2019 Tennessee Code
Title 43 - Agriculture and Horticulture
Chapter 27 - Hemp
§ 43-27-104. Authority of commissioner.
(a) The commissioner is authorized to:
(1) Administer this chapter;
(2) Take all action necessary to obtain primary regulatory authority over the production of hemp in this state, as authorized by Section 297 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-334);
(3) Promulgate rules in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5, as necessary for regulation of hemp in accordance with the federal Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and as determined by the commissioner to be necessary for the efficient enforcement of this chapter;
(4) Determine requirements for and issue licenses for the production of hemp in this state;
(5) Deny or revoke licenses and issue civil penalties up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each violation of this chapter or its rules;
(6) Establish reasonable fees for hemp licenses necessary to implement and administer a hemp program in this state on an ongoing basis. All revenue collected from fees established under this subdivision (a)(6) must be used exclusively for administration of a hemp regulatory program by the department;
(7) Require the maintenance or filing of records; and
(8) Enter during normal business hours any premises or conveyance of a person licensed under this chapter for purposes of inspection, sampling, and observation and copying of records required under this chapter.
(b) All rules promulgated by the department prior to July 1, 2019, for regulation of industrial hemp are null and void immediately upon rules promulgated to effectuate chapter 87 of the Public Acts of 2019 taking effect. Within one hundred twenty (120) days of chapter 87 of the Public Acts of 2019 becoming law, the department shall promulgate rules necessary to effectuate the purposes of this chapter. The commissioner is authorized to file emergency rules under § 4-5-208 as necessary for compliance with this subsection (b).
