How the TGC is Fighting for Tennessee’s Hemp Industry!
The TGC has been fighting for the industry since 2018. We have passed progressive laws, fought bills that would overburden or hinder the industry and been a voice on the hill for Tennesseans, small businesses and the entire industry. In 2023 a law passed regulating Hemp Derived Cannabinoid (HDC) products. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture was tasked with promulgating the rules. This is where our story to save the industry begins.
In November of 2023, the TGC attended two meetings with the TN Dept. of Ag advocating for a common sense approach on regulating final product. Unfortunately, TDA and the industry do not see eye to eye on a couple of major issues: TDA's interpretation of the new hemp law is to 1) define post-production hemp products by a Total THC standard, (and not Delta 9 as it clearly states in the law). and 2) use the post-decarboxylation method when doing their "random and unannounced inspections". As you know, this would practically ban flower products from the market, THCA and CBD.
In December of 2023 the TDA filed their proposed rules. The TGC spread the word to the industry about how to submit a public comment, devised strategy for the 2024 general session and a lawsuit. In January of 2024 the public comment period opened. On February 19, 2024 the TDA held a public comment hearing. Over 19,000 comments were submitted online, mailed or orally during the hearing. The most the department has ever seen. The deadline for the TDA to file revised rules was set for July 1, 2024.
July 1, 2024 the TDA files Emergency Rules outlining temporary regulations, which still included a ban on nearly 80% of the Hemp Derived Cannabinoids (HDC) products sold in Tennessee. Shortly after the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) held a press conference to make a statement on the “issues with hemp.“ During that conference TBI Director David Rausche stated that they are bringing a bill to “fix the issue.“ The TGC immediately began strategizing to prepare for the 2025 session. You can find that video below.
On September 6, 2024 the TGC filed a lawsuit against the TDA with an injunction against the emergency rules. A court date is set for September 19th at the Davidson County Chancery Court. The TGC, and TGC Board Members CBD Plus and Gold Spectrum CBD are plaintiffs of the lawsuit. Our attorneys Alex Little and Zach Lawson of the Hemp Law Group have been working with us all year on the best strategy to protect the hemp industry!