Eric Steenstra co-founded the pioneering hemp clothing and lifestyle brand Ecolution with Steve DeAngelo in 1992. Eric went on to lead the nation’s first hemp trade group, serving as the Executive Director of the Hemp Industries Association from 2007 to 2016. Eric also served as the president of Vote Hemp and Vice President of the California Hemp Council. He has been a frequent speaker at industry conferences and trusted source to the media, including CBS, New York Times, Forbes, CNN, Rolling Stone, Reuters and the Washington Post.

In his role at Vote Hemp, Eric led the effort to introduce and pass hemp farming legislation nationwide and defend the hemp market. In 2001, Eric was part of the team that led the legal effort to overturn the DEA rule banning hemp products containing “any” THC in them.

Eric was part of groups that obtained dispensary licenses in Maryland, Oregon and West Virginia and helped to oversee operations in. the Maryland store. He currently provides consulting and is working on various hemp and cannabis projects including advising the Rosebud Sioux Tribe hemp commission.