If you’re someone who enjoys the occasional puff of a hemp product or two, you’ve probably heard the buzz around Delta 8 THC, especially from the legal perspective. Hemp-derived compounds like it, including Delta 10 THC, and HHC have been the latest craze in the hemp industry. However, there’s also been growing concern around its safety and legal status. Several states have put legislation in place to address the concerns; some aiming to regulate the compounds and others, seeking to outright ban it. One of the latest states to join the great hemp debate is Tennessee. Will Delta 8 THC be banned in this state? Or will it be reasonably regulated? Keep reading to find out what concerns led to proposed House Bill (HB) 0403 and Senate Bill (SB) 0378 in Tennessee and what the bill sets out to accomplish. We’ll also explore its potential effects on consumers, as well as the budding cannabinoid industry.

What is Delta 8 THC?

Before we unpack the new Tennessee bill, let’s delve into Delta 8’s background. What is it exactly? Delta 8 THC is a compound that is found naturally in hemp and cannabis plants. It provides psychoactive effects similar to Delta 9 THC, which most people know as THC. It’s roughly half as potent as THC and can provide benefits such as relief from anxiety, inflammation, and insomnia. This cannabinoid has become an increasingly popular alternative to marijuana and is commonly sold as edibles, vape cartridges, and disposable vapes. 

Related Article: “What is Delta 8?” 

Tennessee’s Concerns About Delta 8 THC 

Interestingly enough, this isn’t Tennessee’s first crack at regulating Delta 8 THC. Last year, state lawmakers considered passing a bill to fully ban hemp-based products, but the bill was unsuccessful. Fast forward to this year, another bill is up for deliberation, this time aiming for regulation.

“We need to regulate this because the horse is out of the barn,” Senator Briggs, one of the bill’s sponsors said. “This stuff is everywhere, and we can’t put that genie back in the bottle.”

The state’s government officials’ concerns with Delta 8 are echoed among other states. Some of these concerns are that these cannabinoid products could:

• contain contaminants
• have packaging that could appeal to children
• contain higher than legal amounts of THC
• be sold to anyone under 21

Click here to see if Delta 8 is Legal in Your state.

What Would Tennessee’s Bill (HB 403/SB 378) Do?

The regulation bill (HB403/SB378) was introduced by State House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) and Senator Richard Briggs, (R-Knoxville). “It’s already out there everywhere” Senator Richard Briggs said.“We can’t stop it, but what we’re trying to do at this point is to try to regulate to protect children and try to protect consumers.” The bill’s main objective is to regulate the production and sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products such as Delta 8 THC and Delta 10 THC. The main points this bill hopes to achieve are to:

1. Prohibit the sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products to individuals under the age of 21
2. Require all products undergo testing before being sold in stores. Also mandates testing results be accessible, so consumers understand what they are purchasing. 
3. Add a 5% additional sales tax to any product sold at a store
4. Create a licensing, quality testing, regulatory and enforcement process through the Tennessee Department of Agriculture
5. Prohibit the use of cartoon characters and similar imagery to protect children from being targeted. 

Related Article: “Controversial New Delta 8 Bill Shocks West Virginia”

How This Could Affect The Hemp Industry & You

Generally, many reputable industry leaders are in favor of regulations, so long as they are reasonable. One regulation that is largely unopposed is ensuring that individuals must be 21 years old to purchase the cannabinoid products. Currently, there are stores that use their own discretion to prohibit sales to underaged customers. 

For instance, Tennessee Hemp Company in Jonesborough set its own rules not to sell THC products to any customers under 21. “We have really since day one as a business, it is our view on things that if anything is an intoxicating compound like THC can be, it has a psychoactive effect to it,” the business’s manager, Jakob Bowen said. “That has always been our rule of thumb here is that business is 21 and older.”

Another aspect of the proposed bill that many in the hemp industry support are the testing requirements. In a NewsChannel 5 interview, Kelley Hess, a lobbyist for the Tennessee Growers Coalition said “We are in favor of common sense oversight and testing of these products and it’s critical for public safety and market development of these products.” 

In terms of the additional sales tax, Founder of Elizabethton’s Gold Spectrum (A Delta 8 company) Zack Green weighed in saying “It might be a 5% loss, but in the bigger scheme of things, I think that it’s good for the industry and good for the community.”

Where To Find Trusted Delta 8 Near You

With the ever-changing laws and regulations surrounding alternative cannabinoids like Delta 8, Delta 10, and HHC, many enthusiasts struggle to find reputable brands to shop. Mellow Fellow is a trusted leader in the industry that provides high quality hemp-derived cannabinoid products like edibles, vape cartridges, disposable vapes, and more. And now you can easily find the best quality Delta 8 near you by using our store locator. Our formulas are PhD pharmacist-formulated with your safety and care in mind. Check out our lab results here.

Want a more personalized cannabinoid experience? Mellow Fellow specializes in premium blends that provide tailor made experiences that you’ll be hard pressed to find elsewhere. To name a few, you can explore our Euphoria, Clarity, Creativity, Motivation and Tranquility blends. Take our quiz to find out which blends work for you!

While some believe Delta 8 should be banned, others including industry stakeholders argue that reasonable regulations are what the hemp industry needs. As the executive director of the Tennessee Growers Coalition, Kelley Hess puts it, “We support anything that doesn’t put burdensome regulations on the industry.” What do you think about Tennessee’s proposed bill? Let us know in the comments. Stay safe and stay mellow.

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