Crossville businesswoman Maggie Clark believes a bevy of bills in the Tennessee legislature restricting hemp-related products will take the industry away from people who built it and give it to a “conglomerate.”
A grower, manufacturer and retailer of hemp products, Clark says her business, Cann-I-Help, and small stores across Tennessee will suffer, even after complying with federal and state laws for six years.
“I feel like they’re gonna take what I worked my ass off, blood, sweat and tears, from the ground up, boot-straps business, small business, woman-owned, woman-operated, and they’re gonna take that away from me and give it to somebody … who’s been operating federally illegally for the last 25 freaking years,” Clark says.
Numerous bills that will handcuff the industry are to be taken up this year, including one that would shift regulation of hemp and cannabinoid products to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission from the Department of Agriculture.
Under that measure, businesses would need $750,000 in assets to back their operations, according to Clark, who says she started her business with only $4,000.
“I built this business from the ground up with nothing, and now they’re gonna take that away from me?” Clark says.
The hemp industry has exploded since products were legalized in 2019, bringing in an estimated $280 million to $560 million in yearly sales, according to industry data.
House Bill 1376, which is sponsored by House Majority Leader Willam Lamberth of Portland and Republican Sen. Richard Briggs of Knoxville, would stop convenience stores from selling hemp and cannabidiol products and direct those exclusively to vape shops and liquor stores, which would be allowed to sell beverages containing low levels of THC, the main psychoactive compound from the cannabis plant.
Lamberth contends his legislation is necessary to make sure customers know they are buying potentially “dangerous” products.
“They’re clearly powerful intoxicants, and they’re THC-derived,” Lamberth says.
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 has not been outlawed in Tennessee. When heated or smoked, the THCA in the plant converts into delta-9 THC – an illegal substance in Tennessee in greater than trace amounts.
Other bills would tax and regulate hemp-related businesses, remove two hemp items, THCA and THCP from the list of approved hemp-derived cannabinoids and further crack down on any business that sells a hemp-related product to anyone under 21.
Clark, who is opposed to legalizing marijuana, says the looming changes will drive customers back into the “black market,” at the expense of store owners and hemp farmers and manufacturers, who developed their businesses with the state’s help.
The Tennessee Fuel and Convenience Association also opposes Lamberth’s bill, saying retailers have experience selling “age-sensitive” products such as beer and cigarettes, in addition to hemp and CBD products.
“It’s troubling that the proposed legislation would exclude convenience and grocery stores, while favoring liquor stores, bars and restaurants,” the association said in a statement.
Rob Ikard, president of the Tennessee Grocers and Convenience Store Association, is taking a similar stance, because the bill removes grocery stores from hemp product sales as well.
“It will have a financial impact for sure,” Ikard says.
Hemp-infused seltzers are big sellers in grocery stores, taking the place of beer among younger customers, and they would be shipped over to liquor stores under this measure.
Lawmakers passed a bill two years ago setting up new guidelines on hemp products and were sued. The lawsuit remains in court.
The Department of Agriculture was prepared to force removal of items from store shelves last Dec. 25, but a Nashville judge ruled the sale of hemp products would remain legal until at least June.
Alex Little, a Nashville attorney who represents hemp growers, says the state will “kill” portions of the industry if not careful.
“There are some bills out there that will … result in thousands of jobs lost and millions of dollars of tax revenue off the table,” Little says.
For instance, if Lamberth’s bill maintains a TCHA prohibition, Little predicts a 50% reduction in sales and the loss of thousands of jobs.
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Tennessee Lookout is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Tennessee Lookout maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Holly McCall for questions: info@tennesseelookout.com.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Kim Jarrett | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-03-31 12:49:00
(The Center Square) – A bill that would dissolve a 61-year-old commission and place it under the Tennessee attorney general’s office took another step on Monday.
Senate Bill 861/House Bill 910 would move the Human Rights Commission’s duties to the attorney general’s office as of July 1.
Former Gov. Frank G. Clement created the independent commission in 1963, according to its 2023-24 annual report. A nine-member board oversees the commission, which not only investigates cases but also conducts education and outreach efforts.
Rep. Johnny Garrett, R-Goodlettsville, told the House Government Operations Committee on Monday that transferring the authority could put more teeth into civil rights investigations.
“I think if someone receives a letter or action that the attorney general is investigating their actions, I think that’s going to perk up some people,” Garrett said. “I think that’s going to make some people hopefully say, ‘What have I done to attract the attorney general of the state of Tennessee who has the authority to investigate claims that I might have been involved in?'”
Democrats have pushed against the bill.
“Independence matters,” said Rep. Sam McKenzie, D-Knoxville. “Autonomy matters. From your answer its seems as if the HRC wasn’t doing something as far as getting behind and their authority wasn’t enough and we have to give it more authority and a letter coming from the AG’s office is going to give it more authority than it has now. I fundamentally disagree with that premise.”
The bill is not about an organization’s failures but about making it better, Garrett said.
Others are concerned about what happens to the cases, around 1,000, that would have to be resubmitted to the attorney general’s office.
“The time and resources spent on refiling cases would disproportionately affect the complainants and the businesses alike, causing unnecessary delay and confusion and disrupt the legal process for thousands of individuals relying on timely resolutions,” Muriel Nolen, the executive director of the commission during testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 24.
The committee agreed to move the bill to the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee. The Senate version passed the Senate Judiciary Committee and was referred to the Senate Government Operations Committee.
SUMMARY: The University of Tennessee’s basketball season ended in the Elite 8 for the second consecutive year, losing to the University of Houston 69-50. A poor first half saw the Vols fall behind by over 20 points, and despite a strong start to the second half, they couldn’t overcome Houston’s efficient three-point shooting. Tennessee shot just 29% from the field, with standout performances from Jordan Gainey and Chaz Lanier scoring 17 points each, while Zakai Zeigler was limited to five. Houston’s strong rebounding and point production in the paint secured their victory and a spot in the Final Four.
SUMMARY: Tennessee is facing a severe shortage of school counselors, with the average counselor handling 429 students, nearly double the recommended ratio. This overload hinders counselors’ ability to provide personalized support, leading to negative outcomes like lower graduation rates and increased mental health issues. Factors contributing to the shortage include unclear career pathways, role confusion, and low pay. Efforts to address this, such as the “Map My Pathway” project, aim to better inform students about the counseling profession. Counselors play a vital role in advising students on academic and financial decisions, but current workloads make it difficult to support students effectively.
