Cornbread Hemp, a Kentucky-based company, has filed a lawsuit against the state of Tennessee over its law to restrict intoxicating hemp products, WLKY reports.
Tennessee lawmakers passed HB 1376 in April, which bans hemp THC products like pre-rolls and vaporizers, but carves out a market for THC-infused edibles and beverages under a three-tiered system similar to the state’s alcohol regulations. The new restrictions are set to take effect in 2026.
The lawsuit argues, however, that a provision requiring hemp products to be routed through Tennessee-based distributors amounts to illegal discrimination against out-of-state businesses. The plaintiffs said that under the rule changes, the company would be forced to either partner with an in-state wholesaler, establish an in-state location, or stop serving the market entirely.
“It’s frustrating that it’s come to this. We wish we could have resolved this issue in the legislation. We can’t leave behind our 11,000 customers who are looking for other products that we sell.” — Jim Higdon, Cornbread Hemp co-founder, via WLKY
Chris Barnewolt, an attorney for Pacific Legal Foundation, which helped Cornbread Hemp to bring the lawsuit pro bono, said it’s a matter of interstate commerce.
“The American Constitution protects interstate commerce against state overreach,” Barnewolt said in the report. “We’re standing up for the right of American consumers to receive products across state lines.”
