Hemp stores in East Tennessee preparing for legal battle with Dept. of Agriculture over new rules

Hemp retailers in East Tennessee are planning to sue the state Department of Agriculture because of new rules the agency is creating. The Department of Agriculture is looking to redefine what’s legal in Tennessee, which could cause business owners to lose more than half of their products on their shelves. Now, hemp stores are on a time crunch to stop the state’s new rules.

Challenging New Regulations

“Our goal is to make sure it stops well before then,” said Travis McKinney, owner of The Blom Shop in Knoxville. The emergency rules include changing how the state tests hemp. Because of this, hemp shops are now going after the state. “We’re prepared for a legal battle that we feel confident we’ll win. It’ll be against the Department of Agriculture,” said McKinney.

Concerns Over Product Restrictions

The Department of Agriculture is creating rules in an attempt to get rid of products closely related to a marijuana high from store shelves. State Senator Richard Briggs (R-Knox) worked with hemp owners to create legislation to regulate it. “This would be a roundabout way to slip true marijuana in, not the degradation of the THCA, and that is an unfortunate side effect when that Delta-9 product sits on the shelf,” Briggs said.

Maintaining Legal Compliance

Once smoked, some of the flower in hemp shops burn above the legal limit, and the state doesn’t want anything sold in stores that is too close to marijuana. “We don’t care if THCA is there,” Briggs said. “What we don’t want is for marijuana to be there.” But hemp stores say it should stay legal, especially since store owners say many businesses would have to close down with the changes. “We’ve created all of this revenue for the state and they want to take it away. Makes zero sense,” McKinney said.

Legal Battle Ahead

McKinney said whether the state changes it or it goes to court, they’re confident the product is here to stay because they have precedent on their side. Lawyers working with hemp stores said other states have had court cases on this and the hemp stores won.

Conclusion

In conclusion, hemp stores in East Tennessee are gearing up for a legal battle with the Department of Agriculture over new regulations that could significantly impact their businesses. With concerns about product restrictions and maintaining legal compliance, store owners are determined to fight for their rights to continue selling hemp-related products. As the legal battle unfolds, the future of hemp stores in East Tennessee remains uncertain, but owners are prepared to defend their livelihoods.