Hemp & Cannabis Strategic Consulting, Government Consulting & Expert Witness Testimony

Mr. Whitney is one of the most experienced and well-recognized cannabis economists in the United States, and is senior economist for the National Industrial Hemp Council and the National Cannabis Industry Association.

  • Demand Forecasting & Market Projections - Providing granular forecasts by sector and subsector for legal and illicit markets, including insights and trends.
  • Pro-forma Financial Statements - Building strong and defensible financial forecasts for businesses on any point of the hemp and cannabis vale chain.
  • Economic Impact Analyses - Articulating the impact that hemp and cannabis verticals may have on local, state, regional and national economies.
  • Business Valuations - Preparing written analyses on the valuation of opportunities and business for the purpose of sale and/or acquisition.
  • Market Entry Strategies - Applying market modelling and insights and making strategic recommendations customized for successful market entry, be it national, industry vertical or product/service line.
  • Legislative Scoring - Providing non-partisan reports assessing the impacts and risks, economic costs and benefits of proposed hemp and cannabis-related legislation on behalf of government entities.
  • Policy Analysis - Assessing the efficacy and broad economic impacts of legislative policy and whether the policies will achieve their stated goals on behalf of government regulators, investor groups, industry associations and businesses.
  • Regulatory Compliance - Leveraging experience in the development of rules to align regulatory proposals to legislative intent, supporting the deployment of the rules.
  • Operations Audits & Optimization - Assessing business performance, streamlining operations, applying best practices of operational efficiency to lower costs, improve margins and increase revenues.
  • Expert Witness - Federal & State Legal Proceedings - Experienced trial witness providing verified expert opinions on hemp and cannabis related valuations, business impacts and other matters of dispute.

Industry Expertise

Hemp / Cannabis

Hemp / Cannabis

Macro Economics

Macro Economics

Governmental

Governmental

Latest Insights

Reports

02/23/2026
Washington Cannabis Tax Policy Analysis - February 2026 DOWNLOAD NOW
09/2/2025
The U.S. THC Beverage Report (2025) DOWNLOAD NOW

In the News

03/05/2026
Changing weed and vape taxes could cost WA money. It’s worth the risk | Opinion READ NOW
03/05/2026
Economics expert issues analysis of Washington State cannabis tax laws READ NOW

Speaking Engagements

7/22/2020
The State of Hemp: Key Learnings from 2019 and a Forecast for 2020
National Industrial Hemp Council, Washington, D.C.
7/2/2020
Cannabis Interstate Commerce and its Role in Promoting Social Equity
The State of Cannabis

Media

02/24/2026
WHITNEY ECONOMICS ISSUES CANNABIS TAX POLICY ANALYSIS FOR STATE OF WASHINGTON READ NOW
08/27/2025
WHITNEY ECONOMICS IDENTIFIES FLAWS IN USDA METHODOLOGY IN CALCULATING HEMP CULTIVATION SECTOR VALUE READ NOW

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