Latest news with #HouseBill1376
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
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
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
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. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tennessee hemp regulation bill moves out of House Judiciary Committee
Jackson Campbell shows off hemp products in his Nashville store, Perfect Plant Hemp Co. A bill moving through the Tennessee Legislature could move the sale of hemp products to the liquor industry. (Photo: John Partipilo) Despite warnings that the hemp industry would be decimated, the House Judiciary Committee passed a measure Wednesday that would put stricter regulations in place. Sponsored by House Majority William Lamberth of Portland, House Bill 1376 would place the industry under the Alcoholic Beverage Commission instead of the Department of Agriculture and remove products from convenience and grocery stores. Only vape and liquor stores would be allowed to sell some hemp products. The House bill is set to be heard next in the Commerce Committee where agreements with the industry could be reached. 'It does ban (derivatives) THCA and THCP. The reason for that is we have not legalized marijuana in this state,' Lamberth said. Hemp is distinguished from marijuana in that it contains a compound called delta-9 THC. Cannabis with a concentration of less than 0.3% delta-9 THC is defined as legal hemp in Tennessee – and federally. Cannabis with concentrations greater than .3% is classified as marijuana and is illegal to grow, sell or possess in Tennessee. Hemp flowers also contain THCA, a nonintoxicating acid that would be banned in Tennessee under this bill. When heated or smoked, the THCA in the plant converts into delta-9 THC – an illegal substance in Tennessee in greater than trace amounts. Let's be perfectly honest. (Recreational marijuana would) help the businesses, we'll have great revenue, and everybody smoking the stuff will be a lot happier. – Sen. Richard Briggs, R-Knoxville Clint Palmer, a representative of the hemp industry, told lawmakers the bill is similar to one passed in 2023 that led to a lawsuit against the Department of Agriculture that remains in litigation. If the new measure passes, Palmer said, hemp businesses will be forced to shut down, even after spending millions of dollars complying with state regulations. 'Bill sponsors have said it's the wild west in regards to the current hemp program. This is far from the truth,' Palmer said. The 2023 law put new restrictions on products containing THC, he said, and noted retail stores, manufacturers and distributors are required to be licensed or face criminal charges. Palmer added that regulation is lacking from the Department of Agriculture, despite a 6% tax on hemp-derived products, half of which nets the department $1 million a month. Tennessee hemp industry gets legal reprieve from product ban until summer Lamberth has said that consumers should know the ingredients when they buy a hemp product. But Palmer said those are listed on labels, based on the 2023 law. The House leader also indicated that the industry appears ready to sue the state again because the federal Farm Act sets standards on hemp. Palmer didn't acknowledge whether a lawsuit could follow the new bill's passage, but he said the Alcoholic Beverage Commission doesn't 'have a clear understanding of the hemp plant, and it's clearly shown in this bill.' The Senate version of the bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Richard Briggs of Knoxville, is to be heard next by the finance committee. Briggs said last week as soon as the products are heated, they become marijuana. 'We could withdraw the bill and let's just put another bill out there that says we're going to have recreational marijuana,' Briggs said. 'Let's be perfectly honest. It'll help the businesses, we'll have great revenue, and everybody smoking the stuff will be a lot happier.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Chicago Tribune
18-02-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Bill to lure Chicago Bears to Indiana moves to final reading
A bill aimed at attracting the Chicago Bears to Northwest Indiana is one step closer to passing onto the Senate after the Indiana House approved its second reading Monday. The House will hear House Bill 1292 in its third reading at a later date. House Bill 1292 — authored by Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago — would establish a Northwest Indiana professional development commission and a professional sports development fund. The commission would study various plans and recommendations to attract a professional sports franchise to the region, according to the Indiana General Assembly website. The commission would also prepare a comprehensive master plan for building facilities and other infrastructure. If the bill is passed, the commission will be made up of 19 members, including mayors from East Chicago, Gary, Hammond, Michigan City, LaPorte, Portage and South Bend. Remaining members would be appointed by people including the executive director of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, the governor and leaders in Lake, Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph counties. Once established, the commission would be able to enter agreements or contracts for grants or appropriations from federal, state, and local governments, individuals, foundations or other organizations, according to Post-Tribune archives. It would also be able to operate, own, manage or lease property. The commission would spend money from the professional sports development fund, which would be funded through general assembly appropriations, grants, gifts and donations. The money from the fund can't be reverted to another fund. The Bears are looking for a new home, so Harris has previously said they're the main target for this bill. However, the commission would explore any professional football, baseball, basketball, hockey or soccer teams. On Feb. 11, the House Ways and Means Committee amended the bill to remove language about not paying any state employee on the commission travel expenses and non-state employee commissioners the minimum salary per diem and reimbursement for travel outlined in state code, according to Post-Tribune archives. The committee also removed language allowing the commission to hire an executive director and carry out commission duties. Harris' father, who served as a state representative before him, filed similar legislation when he was in office to bring a sports franchise to Northwest Indiana. The 2015 legislation, House Bill 1376, died in the Ways and Means committee, according to the Indiana General Assembly website. Harris' mother — former Rep. Donna Harris, D-East Chicago — in 2016 created House Bill 1016 that would create a professional sports development commission. Donna Harris' bill died in the House Ways and Means committee, according to the Indiana General Assembly website. House Bill 1292 is co-authored by Rep. Ethan Manning, R-Logansport; Rep. Tim O'Brien, R-Evansville; and Rep. Doug Miller, R-Elkhart.
