KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Beginning on Oct. 1, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture is enforcing license requirements for retailers and suppliers of hemp-derived cannabinoid (HDC) products.
Those applying for an HDC product license must pass a nationwide criminal background check facilitated through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Applicants must also present a map showing the business location in relation to the nearest school.
The TDA issued proposed emergency rules earlier this year that, if not changed, would heavily impact how local businesses sell THCA products starting on Jan. 1, 2025.
The proposed rules prevent the sale of products with greater than or equal to 0.3% of THCA from those who aren't licensed. For businesses with an HDC product license, it's greater than or equal to 5%.
The rules also subject local hemp stores to random testing. This begs the question of how online sales would be regulated, with consumers receiving the product directly at their homes.
The Tennessee Growers Coalition says the proposed rules "promote out-of-state, online commerce while killing small businesses and 1,000s of jobs they create across Tennessee."
We want to know how you feel about THCA in Tennessee. We've created a survey where you can share your opinions on the topic. You can find the poll below.
