Self-Regulating Organization Adds Natural Products Industry Veteran and National Minority Business Champion to Governing Board of Directors . Says the release
Lexington, KY (May 20, 2020) The U.S. Hemp Authority® (USHA), the hemp industry’s initiative to promote high standards, best practices and self-regulation for growers, processors and product manufacturers, announced the addition of Amber Littlejohn to its Board of Directors. Littlejohn is a policy attorney and natural products industry veteran with two decades of experience in emerging and embattled industries. She has developed and implemented creative strategies and initiatives to expand and stabilize markets by engaging underrepresented business interests and communities.
Littlejohn is the Senior Policy Advisor for the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) where she creates and drives policy for minority entrepreneurs and their communities. Amber currently serves as a member of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable Minority Economic Empowerment Committee. Prior to her work with MCBA, Amber was an advisor and advocate for the cannabis and natural products industries on issues including natural and herbal products regulation, agriculture, and small business and rural economic development. She previously worked in regulatory and legislative policy for the American Herbal Products Association where she served as staff liaison to the sports nutrition and personal care industries. Her broad experience in the natural products industry include Executive Vice President of a successful sports nutrition company where she gained extensive knowledge of policy issues throughout the food and dietary supplement supply chains.
“We are thrilled to strengthen our board of directors with the capable leadership and diverse experience modeled by Amber Littlejohn,” stated USHA President Marielle Weintraub. “Amber brings us critical expertise on substantive issues we must tackle. But just as important is Amber’s vision to promote justice and equity in the cannabis industry; her perspective will be warmly embraced as we try to develop a truly fair and inclusive program.”
On her new board seat, Littlejohn added, “I am honored at the opportunity to work with the USHA. I look forward to working with the USHA to help build a responsible and equitable hemp industry.”
The USHA’s certification program is the hemp industry’s initiative to provide high standards, best practices and self-regulation, giving consumers and retailers confidence in hemp and CBD products. Farmers, processors, manufacturers and brand owners who meet the program’s rigorous standards, as determined by an independent, third-party audit by Food Chain ID, the program’s new administrator, are awarded a seal of certification, signaling to consumers that their products our worthy of their trust. Prevention magazine selected the USHA for one of its 2019 Health Breakthrough Awards, billed as ten major medical innovations of the past year.
