Photo: Delta-8 THC Gummies Photo Credit: Elsa Olofsson at CBD Oracle / CC
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
Currently, in Tennessee, hemp products containing a small amount of THC are legal, and efforts by legislators to ban or regulate certain hemp products in the Volunteer state failed to move forward during the last legislative session.
Many stores have popped up around the state that sell cannabis products, including those with various derivatives including CBD and Delta-8, among others. Current Tennessee law permits the sale of cannabis products that contain less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
During the last legislative session, lawmakers attempted to outright ban the sale of any hemp product, specifically Delta-8 products, that contain a concentration of more than 0.3% THC and make the sale of such goods subject to criminal prosecution.
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As word of impending legislation leaked out to the public, business owners voiced their concerns.
Sam O’Sullivan of Tennessee Health Alternatives Association said, “This bill as amended will kill businesses across this state. We’ll drop 50%. I’ll have to fire multiple, multiple people.”
CBD Store owner, Will Vance, says “Unfortunately, for not only us a lot of companies, if they’re not able to sell good quality CBD and Delta-8 products it definitely could ruin their life or their livelihoods at least temporarily.”
In response to the outcry from business owners, an alternate plan was introduced and the bill was amended to instead regulate Delta-8 in Tennessee by making it illegal to sell the products to anyone under 21 years of age and to create licensing around its production and sale.
A fiscal review by the General Assembly also found that the selling of Delta-8 products provides roughly $180 million in value to the state.
However, due to the amended bill’s late introduction during the session, it failed to make its way through the legislative process before the General Assembly session came to a close.
House bill sponsor, William Lamberth (R-Portland-District 44), said, “It was one of those things we ran out of time on.”
Reportedly, responsible businesses self-regulate and already only sell their products to patrons 21 years of age or older. However, Delta-8 disposable vape pens and other products can be found across the state in gas stations and other stores where oversight may not be as vigilant.
Business owners like Michael Solomon, who owns ‘The Holistic Connection’ in South Nashville says business owners like him are begging for regulations to keep “bad actors” out of the business.
Lawmakers will likely take another stab at regulating Delta-8 when the General Assembly reconvenes next year. At the end of this year’s session, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge-District 5) stated that the Delta-8 industry is now “on notice,” and that legislators will be paying more attention.
CEO of Cannabis-product dispensary Labcanna in East Nashville, Derek Besenius, stated that regulations would be very positive for the “good players” that have already been self-regulating but since this session’s bill has died, they are continuing to operate in the same “wishy-washy gray regulatory area.”
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
