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Tennessee hemp products industry worries: Could new regulations stop sales in state?

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Tennessee hemp products industry worries: Could new regulations stop sales in state?


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Michael Soloman, one of Tennessee’s leading sellers of legal cannabis, believes the state is engaging in regulatory bait and switch.

On the one hand, a new law went into effect last year, regulating the sale of hemp-derived products to those 21 and older, seemingly cementing into place what had already become a growing, Tennessee-based industry of legalized non-marijuana cannabis. After all, such products have been legal nationally since 2018.

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On the other, the state’s Department of Agriculture, which is drafting specific rules for the new law, is considering restrictions on a chemical in certain hemp products, THC-A (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid). THC-A is legal but mimics the effects of a traditional marijuana “high” when it’s burned or turned into certain edible products.

THC-A products are, by far, the most popular products being sold now in Tennessee, Soloman said, and people want them for a variety of reasons. And, a state ban on sales, he added, wouldn’t prohibit a Tennessean from buying these products online.

But it could impact Nashville business owners.

“It’s really just killing the local industry,” said Soloman, the owner of a chain of legal cannabis shops in Tennessee known as The Holistic Connection. He also owns Buds and Brews, a cannabis-themed restaurant in Nashville, and Tri-Star Medical & Craft Cannabis. 

“It’s not making these products illegal. It’s just going to make these products illegal to sell (in Tennessee). “These products are some of the most sought-after products that the people want for many different reasons.”

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No such restriction on THC-A was written into the law itself, so many hemp product supporters feel betrayed by the state and believe it could ruin the burgeoning Tennessee industry.

Meanwhile, thse products are still federally legal, thus obtainable through the mail.

In Maryville, Tennessee, Lori Nanney, the owner of Tokers Inc., is worried about the future of her business.

“THC-A is 85% of all retail sales,” Nanney said. “It’s going to eliminate most consumables, all smokeables, all cartridges, all dabs (a concentrated form of cannabis commonly smoked or vaped), all flower( the leafy form of cannabis), and it’s going to eliminate most edibles.

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“This is going to destroy the entire industry. These people (in the business) are not going to have homes in a few months if this goes the way it’s going.”

On Thursday, the Department of Agriculture held a hearing to receive opinions from the public on the proposed rule changes. As of this week, it received more than 2,000 written public comments.

Scores turned out to mostly criticize the inclusion of THC-A in the new rules. Some said they’d turn to the black market or travel out of state for marijuana if that happened. Others, who operate legal cannabis businesses, said they’ll be forced to shut down.

Others complained of government overreach.

Kim Doddridge, the spokesperson for the department, did not respond directly to such claims. She said only: “After this, what I will call a ‘listening session’ we’re going to take those comments and what changes need to be made to the proposed rules.”

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Isn’t marijuana illegal in Tennessee?

Yes. It is illegal to possess or sell marijuana for recreational and nearly all medical reasons in Tennessee. However, state law allows for some exceptions for low-THC/high-CBD oils for use by people with certain health conditions.

Otherwise, penalties start at up to one year in jail and a $250 fine for a first-time offense for possessing up to a half-ounce of marijuana.

However, in 2018, the U.S. Congress removed hemp and hemp products from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s list of controlled substances, opening the door to products that approximate the effects of marijuana, such as THC-A and “Delta-8” THC products.

Some states have outlawed them. That has not happened in Tennessee.

What’s the difference between “traditional” marijuana and Delta-8?

Traditional marijuana highs come from what’s known as “Delta-9” THC products. There are hemp-derived Delta-9 products sold in Tennessee, but they must contain less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by weight.

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Delta-8 THC products have not been traditionally regulated as a controlled substance but can be manufactured from hemp and, thus is widely legal — including in Tennessee. Users say it produces a milder high. However federal regulators have warned that it can produce adverse effects.

Another legal hemp product that has been on the market for a while, CBD, does not produce a high.

Hazy legal distinction

The confusing set of state and federal laws governing cannabis is driving much of this current controversy.

At issue is the inclusion of the currently legal THC-A in the definition of the currently illegal THC in rules governing legal hemp products in Tennessee.

THC provides the psychoactive effect that marijuana is known for. THC-A doesn’t unless it’s exposed to heat, a process known as decarboxylation. THC-A plant flowers are also grown in such a way that they are considered hemp and don’t run afoul of federal law.

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It’s a hazy legal distinction.

Because of this, Tennessee hemp-product industry insiders say, THC-A products constitute the vast majority of the market here. They also note that banning their sale here won’t stop their use. They’re legal federally and thus available to buy online. State law also does not prohibit their use or possession.

The Department of Agriculture will review all comments received by Feb. 9 and work to develop final rules. They will then be sent to the state Attorney General’s Office for review and forwarded to the Secretary of State’s Office. They will be effective 90 days after that. There are no further public hearings planned on the matter.

Ultimately, the new rules must be in place by July 1.

Frank Gluck is the health care reporter for The Tennessean. He can be reached at fgluck@tennessean.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @FrankGluck.

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Dense fog then rounds of rain for Middle Tennessee

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Dense fog then rounds of rain for Middle Tennessee


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) –

FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY – TODAY

Widespread fog has developed across Middle Tennessee to start off our day with visibility dropping to less than half a mile in some areas. Prepare for a longer morning commute and use caution while driving through foggy areas.

We are also tracking some widespread rain that will move through this afternoon through our evening commute. At times the rain will come down heavy and could cause ponding on roadways. We’ll even get to hear a few rumbles of thunder but there is no severe weather threat. Rain wll taper off late this evening and into the overnight hours. Highs today will be in the mid 60s.

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FRIDAY FORECAST

More off and on rounds of showers will continue through our Friday. While we will certainly find some decent dry time, keep the umbrella handy and keep an eye to the sky. Yes there will be a few thunderstorms, but there is still no severe weather threat to be worried about. Highs on Friday will top off near 70. More scattered showers and storms will move in Friday night and lingering into early Saturday morning.

WEEKEND FORECAST

As mentioned above, a shower or two could lingering into Saturday morning, but most of us will stay dry as we try and break the clouds in the afternoon. It will be cooler Saturday afternoon with highs in the mid to upper 60s.

We’ll do a better job at getting sunshine back on Sunday with temperatures in the low 60s.

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NEXT WEEK

A dry and sunny start to our Monday, but clouds increase quickly in the afternoon with highs staying in the 60s.

Rain move in Monday night and through Tuesday with a few rumbles of thunder as well. A shower or two will linger into Wednesday before a shot of colder air around Thanksgiving



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Tennessee joins settlement against Greystar over ‘anticompetitive’ rent pricing scheme

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Tennessee joins settlement against Greystar over ‘anticompetitive’ rent pricing scheme


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tennessee has joined a multistate settlement proposal with the nation’s largest property management firm over allegations it unfairly rigged their prices for rental units.

According to Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti’s office, the proposed settlement with Greystar Management Services, LLC, resolves allegations of “anticompetitive practices that resulted in artificially-increased rents” for renters in Tennessee.

The property management giant reached a non-monetary settlement consent decree with 9 states, including Tennessee, according to the AG’s office.

An investigation from a bipartisan coalition looked into Greystar’s participation in an “algorithmic pricing scheme” that allowed multiple property management companies to share their supply and pricing data among each other through a service called RealPage.

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RealPage is a revenue management software utilized by many property management companies, including Greystar.

By sharing the sensitive renal data, the states alleged the property management companies were able to artificially inflate and align their rental prices, thus reducing competition in the multi-family residential rental market.

Greystar alone operates nearly 950,000 rental units nationwide, including more than 6,000 in Tennessee.

The AG’s office said the proposed settlement represents one step in broader enforcement efforts, as they continue to pursue legal action against RealPage and four other property management companies.

“Tennessee renters were stuck paying too much because property management companies shared information through the RealPage software to artificially inflate prices,” Skrmetti said in a release. “It’s not fair, it’s not right, and we are putting a stop to it by holding these companies accountable.”

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⏩ Read today’s top stories on wkrn.com

The proposed consent decree, if approved by the Court, would require Greystar to do the following:

  • Refrain from using any anticompetitive algorithm that generates pricing recommendations using its competitors’ competitively sensitive data or that incorporates certain anticompetitive features;
  • Refrain from sharing competitively sensitive information with competitors;
  • Accept a court-appointed monitor if it uses a third-party pricing algorithm that is not certified pursuant to the terms of the consent decree;
  • Refrain from attending or participating in RealPage-hosted meetings of competing landlords; and
  • Cooperate with the coalition’s claims against RealPage

Tennessee joined in the proposed settlement with California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Oregon, according to the attorney general.



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Tennessee judge blocks deployment of National Guard in Memphis

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Tennessee judge blocks deployment of National Guard in Memphis


Members of the National Guard stand watch at the intersection of B.B. King Blvd. and Beale Street, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn.

George Walker IV/AP


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George Walker IV/AP

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Tennessee judge on Monday night blocked the use of the National Guard in Memphis under a crimefighting operation by President Donald Trump but also put the order on hold, giving the government five days to appeal.

Davidson County Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal’s decision sides with Democratic state and local officials who sued, contending that Republican Gov. Bill Lee cannot deploy the Tennessee National Guard for civil unrest unless there is rebellion or invasion, and even then, it would require action by state lawmakers.

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The plaintiffs also said another provision spells out a need for a request from a local government to use the Guard in some scenarios, including a “breakdown of law and order,” they said.

The state has said Tennessee law gives the governor “the authority to dispatch the Guard when needed and to determine when that need exists.”

In a statement posted on X, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, a plaintiff in the case, said he is pleased with the decision. “The injunction does not take effect immediately, and the state has a chance to seek leave to appeal,” he wrote. “However, this is a positive step toward ensuring the rule of law applies to everyone, including everyday Tennesseans and even the Governor.”

Since their arrival on Oct. 10, troops have been patrolling neighborhoods and commercial areas of Memphis, including near the iconic Pyramid in downtown, wearing fatigues and protective vests that say “military police,” with guns in holsters. Officials have said Guard members have no arrest power.

The Guard is part of a task force established by an order from Trump. It also involves a slew of other law enforcement agencies whose officers have patrolling the city now for weeks.

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For years, Memphis has dealt with high violent crime, including assaults, carjackings and homicides. While this year’s statistics show improvement in several categories, including murders, many acknowledge that violence remains a problem.

Trump announced in September that the National Guard would be deployed to combat crime in Memphis alongside authorities from a slew of federal agencies as part of the so-called Memphis Safe Task Force. The task force, which includes hundreds of personnel attached to various federal and state law enforcement agencies and Memphis police, has made more than 2,500 arrests since it began operating in Memphis.

Arrests have been made on charges ranging from drug and weapons violations to immigration warrants to homicides.

Lee has said the National Guard would “play a critical support role” for local law enforcement.

Memphis Mayor Paul Young, a Democrat, said he never requested that the Guard come to his city. But after Trump made the announcement and Lee agreed, Young, who is not involved in the lawsuit, and others has said they wanted the task force to focus on targeting violent offenders.

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Young has said operations include some 150 Guard members.

Both the plaintiffs and the state acknowledged that the governor did not issue an order to trigger the deployment, but sent a news release.

Lee has said that, “As the the commander-in-chief, Gov. Lee has the authority to authorize the Title 32 strategic mission to Memphis.”

“Every Memphian deserves to feel safe in their community, and through state, local, and federal partnerships, the Memphis Safe Task Force has created a generational opportunity that is already delivering remarkable results to enhance public safety,” Lee’s spokesperson Elizabeth Lane Johnson said after the lawsuit was filed. “We are confident the court will uphold the Governor’s constitutional authority.”



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