If you’ve heard “raise hemp to 1% THC” as the silver bullet, pump the brakes. Guest Annie Rouse (OP Innovates; US Hemp Roundtable/HIA/USHA boards) made the clearest, most pragmatic case yet for staying focused on what actually grows the market—and protects farmers.

What we covered

• The 1% THC myth—unintended consequences
• A 1% flower = ~10 mg Δ9‑THC per gram. In a 1 g pre-roll, that’s the legal adult gummy dose, now in a “hemp” cigarette. Expect regulatory blowback.
• Formulation gets harder. Higher THC in extracts forces more dilution to keep finished goods at compliant limits.
• The resource trap. Lobbying 1% diverts time and money from building fiber, grain, and animal‑feed markets—the real acreage drivers.
• Context: USDA’s final rule already treats up to 1% as non‑negligent for growers. That’s the protection piece. Let’s spend our energy on markets.
• Animal feed is the near‑term win
• Hemp Feed Coalition studies are moving—starting with broiler chickens. Hemp seed is rich in methionine (now synthesized for poultry), and early data is promising.
• Farmers: share processed meal/cake samples; building the ingredient dossier speeds approvals.
• Practical compliance you can use
• Michigan MRA: new edible labeling/packaging enforcement by February; “cute” branding is out, clear THC warnings are in.
• New MRA/GMP notice: clone/plant sellers now need Good Manufacturing Practices and Good Agricultural/Handling Practices documentation.
• On‑farm THC testing: Neogen’s Raptor offers quick field screening so growers can time state sampling and harvest smart.
• Research and genetics
• UW is mapping feral “ditch weed” to strengthen Midwestern genetics. Have a discreet stand on your back 40? They’ll keep locations confidential—share it to advance the science.
• Product innovation: better bioavailability
• OP Innovates’ Naturia Plus (breast‑milk–inspired delivery tech) showed superior CBD uptake vs. MCT in pilot clinicals.
• Formulations to watch: Overcome (CBD/CBG/CBDA + D3/curcumin/B‑complex) for daily wellness; Hemp Mellow (hemp‑derived Δ9 within legal limits) for calm and sleep.

Quick hits and next steps

• Events: Southern Hemp Expo (Raleigh), West Michigan Cannabis & Hemp Expo (Grand Rapids), iHemp Midwest Expo (Lansing; Jan 21–22) with the Hempies Awards and a Jan 20 US Hemp Authority training day.
• Classifieds: Buy/sell gear, seed, and supplies for $5 on iHempMichigan.com.
• Help the research: Submit feral hemp locations (confidential) to UW’s project—details on our site.
• Join iHemp Michigan: get listed in the Business Directory, member pricing, and real‑time compliance updates that keep you a step ahead.

The bottom line: Don’t chase headlines—build markets. Grain, fiber, and feed will scale acres; better testing and labeling will keep shelves; real delivery science will win consumers. That’s how hemp grows up.