USDA’s latest hemp report shows stagnation, at best.
There are a few noteworthy data points in USDA’s latest National Hemp Report, published this week.
First, acres of hemp planted has remained unchanged in many states, but has dropped in many, too.

Regarding industry demographics, the hemp industry is still overwhelmingly male (80%) and white (86%).
New York Senate has a new cannabis subcommittee.
Rochester Sen. Jeremy Cooney was appointed chair by Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. Cooney has been enthusiastic about cannabis in New York and was a strong MRTA supporter. Cooney is also co-chair of the Marijuana Task Force for the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus alongside Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes.
“I am pleased to see the adult-use recreational cannabis market begin to come online in New York, but there is much more to be done,” Cooney said in a statement on Thursday.
Cooney has introduced a number of cannabis bills, including one that, as Cannabis Wire reported, would overhaul the state’s cannabis tax system.
National Safety Council releases resources, white paper, and an event series focused on cannabis.
NSC, a century-old safety non-profit, released a flurry of cannabis-focused resources on 4/20.
One item is a new report titled State Cannabis Testing Programs: Current Obstacles and Needed Reforms for Consumer Safety and Health.
The group is also putting together a series of webinars, including with CANNRA and with the GMP Collective.