Upcoming Legislative Sessions: What can we expect to see?

By
HeadQuest

In my last article I discussed the 2022 legislative sessions in many states. In this article I want to shed some light on what we and many other advocates across the country anticipate in the 2023 session. As always, if you have any questions about how to get involved, ideas and relationships you may have that you believe are beneficial, please email us at: info@americanhealthyalternatives.org

The 2023 legislative session will see many more states attempt to ban and or regulate Delta8 and other hemp derived cannabinoids. Many southern states have said Delta8 legislation will be top of mind this session, and whether that means they will attempt to ban them, or regulate them is still up for discussion. Considering we saw legislation that aimed to ban Delta8 products in numerous states last year, I believe we can confidently predict many will attempt those same or similar bills next year. Minnesota legislators have said Delta8 legislation will be one of their top priorities next year as well.

As we inch closer to the start of session in January in many states, we as an industry need to be coming together to have our voices heard. We do live in a democracy after all.  We have rights, we must have our voices heard, and with a growing consumer base and well into the tens of thousands of stores selling hemp products across the U.S. we can no longer take a backseat to the policy conversation that could impact our businesses and the health of our customers. With fentanyl pouring into this country, and the war on drugs deeming cannabis illegal in many states still, many people find solace knowing that the products they are buying come from US based companies who hold themselves to very high legal and ethical standards.

We are anticipating a lot of fights across the country, and have been working diligently with legislators, business owners, and scientists to best prepare our industry for the inevitable wave of misinformation, media narratives, and staunch opposition from large “competing” industries. We are working with legislators to help them understand who we are, where we come from, and how our industry serves millions of people in their great states. We are working with businesses small and large to set marketing and testing standards so from the top down our industry can start to course correct before too many bad actors feel comfortable finding a home here. We are working with scientists and top university researchers to develop scientific studies showing the safety and even benefits of many of these hemp derived cannabinoids.

I think we all agree that saving hemp derived cannabinoids is paramount, but let’s not get complacent in saying “someone else is fighting, so I don’t have to.” Every voice counts, and every dollar adds to our ability to get our messaging out to more people! Please find your state’s association website donate now, January is coming fast!

 

We encourage everyone to join The American Healthy Alternatives Association (AHAA), or one of our many state associations to get involved in the fight and learn more about what is happening in your state’s legislature.

 

healthyflorida.org

healthygeorgia.org

myhealthytn.org

healthynorthcarolina.org

myhealthysc.org

myhealthyva.org

healthyalternativesmd.org

myhealthyne.org

Recent Stories

Recent Articles

2026-08-05_10-11-53
By
Jimmy Wohl
Fragile Markets Need Sturdy Security
You’ve chosen to work in a gray area. You sell products that contain cannabis or cannabis-adjacent substances as well as accessories that can be used to consume it. And while that area has become less gray—you can see rays of sunlight peeking through—the skies are still cloudy. THC remains a Schedule 1 substance, even as medical marijuana has migrated to Schedule 3.
2026-07-30_23-43-05
By
Emily Long
What Retailers Wish They Knew When They Opened Their First Shop
Running a cannabis business is notoriously complicated. For dispensaries, complex compliance burdens permeate every facet of the business, from zoning and licensing to marketing and payments. Whether you’ve been in the cannabis space for mere months or multiple decades, you’ve likely run into drawn-out approval processes, supply chain headaches, or constantly changing regulation that makes compliance challenging, not to mention the other micro and macroeconomic factors that plague all small business owners.
3
By
Joe Reefer
Behind the Scenes: Not Ya Son’s Weed
Blending traditional values with modernized, energetic branding, Not Ya Son’s Weed falls somewhere between the cannabis days of yore and today’s recreational cannabis boom. Not Ya Son’s Weed offers a variety of products—including pre-rolls, exotic flower, and gummies—that provide much-needed relief without being too overbearing.
2026-07-30_20-13-55
By
Matt Weeks
Hawaiian Punch: One man’s fight to keep hemp legal
The officials came for Lance Alyas once before. In 2023, they caught him in a sting, seized his merchandise, and tossed him in jail. But just seven days later, after he invoked Hawaii's version of a Freedom of Information Act request, the whole case fell apart. Alyas was released without bail, allowed to simply walk out the door. Now, he’s advocating for freedom from Hawaii’s state officials once again. Only this time, it’s not just his own freedom. As the owner of Oahu’s top-rated smoke shops, he’s fighting for everyone’s right to sell hemp products in the Aloha State.
2026-07-30_8-12-05
By
Emily Long
Sula Benet and the Ancient History of Cannabis
Born Sara Benetowa in Warsaw, Poland, in 1903, Sula Benet may not be an immediately recognizable name in cannabis spaces today, but she should be. While she primarily studied Polish folk customs, Benet became known for her graduate thesis at the University of Warsaw, titled Hashish in Folk Customs and Beliefs. In the paper, she claims that the plant kaneh bosm—which is referenced throughout the Old Testament and Torah and often translated as “calamus”—actually refers to hemp. Benet’s theory remains both significant and highly controversial today, especially as various religious and evangelical groups continue to demonize the plant.
2026-07-30_8-00-37
By
Matt Weeks
How North Carolina Could Save Us All
If the United States were ever a country based on strict adherence to the law, those days are long past. The modern game lies in devising methods to circumvent laws. It’s how the rich avoid taxes, the powerful avoid jail, and industries of all kinds bypass regulations. The paradox is that, despite its ubiquity, it’s not easy to stay beyond the reach of the long arm of the law. Well-moneyed, influential organizations still sometimes misjudge the political and legal playing field and have to pay up. The Sacklers (the family behind Purdue Pharma) eventually were bankrupted by the courts for their role in the opioid epidemic, and officials hit Meta with a $5 billion fine over privacy concerns.
2026-07-30_7-49-06
By
Karen Maina
The Rise of Wellness Smoke Shops
When you walk into a smoke shop today, you might notice the glass cases that once held rolling papers and blunt wraps now display CBD tinctures, functional mushroom capsules, kava elixirs, and hemp-infused sparkling water. The staff might talk to you about terpene profiles, cortisol levels, and a new vape line.
CBD 3
By
Jimmy Wohl
Lung, Tongue, and Skin
I went home and told my girlfriend, who, after Googling the name of the business I bought it from, told me that, yes, it was technically weed. But it was CBD. She started laughing, telling me I had been ripped off.