Tennessee Hemp Operators Get Temporary Relief from Planned Product Ban
The hemp industry in Tennessee has grown significantly since the legislature first approved the possession, production and sale of this crop in 2019. Recent survey data shows that the state’s hemp industry rakes in between $280-$560 million in sales annually. Hemp is differentiated from marijuana by its concentration of delta-9 THC, a potent cannabinoid that triggers the release of dopamine in the brain, inducing a high.
At the federal and state levels, marijuana with a concentration of less than 0.3% delta-9 THC is defined as legal hemp. Plants with higher THC concentrations are classified as marijuana, which is illegal to possess, sell or grow in the state of Tennessee. Late last year, the state’s agriculture department formulated regulations that would make it compulsory for all hemp products to be tested for delta-9 THC, particularly that which is produced from THCA.
THCA is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that is found in the marijuana plant. When this compound is smoked or heated, it converts into delta-9 THC, which is illegal in Tennessee in high amounts. In addition to this, the regulations would impose license requirements, age restrictions and taxes on players in the state’s nascent hemp industry.
Naturally, the regulations were disputed, with the Tennessee Healthy Alternatives Association and the Tennessee Growers Coalition arguing that this would lead to a ban of products that hadn’t been criminalized by the General Assembly.
CBD and THCA are legally sold in edibles as well as smokable flowers in the state. The industry groups added that a huge share of the market would be affected if the rules went into effect, with many businesses downsizing or worse, laying off employees. Furthermore, they claimed that the department had overstepped its authority on the matter.
Attorneys of the state disputed these claims, asserting that the department of agriculture was acting lawfully when it imposed limits on some chemicals found in hemp.
This dispute led to the issuance of a temporary injunction by Davidson County Chancellor I’Ashea Myles, preventing the regulations from taking effect on December 26th. The injunction is in effect until the trial, which is slated for June 5th.
These developments come after legislators in the state tried to ban all products derived from hemp in 2022 but failed to garner the votes needed to approved the bill. Following this setback, legislators decided to focus on regulating the hemp industry. This began with the approval of a measure that would ban the sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products to individuals aged less than 21.
Other hemp industry actors like Software Effective Solutions Corp. (d/b/a MedCana) (OTC: SFWJ) operating in other markets are likely to welcome the reprieve provided by the court in Tennessee since it would give all parties time to prepare their case and let the court decide one way or the other.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Software Effective Solutions Corp. (d/b/a MedCana) (OTC: SFWJ) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/SFWJ
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the HempWire website applicable to all content provided by HW, wherever published or re-published: https://www.HempWire.com/Disclaimer
The hemp industry in Tennessee has grown significantly since the legislature first approved the possession, production and sale of this crop in 2019. Recent survey data shows that the state’s hemp industry rakes in between $280-$560 million in sales annually. Hemp is differentiated from marijuana by its concentration of delta-9 THC, a potent cannabinoid that triggers the release of dopamine in the brain, inducing a high.
At the federal and state levels, marijuana with a concentration of less than 0.3% delta-9 THC is defined as legal hemp. Plants with higher THC concentrations are classified as marijuana, which is illegal to possess, sell or grow in the state of Tennessee. Late last year, the state’s agriculture department formulated regulations that would make it compulsory for all hemp products to be tested for delta-9 THC, particularly that which is produced from THCA.
THCA is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that is found in the marijuana plant. When this compound is smoked or heated, it converts into delta-9 THC, which is illegal in Tennessee in high amounts. In addition to this, the regulations would impose license requirements, age restrictions and taxes on players in the state’s nascent hemp industry.
Naturally, the regulations were disputed, with the Tennessee Healthy Alternatives Association and the Tennessee Growers Coalition arguing that this would lead to a ban of products that hadn’t been criminalized by the General Assembly.
CBD and THCA are legally sold in edibles as well as smokable flowers in the state. The industry groups added that a huge share of the market would be affected if the rules went into effect, with many businesses downsizing or worse, laying off employees. Furthermore, they claimed that the department had overstepped its authority on the matter.
Attorneys of the state disputed these claims, asserting that the department of agriculture was acting lawfully when it imposed limits on some chemicals found in hemp.
This dispute led to the issuance of a temporary injunction by Davidson County Chancellor I’Ashea Myles, preventing the regulations from taking effect on December 26th. The injunction is in effect until the trial, which is slated for June 5th.
These developments come after legislators in the state tried to ban all products derived from hemp in 2022 but failed to garner the votes needed to approved the bill. Following this setback, legislators decided to focus on regulating the hemp industry. This began with the approval of a measure that would ban the sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products to individuals aged less than 21.
Other hemp industry actors like Software Effective Solutions Corp. (d/b/a MedCana) (OTC: SFWJ) operating in other markets are likely to welcome the reprieve provided by the court in Tennessee since it would give all parties time to prepare their case and let the court decide one way or the other.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Software Effective Solutions Corp. (d/b/a MedCana) (OTC: SFWJ) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/SFWJ
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the HempWire website applicable to all content provided by HW, wherever published or re-published: https://www.HempWire.com/Disclaimer
