Opinion: The Case for Unified Cannabis and Hemp Political and Advocacy Approach

Despite deriving from the same plant species, the cannabis (marijuana) and hemp industries have often been divided in their advocacy and electoral strategy. Marijuana businesses (focused on THC-rich products for medical or adult use) have largely fought their battles – legalization, banking, tax reform – separately from hemp businesses (focused on CBD, fiber, grain, and non-intoxicating uses). In some cases, they have even been at odds, as with the controversy over hemp-derived THC products (like Delta-8) competing with regulated cannabis. This fragmentation has weakened the overall influence of cannabis/hemp industry and advocates on the national and state government stage. Now, with federal reform failing and state level progress under attack, it’s crucial to make the case for a unified political, lobbying and legal strategy. By joining forces, the cannabis and hemp sectors can present a powerful, cohesive front by electing supportive legislative and executive branch policymakers, engage officials in a unified approach and ensure that laws and regulations benefit both sides rather than favoring one segment over another.

A House Divided: Consequences of Fragmentation

The current lack of unity has had tangible negative consequences. Policymakers have received mixed messages – for example, hearing from marijuana industry lobbyists that unregulated hemp THC is dangerous and should be banned, while hearing from hemp entrepreneurs that state-licensed marijuana businesses are trying to eliminate competition. This discord has led to regulatory confusion and delay. Instead of pushing comprehensive cannabis/hemp policy, Congress and federal agencies have been distracted by intramural issues – often focusing on “whack-a-mole” crackdowns of hemp-derived cannabinoids while ignoring the bigger picture of cannabis reform. This drills down to State policy on cannabis & hemp regulations as well. A 2024 analysis noted that federal authorities spent years grappling with the Delta-8 THC gray market, largely “prioritizing crackdowns on intoxicating hemp derivatives, rather than supporting the broader hemp industry”. Meanwhile, industrial hemp development (for fiber, etc.) languished and full marijuana legalization stalled. When we are divided, our opponents capitalize: prohibitionists highlight the infighting (“even the industry can’t agree what to do!”) to justify inaction or restrictive laws.

One striking example is the “feud” between the hemp-derived products market and the state-regulated marijuana market. In 2023, the hemp-derived cannabinoid market (CBD, Delta-8, etc.) was valued at $28 billion, indicating huge consumer demand. But instead of leveraging that success to argue for broader legalization, the two industries often fought each other. Forbes aptly dubbed it “The Budding $28B Hemp Market’s Feud with Marijuana”, highlighting how each camp lobbied against the other’s interests. The result? Policymakers responded with narrow measures – some states banning Delta-8 THC (pleasing marijuana licensees but angering hemp retailers), other states doing nothing (leading to uncontrolled markets). Federal legislation in the 2025 Farm Bill has so far only drawn lines between “industrial hemp” and “cannabinoid hemp” without providing any meaningful support to either. In short, the lack of a united front has meant missed opportunities and policy gridlock, with each side getting only partial victories at best.

Stronger Together: Overlapping Goals and Synergies

In reality, the cannabis and hemp sectors have far more in common than in conflict, and a unified electoral strategy and lobbying approach would benefit both. Consider the goals that both groups share:

• Descheduling / Legalization: Removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) or otherwise legalizing it federally would instantly solve many problems for both marijuana and hemp. Marijuana businesses would gain legality; hemp businesses would no longer fear DEA interpretations that put “total THC” limits on their crops. Both industries need Congress to modernize outdated federal law.
• Fair Regulation: Both want sensible, science-based regulations that ensure product safety without strangling business. Whether it’s testing standards for hemp extracts or reasonable potency and labeling rules for cannabis, a unified regulatory framework would prevent patchwork rules. Today, hemp-derived edibles and vape products are sold with virtually no FDA oversight, while cannabis edibles in legal states face heavy regulation – a disparity that confuses consumers and lawmakers alike. A unified push could establish consistent standards for all cannabinoid products to protect consumers and legitimize the market.
• Banking and Finance: Cannabis companies struggle to access banking due to federal illegality; hemp companies technically can use banks, but many face skepticism and insurance hurdles because of the cannabis stigma. Both would benefit enormously from laws like the SAFE Banking Act and/or State Backed Cannabis/Hemp Lending programs. Access to financial services is a common need, and electing supportive candidates at the State and Federal levels coupled with a joint lobbying effort here carries more weight than each addressing this issue separately.
• Tax and Economic Development: Excessive taxation and the 280E tax penalty hurt marijuana operators; lack of investment and subsidies hurt hemp farmers. Both sectors stand to gain from federal tax reform (e.g., allowing deductions for cannabis businesses) and inclusion in USDA programs or economic grants. If united, the industry can push an agenda of treating cannabis/hemp like any other legitimate agricultural and consumer industry, with fair tax rates and support programs.

Furthermore, the line between hemp and marijuana is often arbitrary – legally defined by a THC threshold (0.3%). The industries are truly two sides of the same coin. Consumers already treat them as one market. Many people use both state-legal cannabis and hemp-derived products interchangeably. In fact, in Q3 2023 about 27% of Americans reported using some form of THC, and a significant portion (20% of THC users) were “dual users” who consume both cannabis and hemp-derived THC products. The majority (64%) still stick to cannabis-only, but clearly millions float between the two, obtaining Delta-8 or CBD products where marijuana is prohibited, for example. This consumer behavior sends a clear message: people consider it all part of one broader cannabis wellness and recreation space. Our electoral strategy, voter education outreach and advocacy should mirror that reality. By uniting, we can demand laws that account for the whole market, rather than splitting hairs between hemp and marijuana.

There are also synergies in messaging and voter engagement when we unify. Hemp brings an appeal to traditionally conservative or rural audiences – farmers, agricultural suppliers, and even some Republican lawmakers are interested in hemp’s promise for crops and manufacturing. Cannabis (marijuana) brings a strong social justice and medical narrative, appealing to progressive lawmakers and urban communities with its health and equity benefits. Combined, these narratives make cannabis/hemp reform a priority that cuts across the political spectrum and can drive electoral success. We can walk into a Republican office talking about jobs for farmers and biodegradable plastics (hemp), and into a Democratic office talking about ending mass incarceration and providing medicine (marijuana). Then we can swap those talking points as well as part of an unified electoral strategy – because both are true and compelling to all Americans. A unified electoral, voter and advocacy engagement plan means no lawmaker can say “I support hemp but not marijuana” or vice versa to dodge the issue; we will educate them that supporting one while opposing the other is nonsensical and counterproductive.

Learning from Crypto and Other Industries

Unified advocacy is not without precedent. The cryptocurrency industry, for example, realized that internal divisions (e.g., Bitcoin vs. Ethereum communities) had to be set aside in order to influence policy. They formed coalitions (such as joint industry associations and PACs) that spoke with one voice on key regulatory issues. Coinbase and Ripple – two companies that compete in business – nonetheless both backed the same pro-crypto political campaign program and network to advance their shared interests in sensible regulation. This collaborative approach paid off: electing 273 members of the U.S. House, 53 members of the U.S. Senate and a Pro-Crypto President. Now the Crypto industry drives the regulators for the benefit of the industry seriously, and lawmakers are better connected to a coordinated voting bloc rather than a fractured group of tech factions. Similarly, the beer, wine, and spirits industries often unite on alcohol policy even as they compete in the marketplace, because they know the larger threat is Prohibition returning or taxes increasing on all of them. The cannabis and hemp sectors should see the wisdom in this.

Right now, the “hemp vs. marijuana” narrative is a wedge that opponents exploit. For instance, some prohibitionist lawmakers in 2024 pointed to the uncontrolled Delta-8 THC boom as a reason to delay state marijuana legalizations – arguing that “loopholes” need closing first. Conversely, some overzealous regulations (like ultra-low THC limits in hemp) came from marijuana-legal states trying to shield their licensed firms from competition. Both approaches ultimately hurt consumers and the industry as a whole. The enemy is not hemp, and it’s not state-legal cannabis – the enemy is prohibition and stigma. We defeat that enemy faster by presenting a united front.

Unified Political Campaign Strategy for Cannabis and Hemp

The Cannabis and Hemp industries have historically pursued fragmented policy goals, diluting political effectiveness. The Change Maker Initiative (CMI) addresses this by centering industry unity around a strategic electoral campaign—the primary of four integrated pillars.

Pillar 1: Political Campaign Activity Starting in 2025, CMI targets critical elections in Virginia and New Jersey, and crucial 2026 Congressional midterms. Previous reliance on ballot initiatives (7 defeats and 2 court overturns from 2020-2024) underscores the necessity of direct electoral involvement. Like the Crypto industry’s success in electing supportive policymakers in 2023-2024, CMI’s electoral campaigns aim to shift legislative majorities to secure lasting Cannabis and Hemp reform at state and federal levels.

Pillar 2: Voter and Consumer Engagement Mobilizing Cannabis and Hemp voters into a cohesive bloc is essential. Over 55 million U.S. adults are cannabis consumers, representing substantial electoral influence. CMI’s targeted voter education and registration drives aim to translate widespread support (68% nationwide) into decisive election outcomes, particularly targeting pivotal districts and states.

Pillar 3: Diverse Lobbying Strategies Complementing electoral efforts, targeted lobbying aligns with the Initiative’s political aims, employing a diverse array of lobbying firms across ideological spectra. Lobbying will amplify the voice of pro-cannabis officials elected through CMI campaigns, pushing specific policies like the Bank Black Cannabis Compliance Banking & Capital Access program, facilitating economic equity and market stability through new state-level banking frameworks.

Pillar 4: Legal Engagement and Strategy CMI’s legal strategy defends policy gains against legislative attacks—especially relevant given Trump’s renewed administration and MAGA-led Congressional majorities seeking to dismantle equity-focused cannabis reforms. Legal teams will protect equity licensing frameworks, ensuring inclusive economic opportunities remain embedded in state and federal cannabis legislation.

Moving Forward United

Making the case for unified advocacy is also about logistics and strength in numbers. A single-issue lobbying effort (say, just hemp farming) might get a small earmark in a bill. But a broad-based lobbying effort that represents a multi-billion-dollar combined industry, thousands of businesses, and an engaged voter base in dozens of states – that gets attention. By some estimates, the total U.S. cannabis sector (hemp + marijuana, legal and gray-market combined) is already over $100 billion annually in direct and indirect economic activity. Our political influence should match that economic footprint. Uniting allows us to pool funding for campaigns (as the Change Maker Initiative envisions) and to mobilize a larger voting and grassroots network. Many hemp farmers and CBD consumers are in states that don’t yet have marijuana programs; they enlarge the map of constituents winning elections and pressuring politicians. At the same time, states with legal marijuana have created millions of voters who have seen the benefits – they can be mobilized to help legalize hemp-derived products nationally and end federal prohibitions through winning elections.

Conclusion: The case is clear – a unified cannabis and hemp advocacy strategy is not only logical, it’s imperative. Divided, we have seen our progress stalled, our energies sometimes pitted against each other, and our opposition emboldened by our discord. United, we can leverage the full power of the cannabis plant – all its uses and supporters – to push through federal legalization, rational regulations, and economic policies that uplift everyone. “One Plant, One Movement” should be our rallying cry. By embracing that mindset, the cannabis/hemp coalition can achieve what neither could alone: the dismantling of prohibition and the dawn of a thriving, inclusive, and well-regulated industry that benefits farmers, businesses, patients, consumers, and communities across America.

Sources:

Citation

Forbes (Apr. 19, 2024)

“The Budding $28B Hemp Market’s Feud With Marijuana” – describes conflict between hemp-derived cannabinoid businesses and state-licensed marijuana industry, and how policy focus has fixated on that feud.

Reason Foundation Report (2024)

“Framework for Hemp-Derived Cannabinoid Regulation” – notes that the 2018 Farm Bill spurred a $28B hemp industry but federal ambiguity (e.g., DEA’s “total THC” stance) and lack of unified policy hinder progress.

Brightfield Group – Market Insights (2023)

Data showing hemp-derived THC market growth from $200M in 2020 to $2.8B in 2023, and consumer overlap: 20% of THC users use both hemp and cannabis products, indicating one broad market.

U.S. Congress – 2025 Farm Bill Drafts

Preliminary provisions distinguish “industrial hemp” vs. “cannabinoid hemp” but fail to invest in either’s growth – illustrating the need for unified advocacy to secure support.

Washington Post (Oct. 18, 2024)

Notes how crypto industry PACs (like Fairshake) coordinated across companies and even formed bipartisan arms to support friendly candidates, serving as a model for unified cannabis/hemp political action.

About The Change Maker Initiative

The Change Maker Initiative is the industry’s best and only path forward to secure long-term executive branch and legislative victories and regulatory stability. The current political and legal landscape is hostile, but by learning from the success of the crypto industry, we can build an unstoppable political force that will protect and expand cannabis and hemp industries. The Change Maker Initiative (CMI) will shift from a state-by-state ballot measure and disjointed hope and inference Federal approach to a federal and state coordinated electoral and legislative office strategy.

The time for action is now. Will your company invest in securing its future? Will your organization stand with us in defending civil rights, economic justice, and cannabis equity?

Join the Change Maker Initiative Today.

Visit https://www.futurepac.today/changemaker/ to learn more.

About The Future – Today & Tomorrow

The Future – Today & Tomorrow is a Super PAC dedicated to the advancement and protection of civil liberties across the United States. We strive for a future where democracy is unassailable, and every citizen’s right to vote is sacrosanct. Our mission is to ensure that technology serves to enhance, not inhibit, the democratic process, fostering a society where everyone has the freedom to choose their leaders without fear or interference. For more information about The Future – Today & Tomorrow, please visit https://www.futurepac.today/.