NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee lawmakers are once again revisiting hemp industry regulations, introducing a new bill that would impose tighter controls on hemp products, particularly targeting THCA, a hemp-derived cannabinoid that, when heated, converts into the psychoactive compound THC.
The bill, sponsored by House Majority Leader Rep. William Lamberth (R-Portland), aims to establish comprehensive oversight over the manufacturing, distribution, and retail sale of hemp in Tennessee. It would introduce new licensing, packaging, and testing requirements, as well as penalties for non-compliance. However, the legislation has sparked fierce opposition from the hemp industry, which warns the bill could have devastating consequences for businesses in the state.
A key provision of the bill would set a limit on hemp products containing more than 0.1% THCA, a standard significantly lower than the federal threshold of 0.3%. THCA, which is non-psychoactive in its natural state, transforms into THC when heated, the same compound found in marijuana that produces a high.
Hemp industry experts have strongly criticized the bill’s THCA provision, arguing that it would effectively eliminate the hemp flower market in Tennessee, a sector that currently accounts for over 70% of the state’s hemp sales. Michael Soloman, a local hemp business owner, testified that while he supported many aspects of the proposed legislation, including packaging and age restrictions, he found the THCA limits overly restrictive.
“We were all for the packaging rules, all for over 21, all for literally everything in the bill except for the THCA,” Soloman said during a recent House Criminal Justice Subcommittee hearing.
John Kerns, co-founder of New Bloom Labs, also voiced concerns, emphasizing that the 0.1% THCA threshold was unprecedented and would effectively end hemp agriculture in Tennessee. “This bill calls for a new, unheard-of legal standard for THCA concentration, and it will put an end to hemp cultivation in this state,” Kerns testified.
The hemp industry further argued that the bill’s restrictions would not only affect THCA but also potentially impact other hemp derivatives, such as CBD and CBG, which are not consumed for their psychoactive effects. Devin Aracena, owner of CANVAST Supply Co., warned that the bill’s provisions could have unintended consequences for hemp producers who focus on non-psychoactive uses of the plant.
Rep. Lamberth defended the bill, arguing that increased regulation is necessary to bring clarity and safety to the hemp industry, which he described as a “wild west” environment. He cited public safety concerns and compared hemp regulation to the well-established oversight of alcohol products, where consumers can be assured of what they are buying.
“The goal is for people to know what they’re getting when they buy hemp, just like when you buy a Sprite, you get a Sprite,” Lamberth said during the hearing. “You buy beer, it’s beer. You buy wine, it’s wine. It should be the same for hemp.”
The bill’s supporters point to a Department of Justice memo that classifies THCA as a “controlled substance” and “marijuana,” arguing that its conversion into THC makes it subject to the same regulations as marijuana.
However, hemp advocates like Soloman countered that this reasoning is flawed. “Just like grapes, if you store them improperly, they turn into wine. But you can still buy grapes in Tennessee,” Soloman said. He argued that regulating THCA as a precursor to THC would be akin to regulating grapes as wine before they are fermented.
Despite the opposition from industry leaders, the bill has passed both the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee and the Senate State and Local Government Committee. It now moves to the full legislature for further debate.
The hemp industry is closely watching the outcome of this legislation, especially as a separate set of hemp regulations, which would have banned products containing more than 0.3% THCA, remains tied up in legal battles. A Nashville judge is expected to issue a ruling on those regulations in June, which could have significant implications for the future of hemp in Tennessee.
As the legislative process continues, it’s clear that the debate over hemp regulation in Tennessee is far from over, with lawmakers and industry stakeholders locked in a battle over how best to balance public safety with economic interests in the rapidly growing hemp sector.
