Ex-RFK Jr. Advisor Says Susie Wiles Steered White House Hemp THC Policy

A new claim is putting the spotlight on who really steered the Trump administration's approach to intoxicating hemp products. A former advisor to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says Susie Wiles, described as President Trump's former chief of staff, played a hands-on role in shaping White House policy on hemp-derived THC. The allegation suggests that decisions landing on the desks of hemp growers, product makers and retailers weren't coming only from the agencies that usually handle these issues, but from the top of the president's inner circle.

It's worth keeping in mind that this is an accusation from a former insider, and the details of what was said or done come from that person's account. Still, it adds a new layer to a fight that has been simmering for a while. Hemp-derived THC products, including gummies, drinks and vapes sold outside licensed dispensaries, have grown into a big business since the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp. They have drawn pushback from regulators, state lawmakers and parts of the licensed cannabis industry who argue they operate in a loophole.

For people who buy these products or earn a living selling them, the question of who is pulling the strings matters. Policy shaped behind closed doors by senior staff can be harder to predict, harder to lobby and harder to challenge than rules developed through a public process. If the claim holds up, it suggests the push to clamp down on hemp THC had more political muscle behind it than many observers realized.

Expect more questions in the coming days about whether the White House responds and whether lawmakers or industry groups use the claim to renew calls for a clearer, more transparent federal framework for hemp and cannabis products. Until then, hemp businesses and consumers are left watching a policy fight whose origins are suddenly a lot more political than they looked.