Why CRAFT Exists

Our Role in the Cannabis Industry

CRAFT exists to establish cannabis compliance standards that protect lawful businesses, consumers, and the integrity of the industry. We provide education, training, and operational frameworks designed to help hemp and cannabis operators navigate regulation responsibly while building long-term credibility.

About

The cannabis industry is evolving faster than regulatory systems can adapt. CRAFT was created to close that gap — not through marketing or advocacy alone, but through clear standards, professional training, and practical compliance tools that operators can actually implement.

Our work focuses on alignment: aligning businesses with the law, aligning operations with best practices, and aligning the industry around shared expectations of professionalism and accountability.

Education, Alignment, and Accountability

Develops cannabis and hemp compliance standards
Provides professional training and certification
Supports retailers, brands, and professionals
Encourages industry-led accountability
Serves as a neutral platform for alignment and education

CRAFT is not a retailer, manufacturer, or lobbying firm. We are a standards and education platform built to support lawful participation in a regulated industry.

Our Story

CRAFT was born out of a need for clarity, credibility, and community in the Texas hemp industry.

Founded by Rhiannon Yard, a seasoned cannabis compliance expert and retail operator, CRAFT brings together decades of hands-on experience, policy insight, and a shared vision for a more responsible, sustainable hemp marketplace in Texas and beyond.

After navigating California’s tightly regulated cannabis system and launching Hemp Gaia, a licensed hemp retail and manufacturing business in Waco, Rhiannon saw firsthand the challenges facing Texas entrepreneurs. Confusing statutes, inconsistent enforcement, and a lack of accessible compliance education were putting well-intentioned businesses at risk.

So she got to work.

CRAFT was built to close that gap , not with shortcuts or hype, but with structure, standards, and education designed for real-world operations. With the support of respected industry leader and policy strategist Jay Maguire, CRAFT was launched as a trusted platform to educate, certify, and empower hemp retailers and manufacturers across the state.

As the platform grew, so did the team.

CRAFT is strengthened by the leadership and instructional voice of Chasity Wedgeworth, Lead Instructor and Content Creator, whose work focuses on translating complex regulatory frameworks into practical, accessible training for operators, employees, and stakeholders. Together, the CRAFT team brings policy fluency, operational experience, and educational clarity to an industry that has long needed all three in the same room.

This is not a solo effort, it’s a purpose-built alliance of professionals who believe the hemp industry deserves better tools, clearer standards, and a unified voice.

At CRAFT, we believe compliance doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right education, practical systems, and a strong community, hemp businesses can thrive legally, ethically, and sustainably, and help shape the future of the industry as it grows.

CRAFT is proof that when smart people build together, with integrity and intention, an industry can grow up the right way.

Leadership

CRAFT is led by a multidisciplinary team of operators, educators, and policy professionals committed to building standards, clarity, and long-term credibility for the hemp and cannabis industry.

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Rhiannon Yard

Founder & Executive Director

Rhiannon Yard is a cannabis compliance strategist, retail operator, and systems builder with deep experience in highly regulated markets. After working within California’s mature cannabis framework and launching a licensed hemp retail and manufacturing business in Texas, she founded CRAFT to address the gaps she saw between regulation, education, and real-world operations.

Rhiannon leads CRAFT’s standards development, platform strategy, and industry alignment initiatives, with a focus on building practical compliance tools that protect lawful businesses while supporting sustainable industry growth.

Jay Maguire

Director of Government Affairs

Jay Maguire is a nationally respected cannabis policy advisor and strategist with decades of experience in regulatory affairs, public policy, and industry advocacy. His work has shaped cannabis policy conversations at the state and federal levels, helping industries navigate complex political and regulatory environments.

At CRAFT, Jay provides strategic guidance on policy alignment, regulatory engagement, and long-term governance, ensuring the platform remains credible, principled, and forward-looking.

Chasity Wedgeworth

Lead Instructor on CRAFT

Chasity Wedgeworth is an industry educator and advocate focused on translating complex cannabis regulations into clear, accessible training for business owners and employees. Her background combines lived industry experience with a strong commitment to ethical operations, workforce education, and accountability.

As Lead Instructor and Content Creator, Chasity plays a central role in shaping CRAFT’s educational programs, ensuring they are practical, understandable, and grounded in real-world application.

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