Why are hemp and cannabis still beefing over THC—and is it killing reform? On today’s TDR Trade to Black podcast, presented by Dutchie, hosts Shadd Dales and Anthony Varrell meet up with Michael Bronstein from the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp (ATACH) to discuss the ongoing conflict between the cannabis and hemp industries. We’ll break down what a unified THC framework could actually look like—and why it’s long overdue.
We’re calling out the tension between two industries that should be working together but keep clashing over control. Hemp and cannabis have been at odds for years, from synthetic cannabinoids to regulatory turf wars. But with rescheduling on the table, both sides need to stop fighting and start collaborating.
Michael Bronstein, President of the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp, joins us once again for our weekly Insiders Edge segment. He shares his thoughts on how both industries can come together to build a national THC standard that works—for regulators, businesses, and consumers.
So far, recent calls to unify cannabis and hemp leaders overlook deeper issues—chiefly the presence of bad actors, especially those promoting synthetic THC products under the guise of hemp. These operators, Bronstein argues, undermine regulatory efforts and even campaign against marijuana legalization in states like Florida. He stresses that a prerequisite to productive industry dialogue is setting standards that clearly exclude synthetic THC sellers from legitimate industry forums.
We’ll also examine the US Supreme Court’s decision to hear the U.S. v. Hamani case, which challenges the federal firearm ban for cannabis users. Bronstein believes this case—though not expected to be resolved until at least 2026—could further expose the irrationality of cannabis’s Schedule I classification. Senator Ron Wyden’s recent criticism of the Biden administration’s rescheduling delay was also discussed.
Finally, the hosts preview a Pennsylvania vote on Senator Laughlin’s cannabis control board bill and touch on developments in Florida, where officials allegedly invalidated 200,000 voter signatures related to cannabis ballot initiatives. Hear the whole discussion when you tune in.