A Minnesota hemp farmer is facing felony drug charges over a 2018 crop that had high THC levels. He does, however, have the right to challenge the loss of his hemp license, a federal judge ruled Thursday.
Luis Hummel grew roughly 2,000 pounds of hemp that passed the state THC test before harvest, but after the plants were harvested, their THC levels jumped above the legal limit of 0.3%, police say.
Hummel sued the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, saying the agency revoked his hemp license without giving him due-process rights to challenge its decision.
U.S. District Judge Patrick J. Schiltz handed Hummel a partial victory on Thursday when he rejected the state’s request to toss the entire lawsuit.
The ruling means that the state must treat hemp licenses somewhat like liquor licenses.
Hummel’s lawyer, Jason Tarasek, told Hemp Industry Daily that the farmer also plans to challenge the fact that the hemp testing above 0.3% THC must be destroyed.