Tennessee is one of the remaining 11 states where cannabis is illegal, with serious restrictions and consequences to discourage violations.
It’s safe to say that the cannabis industry in Tennessee is lagging compared to most states due to the state’s reluctance to enact cannabis reforms. Still, that is not the whole picture.
When it comes to cannabis, TN has fully distinguished the two forms of the plant: hemp and marijuana, allowing the former to flourish and prohibiting the latter.
As such, only one part of the cannabis industry in TN is experiencing noticeable growth, and that is hemp.
In this article, we will split the Tennessee cannabis industry into hemp and marijuana and discuss each to highlight their growth.
Where the Difference Lies
It’s worth noting that both hemp and marijuana plants are varieties of the cannabis sativa, which makes it important to discuss both when looking at the cannabis industry as a whole.
Now, what makes the two plants different is the chemical component, particularly the psychoactive cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Federal law defines hemp as a cannabis plant containing 0.3% or less of THC. Anything more than that is considered marijuana and hence illegal.
The same law applies in the state of Tennessee, whereby hemp is legal, and marijuana isn’t.
The Marijuana Industry
Currently, Tennessee doesn’t have a marijuana industry because the plant is illegal. The penalties for possessions in the state are some of the harshest, with small possessions like a half-ounce resulting in up to a year in jail.
While there have been efforts to make cannabis reforms in TN, much of the progress remains blocked by state legislators.
However, that doesn’t change the opinion of the masses regarding cannabis, as most Tennesseans are in favor of legalization and decriminalization of the drug.
The State’s CBD Law
While cannabis for adult use remains stagnant, medical marijuana has witnessed a bit of progress. In 2015, the state enacted a low-THC-high-CBD law for patients with specific medical conditions.
The progress may have been slow, but there is a clear roadmap for a medical marijuana program in Tennessee.
2021 saw the approval of a bill that led to the creation of the Tennessee Medical Cannabis Commission, a task force designed to study medical marijuana in preparation for the legalization of cannabis for medicinal use.
The bill also expanded the state’s CBD law, allowing patients who qualify under the program to possess CBD oil with a THC content of no more than 0.9%.
In addition, the bill expanded the list of qualifying medical conditions allowing more health conditions to receive marijuana treatment.
It may take some time for Tennessee to have a running medical marijuana program as there are no provisions for legal sales. Basically, there are no dispensaries selling CBD oils with the approved THC content.
For patients looking to get approved for medical marijuana in TN, it helps to talk to physicians knowledgeable about marijuana to see if you actually qualify.
With the new law in effect, you will be enrolled in the marijuana program as a patient, which grants you some legal protections from prosecution if you’re ever found in possession of medical marijuana obtained illegally.
You could, however, obtain the medicine legally in states with reciprocity and bring it back to Tennessee.
The Hemp Industry
Tennessee is a hemp-friendly state looking to reclaim its long and successful history in hemp farming.
Hemp production was legalized under federal law in 2018, provided participating states established a working pilot program.
In Tennessee, the state’s department of agriculture (TDA) became responsible for the state’s Industrial Hemp Agricultural Pilot Program.
While the law regards hemp as a distinct variety of the cannabis sativa plant lacking psychological effects, industrial production of the crop is still heavily regulated.
As such, to grow hemp in Tennessee, you have to be a participant of the state’s hemp pilot program.
Challenges Facing the Hemp Industry
The restriction on producers to be participants in the hemp pilot program isn’t the only challenge facing the hemp industry in Tennessee.
- Licensing fees, seed prices, and THC testing costs can be high, which drives production costs.
- There’s also no established market for hemp products such as fiber, grain, and extracts like CBD.
- You can only control weed in a hemp farm through cultural management practices or mechanical methods like cultivation and handpicking.
Still, regardless of the challenges in Tennessee’s hemp industry, its growth has remained consistent, proving the industry’s immense potential.
If you go with the number of licensed growers, there were only 44 back in 2015. By 2020, that number had jumped to 3,359, proving that the industry is definitely taking off.
Final Words
Cannabis has met strong opposition in Tennessee, with efforts to legalize or decriminalize the plant falling short every time.
However, recent bills like SB 118 are paving the way for a cannabis industry, starting with medical cannabis.
