Did Missteps And Mismanagement Finally Spell The End For U.S. Hemp Association?
“I haven’t done any work with HIA since maybe May of last year”
One of the longest-standing cannabis organizations in the U.S., the Hemp Industries Association (HIA), has apparently gone dormant – if not collapsed outright.
Attempts by HempToday to reach officers and board members, including Kentucky farmer Mike Lewis, still listed on the HIA website as president, were mostly unsuccessful.
Jody McGinness, who had served as executive director since 2020, left his position in June 2024, according to his LinkedIn profile. Also, while the organization’s website is still online, emails sent to HIA addresses were all returned.
Two persons listed as board members on the HIA website told HempToday they had no specific notification that the organization has shut down, but indicated they were unsure of the trade group’s status.
“I haven’t done any work with HIA since maybe May of last year,” wrote one of the board members who responded to HempToday, adding “I think there was some reorganization being done. As far as I know, the organization is still active.”
Wrote the second: “I believe they are still ‘alive,’” however “no one is steering them at this time.”
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