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CBD Oil in Tennessee
Hemp and marijuana are both cannabis plants, but it was not until 2018 that the federal government made a legal distinction between the two plants. After the Farm Bill of 2018 was signed into law by President Donald Trump in December of that year, industrialized hemp became legal at the federal level. This opened the door for a rapid commercialization of hemp products throughout the United States, including hemp-derived CBD oil, which is widely available in all states, Tennessee included.
In the eyes of federal law, a cannabis plant found to contain a high concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) must be classified as marijuana (more than 0.3% THC). Cannabis plants with THC below this 0.3% threshold are considered hemp in the eyes of federal law and are no longer subject to Schedule I restriction under the Controlled Substances Act.
(Cannabis that lacks THC is considered non-psychoactive, and hemp cannot cause the “high” that marijuana does, when consumed.)
But what about the state laws regarding cannabis and CBD in Tennessee? Every state has its own legal framework that residents must follow to stay on the right side of the law when it comes to cannabis products. Some some states have made strong efforts to get their local laws in alignment with federal law, while others are still lagging behind in this regard. Tennessee’s approach toward cannabis has some legal wrinkles worth examining.
Is CBD Oil legal in Tennessee?
Yes, the cultivation of hemp, and the sale and consumption of hemp-derived CBD oil products (with the exception of food and beverages) are all legal in Tennessee—thanks to changes in federal and state laws over the last decade.
The state has a somewhat archaic legal framework surrounding cannabis in general, but exceptions have been carved out for hemp, hemp-derived CBD, and its use by the general public.
What are the current CBD laws in Tennessee?
In recent years, many states have had an extensive number of laws proposed and passed to address the increasingly favorable sentiment the public has toward cannabis, but this is not as apparent in Tennessee as in other states. Many law makers in TN have demonstrated staunch opposition to legal reforms when it comes to cannabis use in the Volunteer State. Still, there has been some progress, as far as hemp and hemp products are concerned.
Like of the U.S., all forms of cannabis were illegal in Tennessee for most of the 20th century, and little changed until recently.
In 2014, the first modern medical cannabis law was passed in the state in May of that year: SB 2531, sponsored by Republican law makers Todd Gardenshire and Mike Carter. SB 2531 allowed for “the transfer, dispensation, possession, or administering of certain cannabis oil as part of a clinical research study on the treatment of intractable seizures,” supervised in medical environments.
In May of 2015, Governor Bill Haslam put his signature on SB 280, a bill that legalized possession of cannabis oil (containing no more 0.9% THC) to treat several medical problems like intractable epilepsy. Those in possession of such substances are required to have approval from a physician to be in harmony with the legal requirements Tennessee has. The bill left a lot to be desired by medical cannabis patients, as there remain significant barriers in place, such as difficulty in procurement. The bill lacked any provision to legally sell medical CBD within the state, forcing would-be patients to obtain their treatments from sources outside of the state.
In 2015, Tennessee also initiated the Industrial Hemp Pilot Program and officially removed hemp from the controlled substances list via Tennessee Public Chapter No. 916—opening the door for a future hemp industry within the state.
HB 2133, passed in May of 2016, made further legal distinctions between restricted marijuana with high concentrations of THC, and cannabis plants with lower THC concentrations (below 0.9 percent) as intended for use in clinical research.
The regulations related to the cultivation of industrial hemp are maintained by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, these regulations have been relaxed and simplified over time. They were further relaxed in 2019, shortly after the passage of the passage of the federal Farm Bill of 2018.
While medical-grade cannabis reform has a long way to go in Tennessee, hemp-based CBD containing less than 0.3% THC has overcome most of the legal hurdles that once stood in its way. Hemp-derived CBD and can be safely and legally consumed by members of the general public within the state.
Can I purchase CBD in Tennessee?
You can indeed purchase CBD in Tennessee, so long as it is hemp-derived and follows federal guidelines put forth in 2018. CBD is increasingly popular and easy to find in retail and convenience stores throughout cities like Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga. But did you know that residents of Tennessee can order CBD online as well? Highland Pharms can ship our hemp-based CBD directly to your front door, no matter what part of Tennessee you call home.
Our CBD products are cleanly cultivated, safely produced, and legal to use within the state of Tennessee. And better still, we offer customers an extensive inventory, so they can use CBD in the way that works best for them: lotions and creams, tinctures and drops, capsules, and even gummies! We have CBD pet treats too!
We encourage you to take a moment to look over our offerings and see which of our hemp-derived products might provide you (or family and friends) with the healthy benefits of CBD!
Sources:
2018 United States farm bill – Wikipedia
SB 2531 – Tennessee 108th Regular Session (2013-2014) – Open States
TN SB 280 2015 – Medical Marijuana – ProCon.org
HB 2144 – Tennessee 109th Regular Session (2015-2016) – Open States
Hemp Rules and Regulations (tn.gov)
New Rules for Tennessee’s Hemp Program (tn.gov)