Federal Hemp Ban Signed Into Law — What It Means for Tennessee Consumers & Businesses 

Last updated: November 13, 2025 — Nashville, TN

Hey y’all, here’s the official update on what just happened on the federal level in Washington and how it impacts the hemp landscape in Tennessee.

🚨 Federal Hemp Ban Signed Into Law: What Tennessee Needs to Know

On November 12, President Trump signed H.R. 5371, the bill that reopened the government but also slipped in sweeping restrictions on hemp products that could wipe out the hemp industry entirely.

How did a hemp ban end up in a government funding bill?

Prohibitionist lawmakers, led by Sen. Mitch McConnell, added hemp-ban language during the appropriations process. Senate leadership allowed it to remain, and when Senator Rand Paul introduced an amendment to remove it, the Senate tabled the amendment without a hearing, ensuring the ban stayed in the bill.

The Senate passed the package with the hemp ban intact, the House approved the same version, and President Trump signed it into law.

Now, federal enforcement begins in one year, on November 12, 2026.

What the New Federal Hemp Ban Includes (THC Limits, Definitions, and Key Changes)

The law introduces a new national definition for hemp-derived products (HDCs) and sets limits that most HDC products cannot meet.

Here’s what’s changing under federal law:

• Hemp products must contain less than 0.3% total THC (not just Delta-9).

• No more than 0.4 mg of THC-class compounds may appear in a single package.

• Cannabinoids created through conversion, synthesis, or manufacturing processes, even if hemp-based, may be treated as controlled substances.

• The FDA is instructed to release, within 90 days, a formal list of “naturally occurring cannabinoids” and THC-class compounds.

These rules become federally enforceable on November 12, 2026.

Practically speaking, this means that 95% of hemp products currently available, including THCA flower, low-dose THC drinks, and full spectrum CBD oils, would no longer qualify as federally lawful after November 12, 2026.

How the Federal Hemp Ban Affects Tennessee (And Why Nothing Changes Yet)

Even though the federal hemp ban is now signed into law, nothing changes immediately in Tennessee.

Businesses like Consider It Flowers, that have been licensed to sell HDC products on or before December 31, 2025, may continue selling products containing less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC until June 30, 2026.

Why the Federal Hemp Ban Isn’t Enforced in Tennessee Yet

Two things create this buffer:

1. Federal enforcement does not begin until November 12, 2026
   

2. Tennessee law does not automatically update when federal policy changes. First, the General Assembly must pass its own legislation.

When Tennessee Lawmakers Could Update State Hemp Laws

The Tennessee General Assembly begins its next session on January 13, 2026.  The legislative session in Tennessee typically meets for 3 to 4 months before breaking for the year.

State lawmakers would need to pass new bills to bring Tennessee’s rules in line with the new federal definition of hemp or to establish a Tennessee-specific framework.

Until they do, the current rules, including the extension for legacy license holders, stay in place.

Why This Matters for Tennessee Hemp Businesses and Consumers

This puts Tennessee in a unique position. For several months, certain HDC products may remain legal under state law even as their federal classification begins to change.

States with their own hemp laws, like Tennessee, have this temporary protection.

On the other hand, states like North Carolina that rely entirely on the federal definition of hemp, may see products reclassified under state law much sooner, even though federal enforcement does not begin until November 12, 2026.

Tennessee’s Hemp Legal Gray Zone: What to Expect in 2026

Because federal enforcement doesn’t begin until late 2026, Tennessee retailers and consumers are entering a period where:

• State law permits certain hemp-derived cannabinoid products
  

• Federal law will soon restrict many of those same products
  

• The state legislature has not yet aligned with the new federal definitions.
  

This means the industry is operating inside a one-year transition window, which gives us a chance to prepare, adapt, and advocate before new rules fully take hold.

Tennessee Hemp Laws in 2026: What to Expect From the Legislature

The upcoming legislative session (January–April 2026) will be crucial. Lawmakers will need to decide:

• Whether to mirror the new federal hemp standards
  

• Whether to create Tennessee-specific definitions for HDCs,
  

• What enforcement and licensing will look like after June 2026.

This session will shape the future of hemp access in Tennessee for years to come.

📣 What Hemp Consumers Can Do Right Now

For now, nothing changes about how you shop with us.  We’re here through June 30, 2026 under Tennessee’s current rules.

Stay tuned and we’ll keep this blog updated as new developments unfold.  We’ll make sure you always know what’s legal, what’s changing, and how to keep accessing the products you depend on.

And if you want to support our team directly during all this uncertainty?  Keep shopping with Consider It Flowers. Your purchases genuinely help us protect jobs, keep our doors open, and continue serving our community as the laws shift.

We’re not going anywhere and we’re grateful to have you with us every step of the way. 🌿🧡

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Last updated: 10.23.25

Big Win for Tennessee Hemp: 

Big win for the Tennessee Hemp Community! The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) and the Tennessee Healthy Alternatives Association (TNHAA) have officially reached an agreement that protects hemp businesses currently licensed through the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA).

This decision means that companies like Consider It Flowers that are already operating under valid TDA licenses will continue to follow the existing rules that allow for THCA, online sales, and delivery through June 30, 2026.

📜 What This Agreement With the TABC Means

Starting January 1, 2026, the TABC was originally set to take over regulation of the hemp industry and begin enforcing a new set of laws that would prohibit THCA, online sales, and delivery across the state.

However, the Tennessee Healthy Alternatives Association stepped in to ensure a smoother transition. They argued that businesses already licensed by the Department of Agriculture should remain under that agency’s oversight until their current licenses expire at the end of June 2026.

After months of advocacy and negotiation, the TABC agreed. The result is a clear, temporary framework that allows legacy license holders, businesses that received their hemp licenses before the end of 2025, to continue operating under the familiar 2023 rules while the industry transitions to the new system.

💚 A Win for the Tennessee Hemp Industry

This agreement gives Tennessee hemp businesses and their customers a much-needed six-month extension under the current rules. Instead of an abrupt regulatory shift, the state will now allow existing licensees to keep selling high-quality hemp products, including THCA flower, vapes, and other hemp-derived cannabinoid products, safely and responsibly for a while longer.

For Consider It Flowers, this means we’ll keep operating under the TDA through June 2026, keeping The Corner Store open, continuing to sell THCA flower and vapes, and offering the same online shopping experience, fast same-day local delivery, and nationwide shipping from our Nashville warehouse.  During that time, we’ll be running a bill that would allow for the long-term delivery of hemp-derived cannabinoid (HDC) products beyond June 2026. 

In short: we’re not going anywhere.

⚖️ How The 6 Month Extension Happened

The agreement was reached after TNHAA filed a petition over the summer, seeking clarity on how the new 2025 law (House Bill 1376) would apply to current license holders. Rather than proceeding to a formal hearing, TNHAA and the TABC came to an understanding that respects existing licenses while allowing the Commission to begin implementing the new law for future applicants in 2026.

Under this agreement:

• Current TDA licensees can continue operating under the 2023 framework until their licenses expire.
  

• The TABC will begin processing new hemp license applications under the updated 2025 law starting January 1, 2026.
  

• Legacy license holders may apply for new TABC licenses before their TDA licenses expire to ensure a seamless transition.

🔥 The Ongoing Fight to Protect THCA & Online Sales in TN

Since this agreement secures an additional six months of operation under the current rules, it also gives Tennessee hemp businesses time to organize, advocate, and prepare for the future.

We’re incredibly grateful to the Tennessee Healthy Alternatives Association (TNHAA) for their relentless advocacy and leadership. This victory buys our industry valuable time and another legislative session to continue pushing for policies that protect access to hemp-derived products like THCA and online sales and delivery.

If you believe in protecting Tennessee’s hemp industry, please consider donating to TNHAA and supporting their ongoing work to ensure a fair, sustainable future for hemp, including THCA flower, in our state.

👉 Click Here to Donate To TNHAA Today

Big love to everyone who’s been part of this fight and big thanks to TNHAA for standing up for us all. 

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Last updated: 5.20.25

Major changes are coming to Tennessee's hemp industry that will affect what products you can legally purchase, how you purchase them, and how long certain products will even be available.

This blog will be updated frequently as we continue to monitor legislation, court rulings, and regulatory actions.

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⚖️ Legal Update: What’s Next for Consider It Flowers

As you may already know, beginning January 1, 2026, new legislation will go into effect in Tennessee that will:

• Ban the sale of THCA by Tennessee-based businesses

• Prohibit all online cannabis sales originating from Tennessee

• Outlaw cannabis delivery services within the state

We’ve fought hard for a better outcome but here’s where things stand now:

🚚 Your Access Isn’t Going Anywhere

To keep serving our loyal customers and protect access to products like THCa flower, Consider It Flowers is relocating operations to North Carolina in January 2026.

This move allows us to:

• Keep our online store open

• Legally ship our full product line, including THCa

Even after these bans take effect, you’ll still be able to shop our full menu through our website and receive your favorite products via USPS Priority Mail. Just like our current shipping model, orders will ship the same day they’re placed and typically arrive within 2 days.

⏰ New Delivery Hours (Effective Memorial Day: Monday, May 26, 2025)

To prepare for this transition and conserve resources, we’re adjusting our delivery schedule to focus on peak hours:

• Monday–Wednesday: Delivery begins at 3 PM

• Thursday–Sunday: Delivery begins at 12 PM

Orders placed by 8 PM will be delivered the same day.

We’re still here to serve you, just in a more focused window as we plan this next chapter.

📜 Eyes on the 2026 Legislative Session

Before the online sales ban passed, we pushed for a carveout that would allow delivery services if biometric ID verification and 21+ signature collection were used, exactly the model we’ve built at Consider It Flowers.

We’re currently evaluating the possibility of introducing a new delivery carveout bill in the 2026 legislative session. If successful, we could resume legal delivery of select products, like edibles and beverages, within the Nashville area.

That said, we’ve already spent substantial legal and financial resources fighting for this fight. Our primary focus now is building a sustainable path forward under the new legal framework so we can keep showing up for you long-term.

🙏 Thank You

We’re endlessly grateful for your trust and support. This industry has never been easy, but your loyalty has made every late night, every delivery, and every legal battle worth it.

We’re not going anywhere. We’re just evolving and we’re taking you with us.

With love and gratitude,
Dexter & Kelsey Palmer
Founders, Consider It Flowers

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04.18.2025

🛑 What’s Happening

On April 17, 2025, the Tennessee Senate passed SB1413 (House companion HB1376), and it's expected to be signed into law soon. These changes will:

❌ Ban THCA Flower

• All hemp-derived cannabinoid products must contain less than 0.3% total THC (including THCA).

• THCA flower will no longer be legal in Tennessee as of January 1, 2026.

• However, a judge will revisit the injunction in June 2025. If the ruling aligns with this new law, THCA products could become illegal even sooner.

This 4/20 may be the LAST TIME Tennesseans can legally buy THCA flower.

⚠️ Don’t wait. Stock up now. Many strains will be retired permanently after this season.

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🚫 Ban on Online Sales & Delivery (Effective Jan 1, 2026)

• All sales of hemp-derived cannabinoid products must occur in-person at a licensed brick-and-mortar retail store.

• Online orders, shipping, and delivery within Tennessee will be banned.

• Face-to-face transactions will be the only legal method of sale.

This directly impacts our on-demand delivery model at Consider It Flowers, which is:

• Fully owned and operated by our licensed retail business

• Supported by biometric ID verification, 21+ signature collection, and photo proof of delivery

• Built for safety, privacy, and legal compliance

We're actively working with legal counsel to secure the future of delivery in Tennessee—and we're optimistic. But as of now, delivery will be banned starting in 2026.

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💸 New Taxes & Business Licensing Rules

New Tax Rates:

• $0.02 per mg of cannabinoid content (wholesale)

• $50 per ounce of hemp flower (wholesale)

• $4.40 per gallon of liquid HDCP

Other Changes:

• Regulation transferred from Department of Agriculture to Alcoholic Beverage Commission

• New license structures for retailers, wholesalers, and suppliers

• Retail sales must occur at 21+ restricted access locations

🤝 From the Owners: A Note from Dex & Kelsey Palmer

We’ve done everything we can to fight for the future of this industry and protect your right to safe access:

• Held one-on-one meetings with Leader Lamberth and dozens of Tennessee Representatives

• Donated to multiple trade organizations

• Paid for legal representation to support strategic lawsuits

• Spent countless hours on policy, education, and messaging

We're not giving up.

We're continuing to work closely with our legal team to push for a legal pathway for delivery in Tennessee, and we are optimistic it can be saved. But THCA is going away soon.

We appreciate you standing with us, trusting us, and supporting a local business built on transparency, safety, and community.

We'll continue updating this blog as new developments unfold.

With gratitude,
Dexter & Kelsey Palmer
Co-Founders, Consider It Flowers
www.consideritflowers.com