The TGC’s Action Plan to SAVE THCa!

Since November 2023, the TGC has been dedicated to protecting Tennessee's hemp industry from restrictive overregulation by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA). From the outset, we advised the TDA that these rules were excessively limiting, leading the industry to submit over 19,000 comments, predominantly opposing the proposed rules. In July 2024, rather than revealing revised rules, the TDA enacted emergency rules, effective until December 2024, with permanent rules expected by January 1, 2025.

The TGC has persistently engaged with the TDA, the Agriculture Commissioner, and original bill sponsors to advocate for the industry’s interests. Despite these efforts, the TDA has maintained its restrictive stance, prompting us to file a lawsuit against the emergency rules. While the injunction was denied, valuable insights into the TDA's approach were gained. As our final strategy, we will file a lawsuit against the TDA’s final rules in December 2024.

TGC Urgent Call - October 24, 2024

Find out more about the TGC’s action plan to save thca!

  • The TGC was a main plaintiff along with CBD Plus & Gold Spectrum of the lawsuit filed against the TDA’s emergency rules. The injunction was denied, we did gain valuable insight to further assist us in the second lawsuit. Read more here…

  • In October 2024 the TDA released the final revised rules. Compared to the proposed rules, little has changed. The rules still restrict HDC products to 0.3% total thc (THCa + Delta-9 THC) or below. This bans a very large majority of the products sold in stores today.

    You can find those rules here.

  • The TDA ran out of time to file the revised rules. In July 2024, the original date that the final rules were to be filed, they instead filed a set of emergency rules.

    This prompted a change in our strategy. We filed the first lawsuit against the emergency rules with the argument that the TDA failed to follow the correct procedure.

    The emergency rules are in effect until December 26, 2024.

  • Shortly after the TDA filed their emergency rules the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) held a press conference putting a direct target on the industry. They stated that they will be bringing a bill to further restrict THCa by banning it all together.

  • The TGC sounded the alarm and spread the word about the TDA’s proposed rules. The hearing was held in February 2024 and there was a record number of attendees.

    It has been revealed that over 19,000 comments were submitted . Again, breaking a record for the TDA.

    You can find the TGC’s comment here.

  • Despite our efforts to inform the TDA that these rules were not going to be taken well by the industry, they filed them to our dismay. We met with the TDA prior to the filling of the proposed rules, on the TDA’s request. Unfortunately, our warning was not taken seriously.

    The proposed rules can be found here.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Press Conference on Hemp