Breaking the Stigma: Why the Hemp Industry Deserves a Fresh Look
If you still picture hemp as “weed in disguise” or something shady, you’re not alone. That’s exactly the stigma we tackled head-on in the latest episode of Business Over Beer. I sat down with Tami, co-owner of Waldo Hemp Works right here in Plymouth, Wisconsin, for a no-filter conversation that cleared up decades of confusion. The goal? Educate, not preach. Because the hemp industry today is legal, local, and full of everyday people building honest businesses.
Let’s start with the biggest myth: hemp is marijuana.
It’s not. Hemp is a variety of the cannabis plant with less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC—the stuff that gets you high. Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp is fully legal at the federal level, and Wisconsin farmers have embraced it. Tami walked us through the science in plain English: CBD, CBG, CBN, and the rest are just different compounds from the same plant, each offering unique wellness benefits without the high. She explained how third-party lab testing keeps everything safe, transparent, and compliant, something the old “back-alley” image never had.
The stigma hurts real families and real businesses. Customers still whisper when they walk into a hemp store after learning the facts. One conversation at a time, the industry is proving it’s about relief, recovery, and responsible adult choices not just for recreation.
That’s where local spots like Waldo Hemp Works shine. Located at 2621 Eastern Ave in downtown Plymouth, Tami and her husband have been serving Sheboygan County since 2018 with high-quality, hemp-derived products: CBD tinctures, salves, gummies, smokable flower, vapes, drinks, and even pet treats. Everything is lab-tested, affordable, and backed by daily deals that make trying hemp products easy. They’ve been voted Best CBD Store in Sheboygan County for three straight years because they focus on education first. Walk in, ask questions, leave informed.
Supporting businesses like Waldo Hemp Works isn’t just good for your wellness, it’s good for Wisconsin. These are mom-and-pop operations creating jobs, paying local taxes, and giving farmers another profitable crop. When you buy local hemp, you keep dollars in the community instead of sending them to big out-of-state corporations.
If you’ve carried a negative view of the hemp industry, I get it. Old headlines die hard. But the conversation with Tami showed me how much has changed, and how much potential is still untapped. Listen to the full episode (link in bio or show notes) and then stop by Waldo Hemp Works. Ask Tami your toughest questions. You might walk out with a new perspective and a bottle of salve that actually works.
With Business Over Beer and my podcast production company, WAWI Productions, I’m committed to highlighting local entrepreneurs who are breaking barriers, using storytelling and shared experience to grow together.
The stigma is fading. The hemp industry is here to stay. Let’s make sure the good guys like Waldo Hemp Works, get the spotlight they deserve.
