“In the writing of this paper, our team draws on 24 months of on-the-ground due diligence, including more than a dozen trips to the outskirts of Chinese provinces where the country’s industry is being pioneered. We interviewed diverse industry participants from government officials and public company CEOs, to rural hemp farmers. We bridged language, cultural, and political barriers, to offer insights on opportunities in one (very large) corner of our increasingly interconnected global industry. 

I hope readers will find value in the findings presented here. Focusing on what we can accomplish together with the emergence of China’s hemp-derived cannabinoid industry will lead to beneficial results for all. More than ever, we need to resist the forces that are creating divisions globally. This paper will hopefully contribute meaningfully to that goal.”