Tennessee Spotlight – The Legal Status of Hemp & Cannabis in Tennessee: 2025 Update

Tennessee Hemp & Cannabis Laws: 2025 Update

If you live in Tennessee or run a hemp/cannabis-related business here, 2025 is a year to pay attention. Big changes are coming that affect farmers, retailers, and everyday consumers. While hemp and hemp-derived products are legal under certain rules, marijuana remains illegal for both recreational and medical use. And starting in January 2026, a major new law will reshape how hemp-derived cannabinoid (HDC) products are regulated.

Here’s your 2025 guide to what’s legal now, what’s about to change, and what remains off-limits in Tennessee.

Hemp vs. Cannabis: Clearing the Confusion

Hemp: Cannabis plants with 0.3% delta-9 THC or less (by dry weight). Legal under the 2018 Farm Bill and Tennessee law.
Cannabis (Marijuana): Cannabis plants or products with more than 0.3% delta-9 THC. Still illegal in Tennessee, whether for recreational or medical use.

“The trickiest area is hemp-derived cannabinoids (like Delta-8, THCa, HHC, and others). These products are technically hemp under federal law — but Tennessee lawmakers just tightened the rules on what can and can’t be sold.”

What’s Legal in Tennessee Right Now (2025)

Hemp cultivation is legal with a license from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA).
Hemp-derived cannabinoid products (HDCs) — such as CBD oils, Delta-8 gummies, and hemp vapes — are legal, as long as they are properly tested, labeled, and sold to customers 21 and older.
Retailers & wholesalers must hold a valid TDA hemp license.
Consumer protections: products must include Certificates of Analysis (COAs), accurate labeling, and warnings.

👉 Translation: Hemp products are fine, as long as they’re tested, licensed, and compliant.

Big Changes Coming: Public Chapter 526 (Effective 2026)

In May 2025, Tennessee passed Public Chapter 526, a sweeping update to hemp law. Here are the key takeaways:

Regulatory Shift: Starting January 1, 2026, oversight of hemp-derived cannabinoids moves from the TDA to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC).
Product Bans:
- THCa products that convert to more than 0.3% THC are banned.
- Synthetic cannabinoids like THC-P are prohibited.
Sales Restrictions: Not all stores will be allowed to sell hemp products. In many cases, only licensed retailers or 21+ establishments will be permitted.
New Licensing Rules: Wholesalers, suppliers, and retailers must apply for new licenses through TABC.
Stricter Standards: Updated testing, labeling, and packaging requirements designed to protect consumers and eliminate misleading products.

Why it matters: If you run a shop or produce hemp products in Tennessee, you’ll need to be ready for entirely new rules starting in 2026.

What’s Still Illegal in Tennessee

Marijuana (>0.3% THC): Possession, cultivation, and sale remain criminal offenses.
Medical Marijuana: Tennessee does not have a full medical program. Only limited low-THC CBD oil (≤0.9% THC) is allowed for certain conditions.
DIY Growing: Growing cannabis at home for personal use is illegal, even if intended for medical purposes.

Penalties can include fines, jail time, and a criminal record.

What to Watch in 2026 and Beyond

January 1, 2026 – TABC officially takes control of hemp-derived cannabinoid regulation.
Rulemaking period – TABC will roll out new regulations, likely adding clarity (and possibly new restrictions).
Medical cannabis debate – Bills continue to surface in the state legislature, but so far, none have passed. Pressure may increase as more neighboring states legalize.

What This Means for You

Consumers: Buy from licensed retailers, check COAs, and know that not all products available today will be legal in 2026.
Retailers: Prepare now — new licenses, age restrictions, and product limitations are coming.
Farmers & producers: Hemp remains legal to grow, but product processing and sales will face tighter rules.

Final Word

Tennessee’s hemp industry is in transition. 2025 is a year to prepare, because by early 2026, the rules of the game will change. Marijuana remains illegal for now, but the hemp market will keep evolving under new state oversight.

👉 Stay tuned to Tennessee Cannabiz for updates, plain-language breakdowns, and spotlights on how businesses and consumers are navigating the changes.

Call to Action

📊 Poll: Do you think Tennessee should legalize medical cannabis?

✔️ Yes
✔️ No
✔️ Not sure

💬 Drop your thoughts in the comments — or share your story if you run a hemp shop or farm in Tennessee.

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