kwch.com · Brady Bauman · September 6, 2026
Kanna Next conference in Wichita highlights fight over future of hemp in Kansas
# Kanna Next conference in Wichita highlights fight over future of hemp in Kansas
By Brady Bauman
Published: Sep. 5, 2026 at 10:24 PM CDT| Updated: 32 minutes ago
WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - It seemed industrial hemp was ready to boom in Kansas. Now, the hemp industry is seeing strong headwinds.
Advocates and business leaders sounded an alarm on Saturday during the Kanna Next conference in Wichita. Their industry continues to see policies at the state and federal level that they believe could crush both farmers and store owners.
Dec. 11 is a date circled on the calendar for proponents of industrial hemp and the many products that come from it. Not only is it the date that congress will have to craft a new spending bill to avoid a government shutdown, it’s also when a new nationwide crackdown on certain hemp-derived products will go into effect, unless changes are made.
“We are in a wait and see mode. And especially in Kansas, since we don’t have a regulated program for cannabinoid products, we don’t even have a regulated program for hemp cannabinoid products,” said Kelly Rippel, Co-Founder of Kansas For Hemp.
“Our businesses are going to sink and fail if this law goes into effect,” said one speaker at the event.
While many associate the marijuana and hemp industry as one and the same, they’re actually very different from each other, and are often at odds with each other.
“The marijuana guys are feeling very threatened. The hemp-derived has swept up and is now kind of head-to-head with the marijuana industry,” said Sheldon Coleman, Founder and CEO of Adventrue Natural-Based Wellness Products.
Coleman has made some changes at one Andover location involving 80 acres of hemp production.
“We sold the Kansas farm a couple of weeks ago. We weren’t able to continue to grow hemp because of the difficulties with legislation. And with law enforcement. Misinforming the public about hemp and the legality,” Coleman said.
Colman said the hemp industry, which, along with wellness products, also includes manufacturing and textile materials, is too often confused with the recreational marijuana industry. He says that hemp can bolster Kansas agriculture.
“It’s a pity, because it’s a great product. It would be wonderful for farmers,” Coleman said.
“I just don’t see why we’re not putting more income, bringing more to Kansas,” said Haylie Gardner, an attendee of the Kanna Next conference. “Because this can be a boon for us.”
Coleman said much of the crackdown at the state level has zeroed in on THC-infused drinks, which he says has been a bright spot for liquor stores as Americans are drinking alcohol less.
Both Coleman and Rippel say that the hemp industry, especially in Kansas, is in need of regulation and guidance - not prohibition.
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