Author

Kelly Rippel
Kelly Rippel has been interested in hemp and cannabis since the age of 13, when his father told him about the hemp research he volunteered for at Kansas State University during the 1970s. Rippel’s passion for evidence-based policy, public health and environmentalism has driven him to seek out a better understanding of humanity’s relationship with the cannabis plant. Rippel received a degree in public relations and sociology from Emporia State University, attended the National Cannabis Summit in 2015, CannaGrow Expo in 2016, and after co-founding Kansans for Hemp attended NoCoHemp Expo in 2017. Rippel worked with decision makers in the enactment of hemp legislation and served as an appointed member of the Industrial Hemp Research Advisory Board under the Kansas Department of Agriculture where he helped develop rules and regulations for the state’s hemp program and assisted in selecting candidates for licensure. Rippel has spoken at multiple state and regional conferences, in addition to the World Hemp Congress in Ljubljana, Slovenia. He serves as volunteer advisor to the Kansas Cannabis Business Association and Hemp Economic Development Group, as well as president of Planted Association of Kansas.
Positive change on horizon for hemp products and hemp farmers in Kansas
By: Kelly Rippel - December 20, 2022
The Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Kelly Rippel is an independent researcher, consultant and advocate for the hemp and cannabis industries in Kansas. He’s also an appointed member of the Kansas Department […]
Kansas must pass a fully regulated medicinal cannabis program
By: Kelly Rippel - January 30, 2021
The Kansas Reflector welcomes opinion pieces from writers who share our goal of widening the conversation about how public policies affect the day-to-day lives of people throughout our state. Kelly Rippel is an independent researcher, consultant and advocate for the hemp and cannabis industries in Kansas. Kansas has made solid progress in recent years by […]