NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A coalition is challenging the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) after the agency issued Emergency Rules towards hemp-derived products impacting businesses.
TheTennessee Growers Coalition (TGC), a non-partisan Political Action Committee supporting pro-hemp and pro-cannabis advocacy, filed a lawsuit Friday against TDA, protesting the Emergency Rules issued in June 2024 regardingthe regulation of hemp-derived cannabinoids (HDC) products.
TGC claims the TDA had three months to draft a release for Final Rules, taking more than 19,000 public comments into consideration.
Instead, the TDA issued Emergency Rules, allegedly neglecting feedback taken during a February public hearing.
TGC says the Tennessee Uniform Administrative Procedures Act (“TUAPA”) prohibits an agency from executing emergency rules “based upon the agency’s failure to timely process and file rules through the normal rulemaking process.” Therefore, TGC claims TDA violated these rules.
TGC says the ruling has directly impacted individuals’ business practices and regulations by changing the type of products they sell and how they manage with compliance.
TGC adds the present rules promote out-of-state and online operations as opposed to helping small Tennessee businesses.
Addtionally, on top of filing a lawsuit, TGC is preparing legislation for the 2025 General Assembly to address these problems.
FOX 17 News reached out to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture for a statement, but a spokesperson said the department is unable to comment on pending litigation.
A court date has been set for Thursday, Sept. 19.
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Coalition challenges Tennessee’s oversight of hemp-derived products (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File) Read More