Hot Topic

In December, Graham Rigby, President & CEO at American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), provided an update on the Fight for Hemp advocacy efforts. As Rigby shares: “Last month, President Trump signed into law H.R. 5371, which revised the federal definition of ‘hemp,’ setting the stage for 2026 to become a watershed year for the embattled botanical. With the future of hemp on the line, AHPA is working closely with industry leaders on new legislation to develop regulatory pathways for the different sectors of the hemp market while maintaining consumer safety and access. Similarly, as local and state regulators have focused on kava, AHPA has formed a coalition in support of this ancient botanical as well.”

The U.S. Hemp Roundtable also addressed the issue after President Trump issued the pro-hemp Executive Order, which the Roundtable said has significant implications for the future of the U.S. hemp industry. On December 18, the U.S. Hemp Roundtable shared, “[We] urge Congress to ensure access to hemp-derived, full-spectrum CBD products, a lifeblood of the industry….We consider this Executive Order to be a direct rebuke to the hemp ban that was malignly attached to legislation that reopened government. This also gives strong impetus to efforts to extend the ban’s moratorium an additional 18 months to allow proper time for Congress and the Trump Administration to develop the regulatory framework that ensures the safe provision of hemp products while cracking down on the bad actors peddling the unsafe products that the Executive Order calls out. We look forward to working with the President, his staff, HHS, and Congress in the coming months to ensure the bipartisan vision of a safe, legal, and regulated hemp extract industry.”

Spreading Sunshine

Always one to amplify the feel-good vibes, Dr. Jeffrey Burke, Director of Education for Kokora, posted on LinkedIn:

“How often do we take time to reflect on the good things, the good people, and the awesome gifts in our life? I think it's human nature to spend more time thinking about the goals and dreams that have not come true, or the problems that have happened along the way. Many times, some of the best gifts in our life are the people who have come into our life with something to share with us. What's crazy, it is most times an incredible realization, we may just turn around one day and realize that we have these incredible people in our life, and we may have been completely unaware. I saw this, and I thought it was interesting, and it made me think:

Who’s your purple? 'Purple is someone who came into your life and made it better simply by being there. They make you feel good, and safe, and appreciated, and your life would not be the same without them.'

Try to be grateful and respectful for all of the things that make your life better every single day, and I guarantee you, there is purple in your world, whether you know it or not!”

Food for Thought

Sharing wise words on LinkedIn, Mary Purdy, MS, RDN Eco-Dietitian/Nutrition and Sustainability Expert, posted:

“As we head into cold/flu season, it's great to recognize that our immune system is connected to the immune systems of plants and the planet. When we grow our food in concert with nature (fewer synthetic chemicals and enhanced #soilhealth), we increase the likelihood that the food may be higher in those beneficial compounds that support #immunity, including our internal ecosystem (aka our gut #microbiome). It's all connected! Healthier soil →  potentially more polyphenol-rich plants → bolstered immune system → potentially healthier human!”