, not prohibition. Key themes of the day's advocacy included:

Public Safety: Industry leaders emphasized that "the genie is already out of the bottle," and that prohibition would simply serve to open the door to bad actors working in an unregulated market, rather than industry participants who are actively engaged in building safe, responsible regulation at the state level and protecting American consumers.

Farmer Confidence: Attendees heard a grower's perspective, asserting that hemp represents a significant investment, "not a few thousand, but a few million" to start a crop and that any prohibition could lead to the loss of consumer demand that could drive down prices, threatening the future of multi-generational family farms. Farmers stressed the need for confidence in a federal regulatory model, citing examples of diversification like the transition from hop farming to industrial hemp. To further advocate for American hemp farmers, the U.S. Hemp Roundtable launched the Farmer Advisory Council.

Jobs and Economic Impact: Attendees represented more than 2,000 American jobs, a microcosm of the industry's national impact, and urged members of Congress to recognize that a ban on intoxicating hemp products will lead to a direct loss of thousands of jobs.

"As a still-developing industry, hemp farmers have worked purposefully to lay a strong foundation for the future," said Ken Meyer, Co-Founder of Complete Hemp Processing and chair of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable's Farmer Advisory Council. "The Farmer Advisory Council was formed to help inform policymakers on all that farmers have at stake and ensure their voice is heard in future policy decisions. Now is the time for Congress to make sensible regulatory decisions that will support a thriving industry, while ensuring the well-being of children, adults, businesses, and America's farming communities."

Market Demographics: Discussion across the day's events noted hemp's strong consumer base, particularly in women over 40 and veterans, and the potential for American brands to evolve into global brands with strong, responsible federal regulation ensuring the industry's future.

Call to Action: Industry participants rallied around Chairman Comer's call for congressional action and voiced support for a newly circulated letter urging regulatory clarity.

Bipartisan Urgency: Comer, as well as attendees, highlighted the importance of bipartisan action to close educational gaps on Capitol Hill around the highly polarizing issue and build consensus on federal hemp regulation.