The $735,000 settlement highlights the growing need for law enforcement to align with hemp industry regulations, as legal operators push back against arbitrary product seizures.
Tennessee to Pay $735k Settlement Over Hemp Seizures
Field of hemp. Cannabis Sativa. Industrial kind (technical cannabis)
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Tennessee state officials and city officials in Spring Hills have agreed to pay a $735,000 settlement to two hemp companies over the contested seizure of their products earlier this year, WKRN reports.
The lawsuit stemmed from the May 2023 seizure, during which authorities allegedly confiscated legal hemp products without proper justification. The case highlighted ongoing tensions between law enforcement and hemp operators over product legality and regulatory understanding. As part of the settlement, officials did not admit wrongdoing but agreed to the payout to resolve the dispute.
“This settlement is more than a financial recovery — it’s a critical statement about law enforcement’s responsibility to understand and respect the law. Hemp is a legal agricultural product, and businesses should not live in fear of arbitrary seizures based on ignorance.” — Litson PLLC attorney Alex Little, in a statement
The settlement marks another win for Tennessee hemp operators after a Nashville judge this week blocked the rollout of new hemp products restrictions, which had been challenged by two industry groups.
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