Tennessee House Republicans have passed a bill to effectively ban the sale of intoxicating hemp products in the state, according to a WBIR 10 News report.
Sponsored by Rep. William Lamberth (R), HB 1376 would limit the total THC allowed in consumable hemp products to 0.3%. Lamberth said the hemp products currently available in Tennessee are “extremely intoxicating,” and said “what we do with these products can change lives for better or worse.”
“They should be regulated and sold just like wine, liquor and beer are, with the same type of restraints on them, recognizing that there is great danger in these products.” — Lamberth, via WBIR 10 News
The proposal would also move regulatory control over consumable hemp products from the Department of Agriculture to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
Business owners, however, say the legislation would devastate the state’s hemp industry, drive away taxable revenue, and spell ruin for many farmers and entrepreneurs.
“Not only small businesses, but hundreds of farmers are gonna go out of business that rely on hemp,” BLOM Shop owner Travis McKinney told WBIR 10 News. “When it became legal, I saw how many people it’s helped, whether it’s people that are close to you or just a stranger.”
The proposal’s companion bill in the Senate, SB 1413, has advanced through several committees and is scheduled for consideration on the Senate floor later this week.
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