Tennessee’s 2026 hemp and cannabis law, and what it means at our Cool Springs store

On January 1, 2026, Tennessee’s Public Chapter 526 moved hemp-derived cannabinoid products under the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) and changed what a store in this state may sell. Stores still holding Department of Agriculture licenses could follow the older rules until those licenses expired on June 30, 2026, so since July 1, 2026 every store in Tennessee has been under Public Chapter 526. This is what changed, what you can still buy at our Cool Springs store in Franklin, and where to read the rules for yourself.

What changed in 2026

• A new regulator. Oversight moved from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to the TABC, and stores selling hemp-derived cannabinoid products now need a TABC hemp retail license.
• Limits on what a product can hold. No more than 15 mg of hemp-derived cannabinoids per serving in an edible or a drink, and no more than 300 mg or 20 servings in most packages. The full list is in the questions below.
• No synthetic cannabinoids. Cannabinoids not extracted or derived from hemp are not permitted.
• THCp is out. The TABC states plainly that products may not contain THCp.
• THCA now counts toward total THC. Total THC is (THCA × 0.877) + delta-9 THC, and THCA above 0.3% is excluded. That is why most THCA flower no longer qualifies as hemp.
• No delivery or shipping. Licensed retailers may not deliver or ship these products to customers, directly or indirectly. You buy in person.
• Still 21 and over, with ID. The age limit has been 21 since July 1, 2023 (Public Chapter 423); sales to anyone under 21 are not permitted.
• Lab reports by QR code. Each product must carry a QR code linking to its certificate of analysis, so you can check what is in it.

Federal law is scheduled to change on December 11, 2026

A federal appropriations law enacted on November 12, 2025 (H.R. 5371, section 781) redefines hemp nationally. It counts total THC, including THCA, and it excludes any finished hemp-derived cannabinoid product with more than 0.4 mg of total THC per container. That cap covers CBD products too: a full-spectrum CBD product whose container holds more than 0.4 mg of total THC is also outside the new definition. It also excludes cannabinoids the cannabis plant cannot produce, and naturally occurring ones that were made outside the plant.

From November 12, 2026, only the part about cannabinoids the plant cannot produce at all applies. Everything else starts on December 11, 2026, under a funding law signed on September 2, 2026 (Public Law 119-103, section 2019). That funding law also runs out on December 11, so Congress could still move the date. This is the position as of October 16, 2026; the rest of this page describes Tennessee law. Questions about what we will carry after December 11? Call (615) 663-7865.

What you can still buy at our Cool Springs store in Franklin

Hemp-derived delta-9 THC products within Tennessee’s limits, and CBD products (see the federal note above). Browse by category, then come in to buy:

Questions we hear every day

Read the rules yourself

• TABC: frequently asked questions, including the hemp-derived cannabinoid section
• TABC: hemp-derived cannabinoid retail applicant guide (PDF)
• Public Chapter 526 as enacted (PDF), including the product limits in section 57-7-110
• Congressional Research Service: changes to the statutory definition of hemp, updated September 28, 2026
• Public Law 119-103, section 2019, which set the December 11 date

This page explains how the 2026 rules apply to what we sell. It is not legal advice. The TABC’s permanent rules (chapter 0100-16) took effect June 9, 2026; check the TABC’s own pages for the current position. Last reviewed October 16, 2026.