Anti-hemp measure deprives Tennesseans with chronic pain of relief
Madison Nowak reaches into a cabinet at Cumberland Cannabis in Carthage to select a product for a customer. (Photo: John Partipilo/ Tennessee Lookout)
I'm a Tennessean, a mother of three, and someone who lives with a complex, disabling pain condition.
I'm also the CEO of a national nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of the more than 51.6 million Americans who live with chronic pain. And right now, I'm deeply alarmed by Tennessee legislation that could strip away access to the thing that helps me — and thousands of others — get through the day: safe, full-spectrum CBD.
House Bill 1376 and Senate Bill 1413 would limit even trace amounts of Delta-9 THC in hemp-derived products — effectively banning many full-spectrum CBD products that are non-intoxicating, carefully formulated, and third-party tested. While I support common-sense regulation to eliminate unsafe synthetic intoxicants and unregulated products from the market, this bill goes too far. Rather than protecting consumers, it threatens to harm more than 665,000 Tennesseans who rely on full-spectrum hemp CBD for relief.
For people living with chronic pain, full-spectrum CBD is not a luxury — it's a lifeline. I've lived with pain for over 30 years due to a rare, chronic pain condition that causes widespread, burning nerve pain. The simplest tasks — standing, lifting my child, working a full day — can be nearly impossible without some form of relief. I've tried dozens of treatments, from prescription medications to physical therapy to surgical interventions. Some helped. Many didn't. Full-spectrum CBD is one of the few things that consistently makes a difference. It reduces inflammation, soothes muscle spasms, and takes the edge off my daily suffering.
Every day, I use three specific full-spectrum products — a tincture, a topical, and an edible. They contain trace amounts of naturally occurring Delta-9 THC, well within the federal legal limit of 0.3%. These products don't get me high. They help me sleep. They help me show up for my job and be present for my family. They allow me to contribute to my community and care for my kids. Without them, I don't know how I would manage.
Hemp bill conflict could fire up House, Senate finance committees
And I am not alone.
At the U.S. Pain Foundation, we regularly hear from individuals who face serious challenges in accessing the care and relief they need to manage chronic pain. Barriers like stigma, high costs, limited treatment options and restrictive policies often stand in the way. For some, hemp-derived CBD has become an essential part of their pain management plan, helping them live with greater dignity and less suffering. In fact, a national survey we conducted in 2022 found that 22% of respondents currently use hemp-derived CBD products — often alongside other therapies as part of a multidisciplinary approach to care. These individuals deserve access to the treatments that help them, free from unnecessary barriers.
Science is catching up, too. Studies show CBD as a promising option for managing chronic pain, particularly neuropathic and inflammatory pain, due to its comprehensive therapeutic approach. Unlike isolated cannabinoids, full-spectrum CBD includes all naturally occurring compounds from the cannabis plant — such as a range of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids — which work together to produce what's known as the 'entourage effect.'
Recent research explores the potential benefits of various cannabinoids in pain management and emphasizes the role of synergistic interactions and the entourage effect, highlighting the importance of full-spectrum products in achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes.
And yet, despite this growing body of evidence, Tennessee lawmakers are poised to remove this option from people who need it most. HB 1376/SB 1413 fails to distinguish between therapeutic, non-intoxicating full-spectrum products and the synthetic or recreational products that rightly raise concern. In doing so, it threatens the health, independence, and stability of thousands of Tennesseans living with pain.
I was heartbroken to see the legislature pass this bill. But I still hold out hope — hope that rests now with Gov. Bill Lee. I've written to him personally, urging a veto. I ask my fellow Tennesseans — especially those who've never had to think twice about how they manage their pain—to consider what's at stake.
This isn't about special treatment or backdoor legalization. It's about the right to access safe, plant-based wellness tools. It's about evidence-based public policy that doesn't punish people for trying to survive their conditions. It's about understanding that one-size-fits-all health care solutions often leave the most vulnerable behind.
We are your neighbors, coworkers, veterans, and grandparents. We are Tennesseans who want to live productive lives despite our pain. Please don't take away one of the few tools that helps us do that.
I hope Gov. Lee will veto HB 1376/SB 1413 and protect access to full-spectrum CBD. Preserve the dignity, autonomy, and well-being of people living with pain in Tennessee.
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