Marijuana And Hemp Businesses Are Already Working Together, And It’s Going Better Than You Think (Op-Ed)

“The ‘Commission’ meetings are unlocking a united vision of an industry built on safety, fairness, accountability and consistency.”

By Adam Rosenberg, National Cannabis Industry Association and Eric Berlin, Dentons

The recent government funding deal, which narrowed the definition of hemp, sent shockwaves through parts of the hemp market and exposed how fragile the current patchwork of cannabis policy really is. As a result, industry leaders, analysts and advocates have called for unity between hemp and marijuana.

An urgent message has been repeated that the industry needs to stop fighting itself, align on safety and science and present lawmakers with a cohesive strategy for responsible regulation.

The good news is it is already happening, and it is working.

Over the past several months, we have been bringing together leaders from a dozen of the most influential industry organizations representing both hemp and marijuana for a series of closed-door discussions, informally called the “Commission.” These private discussions are producing something many in the industry would not have expected a year ago: real, actionable agreement.

Hemp and marijuana leaders who often find themselves on opposite sides of public debate are coming into the same room and aligning on the foundations of a modern legal marketplace.

They are finding shared priorities around consumer safety, reliable access for medical patients, protecting minors from intoxicating products, regulating the plant and its components through appropriate channels and agencies, establishing consistent manufacturing and testing standards and recognizing the important role of state and local governments in shaping effective regulations.

These points reflect genuine alignment from organizations that often compete fiercely in public and private arenas. The shift demonstrates that the leading voices increasingly understand hemp and marijuana are parts of one industry struggling under the same broken framework. The most important realization is that hemp and marijuana can be more effective at building legitimacy and making progress by working together.

With hemp and marijuana facing the same federal dysfunction and uncertainty, the entire cannabis sector is positioned to align on a consolidated strategy to achieve the shared goal of a science-based framework that supports all legitimate businesses working with the same plant.

The “Commission” meetings are unlocking a united vision of an industry built on safety, fairness, accountability and consistency. We are building toward a unified framework that preserves access for millions of medical patients, protects tens of millions of consumers, rewards compliant businesses and closes the gaps that allow bad actors to exploit confusion.

While the details of these discussions remain confidential to ensure constructive dialogue among participants, the progress is real and will continue as these groups have committed to ongoing dialogue and collaboration toward meaningful federal progress. The industry does not need to start from scratch to build unity—because it has already begun, and it is gaining momentum.

Through deepening collaboration, the next stage of cannabis policy will be shaped by a shared commitment to science, safety and fairness. For the first time in a long time, hemp and marijuana stakeholders are working together as the same movement.

Adam Rosenberg is chairman of the board for the National Cannabis Industry Association. Eric Berlin is a partner and leader of U.S. and global cannabis teams at Dentons.