Hemp Talk
May 6, 2023

6 Major Influencers in the Hemp Industry

There has been a surge of interest and growth in the hemp industry in recent years, and as a result, many influencers have emerged. Here are a few:

Joy Beckerman

joy beckerman. major influencer in hemp industry

A well-known hemp activist, entrepreneur, and educator, Joy Beckerman has been working in the hemp industry for more than two decades. She is the President of the Hemp Industries Association and has played a significant role in the legalization of hemp in the US. In addition to being the founder of Hemp Ace International, Beckerman advises clients on hemp-related matters, including regulatory compliance, product development, and marketing.

Over 1,000 subscribers subscribe to Joy Beckerman’s YouTube channel “JoyBeckerman420” where she shares interviews, talks, and educational content related to the hemp industry.

 

Dr. Ethan Russo

Dr Etan Ruso, major influencer in hemp industry Dr. Ethan Russo: Dr. Russo is a prominent figure in the cannabis and hemp industries. He is a neurologist and psychopharmacologist who has written numerous scientific papers on the therapeutic properties of cannabis and hemp. Besides his involvement in the development of cannabis and hemp-based pharmaceuticals, Russo is also a highly sought-after conference and event speaker.

He has appeared on several podcasts and webinars related to the cannabis and hemp industries, including The Cannabis Science Podcast, The Medical Pot Guide, and Cannabis and Hemp Insider.

 

Raphael Mechoulam

Raphael Mechoulam, major influencer in hemp industryIn addition to being a professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam is also known as the “father of cannabis research.” He isolated THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis, for the first time in history. In addition to developing the endocannabinoid system, which interacts with cannabinoids such as THC and CBD, Mechoulam is also credited with discovering it.

Dr. Raphael Mechoulam has given numerous talks and lectures on the therapeutic properties of cannabis and hemp. His lectures are available on YouTube, and he has also appeared on several podcasts and webinars. Green Flower Media, Leafly, and Cannabis Health Radio have all featured his content.

 

Rick Simpson

Known for advocating the use of cannabis oil for medical purposes, Rick Simpson is a medical marijuana activist. In his claims that he has cured cancer and other illnesses with a high-THC cannabis oil, he calls it Rick Simpson Oil (RSO). As a result of Simpson’s advocacy, cannabis and hemp are now recognized for their potential therapeutic benefits.

Some of the channels that have featured his content include Cannabis Health Radio, TruthSeekah, and The Sacred Plant, which do not have an official YouTube channel.

Charlotte Figi

A young girl named Charlotte Figi suffered from a severe form of epilepsy known as Dravet syndrome as a child. Her parents found out that a high-CBD, low-THC hemp extract could help to reduce her seizures, and her story helped to spread the word about the potential therapeutic benefits of CBD. A popular brand of CBD products is Charlotte’s Web, named after her hemp extract.

Even though Charlotte Figi passed away in 2020, her story and legacy continue to inspire cannabis and hemp enthusiasts. The Stanley Brothers, the creators of Charlotte’s Web hemp extract, have a YouTube channel where they share educational content related to CBD and the hemp industry. The channel is called “CW Hemp” and has over 7,000 subscribers.

 

Martin Lee

For many years, Martin Lee has been involved in the cannabis and hemp industries as an author, journalist, and activist. In addition to Project CBD, a website he founded to provide information on CBD’s therapeutic properties, he is the founder of Project CBD. One of the most comprehensive books on the history of cannabis is Lee’s “Smoke Signals: A Social History of Marijuana – Medical, Recreational, and Scientific.”

Founder Martin Lee runs Project CBD, which has a YouTube channel called “ProjectCBD” that shares educational content related to CBD’s therapeutic properties.

Influencers in the hemp and cannabis industries have played significant roles in advancing these industries, and they continue to be important voices.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vishal Vivek is the Founder and CEO of Ukhi, a pioneering bio-materials company dedicated to ending plastic pollution by converting agricultural waste into high-performance compostable polymers. With a background in sustainable entrepreneurship and over a decade of technology experience, he leads Ukhi’s vision to create scalable, planet-positive material solutions. Previously, Vishal founded the Hemp Foundation, where he empowered more than 1,000 farmers and advanced sustainable livelihood initiatives. His work has been recognized through awards such as the HDFC Parivartan Grant and featured in leading publications like Forbes and Entrepreneur. Times Group recognized him as a legendary entrepreneur and published his biography in “I Did IT- Vol 2” alongside social pioneers like Bindeshwar Pathak (Sulabh International) and Anshu Gupta (Goonj). Vishal has authored more than 200 articles on sustainability and hemp, reflecting his deep expertise and advocacy for regenerative solutions. His commitment to grassroots impact led him to live in the remote mountains of Uttarakhand, where he immersed himself in the lives of marginal farmers, understanding their challenges and co-creating economic opportunities through hemp-based initiatives. A deeply passionate innovator, Vishal often draws inspiration from seemingly impossible achievements: “If Elon Musk can make rockets reusable, or Dashrath Manjhi can carve a path through a mountain with rudimentary tools, why can’t we eliminate the demon of single-use plastic while uplifting struggling farmers? We will make it happen—whatever it takes.” Ukhi is proud to be supported by premier institutions including IIT Guwahati, NSRCEL-IIM Bangalore, Indian School of Business (Hyderabad), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR Pusa), and the Indian Institute of Packaging. Vishal is committed to demonstrating that business can be a powerful catalyst for global environmental and social good. Connect with Vishal