13 Mar 2025

The upcoming Industrial Hemp Summit, scheduled for April 5 in Gaborone, has announced that Ms Joy Beckerman, a leading figure in the hemp industry with over 30 years of experience, will be among its distinguished core speakers.
Mr Oratile Masala, CEO of IHBS and co-founder of the Hemp Business Summit, praised Ms Beckerman as a regulatory specialist and the principal at Hemp Ace International, a consulting firm based in the US that offers legal support and expert witness services to the global hemp sector.
Mr Masala described her as a “hemp encyclopedia,” highlighting her extensive knowledge and capability as a respected leader who influencesd legislation and regulation within the hemp industry.
“Ms Beckerman has dedicated thousands of hours to advancing the industrial hemp movement, engaging in grassroots efforts, advocacy, and providing professional legal support to promote legalisation and sensible regulations. Her work has educated a broad audience, including the public, farmers, business operators, economic developers, academia, lawmakers, and regulators,” he said.
Mr Masala said throughout her career, Ms Beckerman made significant contributions to the hemp industry during the early 1990s when she opened New York’s first hemp store and played a vital role in establishing the retail hemp economy in Vermont.
“She also has an extensive background in compliance and complex civil litigation, having worked with prominent law firms such as Littler Mendelson and Dorsey & Whitney, serving as a Senior Paralegal in high-stakes civil lawsuits.”
In addition to Ms Beckerman, Mr Lawrence Serbin, another prominent figure in the hemp industry, would also speak at the Summit.
Mr Masala said Serbin’s passion for hemp began in 1990 after reading Jack Herer’s book, “The Emperor Wears No Clothes.”
He started volunteering with the Business Alliance for Commerce in Hemp and quickly rose to become the national director, forging numerous industry connections that led him to establish Hemp Traders in 1994.
Today, Hemp Traders is the largest supplier of hemp textiles and fibre products in the U.S., Mr Masala added. In addition to Hemp Traders, Mr Serbin founded Cannagrove, which manufactures hemp particle boards, and co-owns Pure Fibre Innovations, producing state-of-the-art hemp harvesting equipment.
Mr Serbin has also served as the president of the Hemp Industries Association.
The Summit reflects President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko’s vision, as articulated in his 2024 State of the Nation Address, emphasising cannabis and hemp cultivation as vital components for GDP growth.
The theme for this year’s event is, ‘Unlocking the Hemp Industry in Botswana.’ ENDS