As extra states legalize hashish, affected person advocates throughout the nation are asking the identical query: who is definitely defending and representing shoppers as soon as legalization arrives?
In Connecticut, Erin Kirk has grow to be one reply to that query. Because the state’s Hashish Ombudsman, Kirk works immediately with sufferers, regulators, legislators, cultivators, pharmacists, suppliers, and shoppers to assist individuals navigate Connecticut’s hashish system whereas advocating for stronger affected person protections and smarter coverage. An ombudsman is an unbiased, impartial official who investigates complaints, mediates battle, and aids resolutions between people and organizations, resembling authorities businesses, firms, or universities. Derived from a Swedish time period that means “consultant,” they give attention to making certain equity, accountability, and correct administrative conduct with out representing both aspect
As half advocate, half educator, and half legislative liaison, Kirk occupies one of the distinctive roles within the American hashish business.
We spoke with Kirk about legalization, hemp regulation, affected person entry, rescheduling, and why she believes hashish techniques fail when sufferers grow to be an afterthought.
This interview has been edited for readability.
Hashish & Tech At the moment: Out of your perspective, the place are we now within the broader legalization motion? What classes have we discovered alongside the best way?
Erin Kirk: I believe we discovered that the conflict on medicine was a joke and failure. The rescheduling and the descheduling and the legalization and the disparate state rules goes again to what we used to say within the olden days: plant free the individuals. If it had been descheduled, there’d be much more small companies. There’d be farm-to-table. There’d be neighborhoods. There’d be those who had been impacted [by the War on Drugs] in a position to simply do it with out going via regulatory and licensing points.
We determined we have been going to make this plant unlawful. And so, I believe we’ve discovered that that didn’t work. We take a look at these European nations, we take a look at island nations which are altering. We take a look at Israel with unbelievable analysis. We take a look at Brazil doing shipments to Switzerland. It’s a world commerce and we ought to be prepared for the worldwide facet.
C&T At the moment: You’ve been outspoken in regards to the proposed federal hemp ban. What do you are feeling just like the potential impacts are going to be, notably for shoppers and small companies?
EK: I believe it’s devastating, and I believe we’re throwing the infant out with the bathwater. I’ve spoken up and down the East Coast about fuel station rubbish, something that appeals to youngsters and the nonsense offered in smoke retailers. However hemp is a professional enterprise. Within the state of Maryland, you needed to develop hemp till the 18 tons of otherwise you have been fined.
Hemp was utilized in healthcare, it was utilized in gross sales and the making of maritime parts. It’s actually detrimental to sufferers and small companies who’ve already taken hits up and down due to altering rules. And it’s simply absurd to me that we’ve determined we’re going to now say that it’s not simply the plant itself [that gets banned]. They’re actually saying you’ll be able to’t have seeds. I’ve obtained individuals posting on LinkedIn saying, I’m sending my seeds abroad. I get not less than 5 sufferers, perhaps extra a month, who name me because the hashish ombudsman, understanding that hemp is a plant of the identical genus and that this can be a drugs as effectively.
They are saying, ‘The place has it gone? I can’t get my CBD-THC ratios. I can’t get any CBD. [There was a] father calling me. He’s obtained a five-year-old with intractable epilepsy. The kid was having 5 to 6 petite mals a day and 6 grand mals per week. After taking a drop of this [hemp] tincture, the kid had no petite mals and one grand mal each six weeks. However, the corporate received’t make it anymore as a result of there’s no ROI. To take that away from sufferers…it breaks my coronary heart.
C&T At the moment: There’s been a lot debate round rescheduling and descheduling. What do you see as the most important benefits and potential drawbacks?
EK: Plenty of communities don’t belief the federal government. So I believe there can be some points with the federal government taking up hashish. And these would come with disproportionately impacted communities, caregivers, and suppliers. I do assume it’s tough when you determine is the DEA going to deal with this. Is it going to grow to be pharmaceuticalized? Is it going to solely are available tablet type?
I believe rescheduling is nice for banking, nice for insurance coverage. I believe it’ll do rather a lot for individuals having the ability to have higher transfers, get extra financing. Plenty of the buddies that I work with right here haven’t been in a position to get financial institution loans. One of many massive media firms simply introduced in the present day on LinkedIn, that Chase Financial institution after three years closed them down. We’re nonetheless having that stigma. And that man isn’t a hashish operator, he’s a media firm.
I believe rescheduling does present that hashish has medical worth. I would like the state packages to have the ability to proceed as a result of I believe we perceive our locales, we perceive our people.
Learn extra: Supreme Courtroom Backs Gun Rights for Hashish Shoppers: Final Week in Weed June 10-June 22, 2026 – Hashish & Tech At the moment
C&T At the moment: Many individuals nonetheless don’t totally perceive what a hashish ombudsman really does. What does the function appear like in observe?
EK: Ombudsman is a Scandinavian phrase for advocate. You’re supposed to help sufferers and assist people navigate paperwork, assist with complaints, give energy to their voices. We convey as many individuals as we will in entrance of their legislators and empower them. In my explicit function, there are statutory necessities, a few of which embody lobbying our legislators by bringing forth tales and by bringing sufferers to testify and submitting testimony and giving knowledge and suggesting laws, all of which we’ve accomplished. Most of people who name my workplace are within the age of 60, they’ve hassle navigating the system.
I get quite a lot of calls from individuals who say, ‘I obtained my card, however I don’t know what to do.’ We assist sufferers in a myriad methods. We make sure that they get their drugs. Now we have it delivered to them. We usher in people to assist in any means they want. You may’t simply open grownup use and depart your sufferers behind. And when your medical sufferers represent solely a small group, the producers aren’t going to make for them.They’re going to make for the restrict and so sufferers are subsequently shedding the drugs they’ve gotten used to. You will have the chance to place [an ombudsman] workplace in on the similar time you open your grownup use.
The Ombudsman does all the pieces from foyer the legislators who work with the regulators, soak up complaints, converse to certifiers, suppliers, pharmacists, and ensure individuals can get their playing cards simply. Right here in Connecticut, we’ve gotten rid of the state charge. And final 12 months one of many cool issues we obtained was a two 12 months extension, so now you’ll be able to have a two 12 months medical card, which is fantastic for sufferers who’ve hassle with mobility resembling aged people. Sure, there’s public coverage and our Division of Client safety, however they get overwhelmed typically. So let an ombudsman assist, allow them to take stuff off their plate.
They’re doing a lot else and so they’re doing it splendidly and effectively. They will’t do all the pieces. So I’m right here. And I believe they need to do this in different states. It’s quite a lot of outreach, it’s quite a lot of networking, it’s quite a lot of educating, and it’s so rewarding.
C&T At the moment: For shoppers, advocates, and entrepreneurs who care about the way forward for hashish coverage, what’s the simplest option to keep concerned?
EK: Folks can get entangled. They don’t assume they’ll. They need to. I actually encourage individuals to talk out and submit testimony. It’s really easy. I’ve a sheet on find out how to get entangled that I move to anyone that desires it. It has hyperlinks to all of the alternative ways you’ll be able to submit testimony in individual or written. After which it’s a must to have your ten second, not thirty second, your ten second pitch able to go. And I’m telling you, associates of mine have gotten laws [enacted]. Analysis, analysis, analysis. Go to occasions. You may meet all these completely different individuals.
You’ll see completely different occasions you go to the place those who personal companies converse and also you’ll study which a part of the enterprise you wish to get in. Attain out to individuals, ask quite a lot of questions. Radical collaboration is vital, it’s the means. I do know all people from the plug to the president and it’s the one option to function. You’ve obtained to have the ability to work with all people. Don’t be a jerks.Crabs in a barrel usually are not cool. You might be getting out, don’t be pulling anyone down as a result of they’re getting out. Throw them up, elevate them up, after which inform them, ‘Come again and get me.’
In the event you don’t have a seat on the desk, don’t even convey a chair anymore. Deliver your personal rattling desk.
