Gov. Bill Lee signs bill introducing changes to Tennessee's hemp industry in 2026
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a bill that will introduce new regulations to the Tennessee hemp industry in 2026.
The legislation, House Bill 1376, bans products with THCA and synthetic cannabinoids and also prohibits direct-to-consumer sales. The bill also transfers authority over hemp-derived cannabinoid products from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
The most significant aspect of the legislation is that it would restrict the manufacturing and sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products that are not Delta-9 THC to a maximum concentration of 0.3%. This regulation restricts the types of hemp products that can be sold within the state.
The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Richard Briggs, R-Knoxville. 'We have a situation here in Tennessee where we are essentially dealing with unregulated recreational marijuana,' Briggs said during debate on the bill. 'It's the wild west out there.'
This bill will take effect as soon as it becomes law for administrative purposes. For all other purposes, it will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
Here is a detailed look at the measures introduced in the bill.
Defines a non-Delta-9 "hemp-derived cannabinoid" as a hemp-derived product that contains more than 0.1% and is intended to be ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin
Defines Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol "hemp-derived cannabinoid" as a hemp-derived product containing a concentration of 0.3%, intended to be ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin
Prohibit the sale of all hemp-derived cannabinoid products to anyone under the age of 21
Prohibits driving under the influence of hemp-derived cannabis products
Requires consumers of hemp-derived cannabinoid products to store them in their original packaging
Prohibits marketing, labeling, and packaging products to anyone under the age of 21, and bans labels and marketing efforts that include superheroes, comic books, television and video game characters, unicorns and other mythical characters
Establishes taxes on cannabinoid products, including: $0.02 cent/mg tax on cannabinoid products; $50/oz tax on the flower portion of the cannabis plant; $4.40/gal tax on liquid cannabis products sold in bottles, cans and kegs
Requires manufacturers of liquid cannabinoid products to pay a $300 annual brand fee
Establishes licensure and product testing requirements for cannabis product suppliers, wholesalers, and retailers
Outlines documentation requirements for anyone transporting hemp-derived cannabinoid products into or within Tennessee
Outlines penalties for licensure and sale violations
Designates the Alcoholic Beverage Commission as the authority for oversight and enforcement
THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is a prominent chemical compound found in cannabis. You can smoke THC or put it in an edible to get high.
There are a few different versions of THC, including Delta-9, Delta-8, and Delta-10. Delta 9 is the most common.
THC is also used in THCA and THCV, which offer health benefits without the high or psychedelic effects. However, if THCA is heated up and decarbonized, it can cause a high usually associated with marijuana.
Hemp and marijuana are the same species, according to Healthline. They're just two different names for cannabis. The main difference between the terms is how much THC each contains.
The term 'hemp' is used to mean cannabis that contains 0.3% or less THC content by dry weight, according to Healthline. Marijuana is generally associated with getting high. The term legally refers to cannabis that has more than 0.3% THC by dry weight.
Marijuana is not legal in Tennessee, but hemp products can be sold.
You can buy legal recreational marijuana in nearly half of U.S. states. But neither medical marijuana nor recreational weed is legally available in Tennessee.
According to DISA Global Solutions, marijuana is legal for medical and recreational purchase and consumption in the following states:
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Illinois
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Montana
Nevada
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
Ohio
Oregon
Rhode Island
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Washington, D.C.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Is hemp legal in Tennessee? Gov. Lee signs bill for industry changes
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