Hemp Producer Licensing
License Required
Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-10-01-.03(1)
A hemp producer license is required per person, per location for any person who possesses rooted hemp or who cultivates cannabis for introduction into commerce. The hemp producer license authorizes the producer to sell harvested hemp as an unprocessed commodity to wholesalers and distributors. If a hemp producer alters harvested hemp beyond its form as a farm commodity (e.g., by trimming, filtering, or packaging the crop for its component parts) or offers harvested hemp for retail sale, the producer MUST also have a hemp-derived cannabinoid (HDC) supplier license and HDC retail license, as appropriate, under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0080-10-02 and 0080-10-03.
Hemp Producer License Renewal
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is pleased to offer an online license renewal process to licensed hemp producers who plan to cultivate hemp or possess rooted hemp at the SAME PHYSICAL ADDRESS during the upcoming license period as they did during the current license period.
The renewal process is facilitated through TDA’s secure, online portal. Use of the online portal is streamlined, leading to efficiency for submission, review, and approval of hemp producer licenses.
Each May, TDA will send license renewal notices by email to all currently licensed hemp producers using the email address(es) on file with the Department. Please carefully review the renewal notice and the attached guidance documents before beginning the renewal process.
Please Note: Hemp Producer Licenses expire annually on June 30. To maintain a current license, the renewal process including payment of the license fee must be completed by July 1. Renewals completed after July 1 will incur a late fee equal to 50% of the license fee.
1. An aerial map of each growing area. Each growing area MUST be outlined and labeled with the corresponding growing area number that matches the submitted renewal application.
2. National criminal history report for the Key Participant(s) in the form of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Identity History Summary. The report MUST be dated within 60 days of license renewal submission.
• Note: On TBI’s website, please make sure you scroll down to the FBI Only (nationwide) background checks.
3. Proof of registration in the state of incorporation for any applicant that is a formalized business entity OR a current business license issued by a local governmental authority.
4. Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) documentation, if applicable.
New Hemp Producer Licensing Process
1. Review the TDA hemp rules and regulations.
2. Review the Hemp Producer Application Guide
3. Complete and submit a Hemp Producer Application. Applications will be processed in the order received.
4. Once the application is processed, the applicant will receive an email at the email address provided on the hemp producer application requesting Grow Area information and the required documents for license approval. These documents MUST be uploaded in PDF format through TDA’s secure online portal for review and approval. Please submit all documents at the same time. See required documents listed below.
5. Once all required information and documents are uploaded to TDA’s secure portal, TDA will review the documents for final approval. If TDA has questions about the documents provided, the applicant will be contacted.
6. With final approval of documents, an email will be sent to the email address provided on the application. This email will provide an invoice for the license fee(s) and prompt the applicant to log into TDA’s secure portal to submit payment.
7. Once the invoice is paid in full, a digital license will be sent to the applicant via email. The license shall be printed and posted conspicuously inside the business.
8. The application process, including the submission of all required documents and payment of the license fee, must be completed within 60 days of submitting the application. Applications that are not completed within this 60-day period will be canceled.
1. National criminal history report for the Key Participant(s) in the form of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Identity History Summary. The report MUST be dated within 60 days of application submission.
- On TBI’s website, please make sure you scroll down to the FBI Only (nationwide) background checks.
2. Proof of registration in the state of incorporation for any applicant that is a formalized business entity OR a current business license issued by a local governmental authority.
3. Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) documentation, if applicable.
For More Information:
Tennessee Department of Agriculture
Plant Certification Section
PO Box 40627
Nashville, TN 37204
615-837-5137