Changes coming to what you can buy in Tennessee on July 1: What hemp smokers need to know

Changes coming to what you can buy in Tennessee on July 1: What hemp smokers need to know CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Big changes are coming to Tennessee's hemp industry, and some business owners say many of the products customers buy today could soon disappear from store shelves. A new state law takes effect July 1 and targets THCa, a compound found in hemp that can be converted into Delta-9 THC, the substance responsible for marijuana's intoxicating effects. State regulators say the law is designed to create clearer rules and improve consumer safety. “We want Tennessee consumers to be able to walk into a store, if they're going to buy these products, they choose to buy these products, know what they are, know if they're safe,” said Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission Executive Director Russell Thomas. Under the new law, products exceeding certain THC limits will no longer be allowed for sale. Business owners say the changes will dramatically reshape the industry. “It's 100% down to if you can smoke it and it smells like weed, they want that to be illegal,” said Joshua Manning, CEO of Snapdragon Hemp. Manning says smokable hemp products make up a significant portion of the market and could be among the hardest hit. He estimates many products currently sold in stores will no longer qualify under the new rules. “Not only will 60, 70% of the products that we have now not be available to sell, the other 30 to 40% of products that we have, because of the burden on the three-tier system, the products are going to go up 30 to 50% to make it happen,” Manning said. As those products disappear, he believes hemp-infused beverages will become a larger part of the industry. “It's better for you, it's safer for you, it's healthier for you,” Manning said. “Onsets quicker, the offsets safer.” Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission officials say there is some confusion about what the law actually does. They stress that THCa itself is not banned. Instead, they say the law regulates potency levels and establishes clearer standards for products sold in Tennessee. The debate comes years after the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp at the federal level. While hemp is federally legal, states retain authority over how hemp products are produced, sold and regulated within their borders. Depend on us to keep you posted.