Thank you for holding this listening session as I support the reclassification of hemp and other plant compounds to further strategies to develop this and similar industries that rely on science, agriculture and medical backbones and infrastructure.
I've been working a paper since a former Fellowship monitoring the changes that cannabis has had on our communities. Uniformity and application of law are really (to me) the most notable issues of deploying programs related to this in different states and identifying ways to include all community stakeholders is crucial to the success of these programs as they often get run hand in hand with other justice reform efforts. 
I believe hemp and other types of cannabis that have undergone recent legal status changes or approvals with other plants that have had huge impacts on society such as marijuana, largely due to inaccurate science and agricultural policies in the US and abroad. 
These are opportunities for us to reverse course on really destructive health, agriculture, and economic policies especially the burdensome impact of miscommunication about the hazards of hemp that have grossly impacted the corrections systems, prisons and cut short the future of millions of American families. 
It's time to identify and further improve programs tasked with the administration of these laws in various ways such as criminal justice reforms, legal reclassification, new innovative partnerships, research policies and avenues that include people impacted by the war on drugs. 
This will help identify and develop new 'exit strategies' for the war on drugs through programs such as hemp small business development and I believe other agencies are currently reviewing and working agencies such as the SBIR to help roll out new drug development and small business ownership opportunities.
The FDA has issued botanical drug guidance that may be a template to review as everyone moves forward.
On a personal note I use cannabis/hemp based compounds in my diet and as opioid replacement since legalization in Alaska and my health has not only been maintained but it has also considerably improved. 
I think hemp has a bright future and I encourage the USDA to continue their efforts to develop new innovative programs that include hemp products. 
Thank you for the opportunity to submit comment in advance of the hemp listening session.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Bowie
@dreamgbutterfly botanicals