Barren County woman involved in hemp lawsuit arrested on trafficking, possession charges
Authorities say investigators found suspected marijuana, hemp-derived products, cash and other evidence during searches of her business and residence.
GLASGOW, Ky. — A Barren County woman who filed a federal lawsuit over the 2020 seizure of hemp from her farm was arrested Wednesday after authorities executed search warrants at her business and residence.
Dana Emmitt-Steadman, 55, was charged with first-degree trafficking in marijuana (8 ounces to less than 5 pounds) and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the Barren River Drug Task Force.
She was booked into the Barren County Detention Center.
Investigators searched The Hall Connection business and a residence on Bon Ayr Road, where they said they seized alleged hemp-derived products, more than 8 ounces of cannabis flower suspected to be marijuana, pre-rolled cannabis cigarettes, drug paraphernalia, a digital scale and cash.
Drug Task Force Director Ron Lafferty said investigators allege Emmitt-Steadman was selling products without the required license. He said she had previously been ordered by a judge to obtain a license to sell hemp-related products but failed to do so.
Brennan Crain
Lafferty said investigators are continuing to inventory the evidence and that the trafficking charge could be elevated if the amount of suspected marijuana exceeds 5 pounds. He added that additional charges could be presented to a Barren County grand jury.
The Drug Task Force also alleges investigators found evidence that products were being repackaged for resale and that some exceeded Kentucky’s legal THC limit for hemp products. Federal agents assisted with the search warrants, though Lafferty said the case is not a federal investigation.
Emmitt-Steadman livestreamed part of the encounter on Facebook at 10:47 a.m. Wednesday, showing officers from the Glasgow Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives at her residence.
During the video, officers told her that her phone was included in the search warrant and instructed her to arrange care for her disabled son.
Wednesday’s arrest comes about two months after Emmitt-Steadman filed a federal lawsuit alleging Kentucky State Police, the Barren County Sheriff’s Office and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture unlawfully seized approximately 350 pounds of hemp from her Park City farm in 2020.
She claims the seizure destroyed her business despite testing showing the crop complied with federal THC limits under the 2018 Farm Bill. The lawsuit remains pending in U.S. District Court.
Court records did not list a bond amount or attorney for Emmitt-Steadman Wednesday afternoon. She is scheduled to appear in Barren District Court for arraignment Thursday morning.
