Tennessee hemp retailer uprooting store over new legislation
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Governor Bill Lee recently signed legislation to regulate the hemp industry, which some retailers say will force them out of the state or put them out of business.
The bill, which passed last legislative session, essentially bans smokable hemp flower in Tennessee, the majority of what Ben Whitelaw, owner of The Flower Shop in Chattanooga, sells.
'They've banned CBD hemp. That's what they've done. All of it. THCA and CBD hemp. It's all going to be gone,' Whitelaw said.
The bill includes several provisions, including a ban on .3% THCA, which lawmakers argue turns into THC when burned: the same chemical in marijuana that gets the user high.
'We were all told when we voted for hemp that, well, it's the nonintoxicating cousin to marijuana. You don't have to worry about people getting high. Well, y'all, that horse has left the barn,' House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) said.
Lawmakers who backed the bill have long described the hemp industry as 'the Wild West,' due to the lack of regulation. They argued new rules will protect consumers so they know what products they're purchasing.
However, Whitelaw believes the bill was drafted for a different reason, partially because the Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC) will become the regulating agency of the hemp industry under the legislation.
'This bill was brought about to destroy the infrastructure we had created and hand the scraps to the alcohol industry so they could make money off the really light strength drinks and edibles that are still allowed under this bill.'
Whitelaw told News 2 the majority of the products he sells will soon be banned. He plans to use his retirement fund to close down his store and move it to North Carolina.
'We're going to try to move it to North Carolina, as close to the border as possible and continue to help residents of Tennessee if they wish to come and see us,' Whitelaw said.
Hemp industry experts hope to sue the state over the legislation, but finding the money to pay the legal fees will likely be a challenge.
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The bill is set to become law Jan. 1. 2026.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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