Host: Casper Leitch - Joint-Host: Al Byrne - Joint-Host and Technical Director: Al Graham - Guest: Joe Hickey Sr.
When it comes to the modern movement to end hemp prohibition and legalize cannabis in the United States, few names carry as much weight and respect as Joe Hickey Sr. A trailblazer rooted in the heart of Kentucky, Hickey has spent over three decades reshaping public policy, pushing legal boundaries, and building an economic future around industrial hemp. His journey is more than just activism, it’s a legacy of transformation that’s helped reinvigorate an entire industry once lost to outdated laws and stigma.
Perhaps one of the most iconic moments in Hickey’s fight for hemp came in 1996, when he joined forces with actor and environmental activist Woody Harrelson. Together, they tested the law by planting four hemp seeds in Kentucky soil, daring authorities to challenge the act in court. This bold protest didn’t just grab headlines, it forced policymakers and the public to question the logic of banning industrial hemp. Hickey helped secure support from influential bodies like the Kentucky Farm Bureau and even played a role in drafting the legislation that eventually allowed Kentucky farmers to legally grow hemp once again.
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