Tennessee is the latest state to grapple with delta-8 THC as lawmakers consider new legislation that would outlaw products containing the cannabis compound.
UPDATE: Tennessee Lawmakers Table Bill Aimed at Regulating Delta-8 THC Products
House Bill 1927, sponsored by Rep. William Lamberth, R-Portland, aims to regulate delta-8 by making it illegal except when present in trace-level concentrations, according to WBIR.
Delta-8 products are currently legal to sell and consume in Tennessee since the compound is produced from hemp, the news outlet reported, but lawmakers have expressed concern about the lack of regulations governing delta-8 THC in the state.
RELATED: Tennessee Lawmaker Files Legislation to Tax and Regulate Cannabis, Including Delta-8
H.B. 1927 has already been amended to include other hemp-derived THCs, including delta-9 and -10, as well as the derivative hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), WBIR reported.
The legislation excludes non-THC hemp byproducts, such as CBD, according to the news outlet.
H.B. 1927 essentially calls for redefining “marijuana,” which remains illegal in Tennessee for both medical and adult-use purposes, to include hemp and hemp products that contain a cannabinoid other than delta-9 THC in concentrations of more than 0.1%, as well as products that contain more than 0.3% delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis, WBIR reported.
Lawmakers have said that the state would lose an estimated $3 million in revenue when these products are banned from store shelves, according to the news outlet. They have also indicated that the legislation would likely lead to an increase in felony arrests and incarceration expenses, WBIR reported.
The House Government Operations Committee has scheduled an April 25 hearing to discuss H.B. 1927.
