Holon’s Amber Littlejohn Joins Regulators and Top Cannabis Attorneys at CANNRA and INCBA’s Annual CLI Conference Amidst Big Changes in Cannabis and Hemp Law

CANNRA’s 5th Annual Stakeholder Conference Abuzz with Rescheduling and Hemp Reform 

In its 5th year, the Cannabis Regulator Association Stakeholder Meeting remains the top forum for policy insights from federal, state, and local cannabis and hemp regulators and industry. This year, the event brought together federal regulators from FDA and TTB, as well as state regulators from new, and growing markets including Maryland and New York, alongside an invite-only group of industry experts and community leaders. 

Cannabis rescheduling and the future of hemp dominated the conversations. While many stakeholders touted the historic nature of the medical marijuana rescheduling order, regulators took a more measured and wait and see approach. Some community leaders expressed concern about the potential for the order to disproportionately benefit large and non-social equity operators. The topic of hemp and the pending ban sparked passions across the board. Regulators expressed frustration at the industry’s self-regulatory shortcomings. Hemp industry leaders expressed hope for a last-minute reprieve, while cannabis industry representatives maintained calls to regulate hemp-derived cannabinoids within state cannabis frameworks. 

Holon’s Regulated Industries practice group chair, Amber Littlejohn, joined Maine Office of Cannabis Policy Director, John Hudak, Chris Fontes, Executive Director of the US Hemp Authority, and experts from the Better Business Bureau and other CPG organizations in discussing how self-regulation could and should work for the cannabis and hemp industries. Amber spoke to lessons learned and plays to follow gleaned from decades in dietary supplement policy and advocacy, and issued a call for “meaningful and transparent” self regulation to stabilize and sustain the rapidly evolving industries.