U.S. Hemp Roundtable Leader Jonathan Miller Outlines Farm Bill Strategy: “The Hemp Industry Is United”
31 Organizations Rally Behind Shared Priorities for 2023 Farm Bill as CBD Regulation, Farmer Relief, and Banking Access Top the Agenda
The industrial hemp industry has reached a pivotal moment. For the first time ever, 31 hemp organizations—including the U.S. Hemp Roundtable and iHemp Michigan—have united behind a comprehensive Farm Bill strategy. Jonathan Miller, General Counsel for the U.S. Hemp Roundtable and partner at Frost Brown Todd’s Washington D.C. office, joined the iHemp Hour to break down what this means for farmers, processors, and advocates across the country.
“The best piece of good news is the hemp industry is united behind a 2023 Farm Bill strategy. We had 31 different organizations in the hemp industry that endorsed a series of proposals for the Farm Bill.”
The United Front: Key Farm Bill Priorities
The coalition’s unified agenda targets the most pressing barriers facing the hemp industry:
- FDA Regulation of CBD
The industry’s top priority is compelling the FDA to finally establish a regulatory pathway for CBD products.
“FDA is my four-letter word. They’re the agency that continues to delay and hinder our progress in the industry.”
The proposed legislation would require the FDA to regulate CBD as a dietary supplement and permit its use in food and beverages—using existing regulatory frameworks rather than creating new ones.
“Those regulations are already there. We wouldn’t have to create anything new… We would expect that immediately upon passage of legislation that these products would be legal.”
- THC Testing Relief for Farmers
One of the most damaging issues for hemp farmers has been crops “going hot”—testing above the 0.3% Delta-9 THC limit and facing mandatory destruction.
The coalition is pushing for USDA to allow a 1% THC safe harbor for crops in the field, while maintaining the 0.3% standard for finished products.
“A number of farmers have had real problems meeting that level—their crops spiking to 0.4, 0.5—and having to destroy their crops as a result.”
Miller noted that lab directors have reported 98-99% of failed hemp crops would have passed under a 1% threshold.
- Repealing the Felon Ban
Current law prohibits individuals with felony drug convictions from growing hemp—even after serving their sentences. The coalition wants this restriction removed.
- SAFE Banking Act
Reintroduced with strong bipartisan support in both chambers, the SAFE Banking Act would finally give hemp and cannabis businesses access to traditional banking services.
“I think the feeling is this is the year… If we get SAFE Banking passed, we’re going to see a lot more investment into the industry. A lot of money that would get engaged is sitting on the sidelines.”
The Intoxicating Cannabinoid Question
The rise of Delta-8 THC and other intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids has created regulatory chaos across states. Miller outlined the Roundtable’s position:
- No new criminal penalties for intoxicating cannabinoids
- Strict regulation to ensure product safety and keep products away from children
- Kentucky’s HB 544 as a model framework
“The toothpaste is out of the tube—these products are everywhere right now. So let’s regulate them.”
Kentucky’s approach includes:
- Comprehensive labeling requirements
- Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards
- Child-proof packaging
- Age verification on websites
- Prohibition of packaging that appeals to children
U.S. Hemp Authority Certification Expanding
The U.S. Hemp Authority certification program continues to grow as the industry’s gold standard for product safety. Miller announced plans to extend certification to intoxicating cannabinoid products.
“We want to potentially provide certification for companies that meet their manufacturing practices… This self-regulation is particularly important given the lack of FDA regulation.”
The program, recognized by Prevention magazine as a health innovation, helps consumers distinguish safe products from questionable ones. Look for the Certified Seal on hemp products to ensure they’ve undergone rigorous safety and quality verification.
How You Can Help This Summer
Miller emphasized that constituent engagement makes a real difference—and made it easy to get involved:
Join Hemp Supporter Plus
📍 Website: HempSupporter.com 💰 Cost: Just $10/month (or $100/year)
Benefits include:
- Insider access to legislative updates
- Talking points and educational resources
- Tools to contact your representatives
- Support for state-level battles
“Even if you’re cynical about politics, you need to understand that members of Congress do care what their constituents say—if only to get reelected.”
Contact Your Representatives
The Hemp Supporter website makes advocacy simple:
- Enter your ZIP code
- The system identifies your representatives
- A pre-drafted letter populates automatically
- Personalize it with your own story
- Send
“We ask you to personalize it—you don’t want these members of Congress getting the same exact letter from everyone.”
Meet Them In Person
With Congress recessing for summer, representatives will be back in their home districts:
- Attend town halls
- Visit district office hours
- Share your hemp story directly
The Bigger Picture: What FDA Regulation Unlocks
Once the FDA establishes a clear regulatory pathway for CBD, Miller predicts a market transformation:
“You’ll see a lot of money coming in, a lot of investment, a lot of interest from food and beverage companies. We’ve been hearing that the cola companies and the peanut butter companies and the candy bars and potato chips have all got plans to add CBD to their product lines—they’re just waiting to see what FDA does.”
Major retailers like Walmart and Target are also reportedly waiting for FDA clarity before stocking CBD products.
Michigan News & Updates
MDARD Pesticide List Released
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has posted an approved pesticide list for hemp growers. Find it on the MDARD Industrial Hemp page.
Farm Progress Show: Hemp Goes Mainstream
📅 August 29-31, 2023 📍 Decatur, Illinois
In a major milestone, industrial hemp will be featured at the Farm Progress Show—the nation’s largest agricultural exhibition. Amanda and Phil Montgomery of Illinois are leading the effort, with iHemp Michigan partnering on the project.
The display will include:
- Approximately ⅛ acre of hemp fiber and grain varieties
- Educational presentations
- Building demonstrations
Looking for speakers and sponsors! Contact iHemp Michigan if you’d like to participate. The project needs approximately $10,000 to cover logistics.
Michigan Farm Bureau Cannabis Task Force
Christy Apple has been appointed to Michigan Farm Bureau’s newly formed Cannabis Task Force—a significant development that could bring MFB’s considerable resources to bear on hemp industry development in the state.
Recipe of the Week: Roasted Butternut Squash with Hemp Hearts
Blaine Bechtold shared this simple, nutritious recipe perfect for transitional spring weather:
Ingredients:
- 1-2 lbs peeled butternut squash
- 2 tablespoons hemp seed oil
- 1 shallot, minced
- 2 cloves garlic
- ¼ cup hemp hearts (go heavier if you like!)
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- Pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
Instructions: Combine all ingredients, roast in the oven until squash is tender and golden. Simple, satisfying, and packed with plant-based nutrition.
Resources & Links
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Hemp Supporter (Advocacy) |
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U.S. Hemp Authority (Certification) |
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iHemp Michigan |
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Ukraine Hemp Rebuild Project |
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USDA Industrial Hemp Report |
Available on USDA website |
The 2023 Farm Bill represents the hemp industry’s best opportunity in years to secure meaningful reform. With unprecedented unity among industry organizations and clear legislative priorities, the path forward is clearer than ever—but success depends on grassroots engagement.
As Jonathan Miller put it: “The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Just be nice.”
Join the movement at HempSupporter.com and make your voice heard this summer.
Growing the future from seeds of the past.