Tennesee Hemp & HDC Law
In order to be successful, a company must be compliant with local, state, and federal hemp statutes and regulations. Tennessee now has extensive, changing, and complicated regulations for all stages of the hemp industry.
*The information on this page regarding Tennessee law is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice.
After the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill at the Federal level, Tennessee legalized hemp cultivation, manufacturing and sales shortly thereafter. Tennessee submitted a state plan for the production of hemp which was approved by the USDA allowing cultivation of hemp in the state for the first time in almost 80 years.
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In the first few years of the industry, Tennessee was one of the most lightly regulated states in the country; however, as of 2024, Tennessee has extensive licensing, testing, and sales requirements which must be followed to remain compliant and avoid enforcement actions, some of which are criminal in nature.
Tennessee requires all businesses engaged in the production, manufacturing, or sale of hemp and hemp products to be licensed by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, as well as remit sales and hemp-specific taxes to the Tennessee Department of Revenue. The penalties for non-compliance can be significant, including criminal penalties for both licensees and consumers.
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It is extremely important to have a knowledgeable attorney on your side to help with your licensing and compliance needs to avoid enforcement by state and local authorities. Buscher Law is here to help.