Following President Donald Trump’s executive order to ease restrictions on marijuana, some Tennesseans are hoping it will open the door to bring cannabis to the Volunteer State. The state does already allow for some cannabis type products like hemp and CBD, but medical and recreational marijuana are not legal. However, the state’s hemp industry will be changing too in 2026.
A new state law, signed by Governor Bill Lee back in May, will regulate “Hemp-Derived Cannabinoid Products.” The law bans THCa in concentrations of more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis. This is a non-intoxicating substance that when heated or smoked, can be converted into Delta-9, which can be intoxicating.
Madden said he’ll no longer sell THC vapes and flower and will reduce the amount in beverages and gummies to remain in compliance.
While medical and recreational marijuana are not coming to Tennessee any time soon, the president’s order earlier in the week does give lawmakers more legal standing for future proposals.
Local 3 News spoke with Curtis Harrington to learn more about the executive order and what it means for states like Tennessee. Harrington served on Tennessee’s Medical Marijuana Commission, created in 2021, and practices cannabis law in the state. Harrington told Local 3 News that medical marijuana could be on the horizons.
Now, he often visits jails and rehabilitation centers before performing concerts.
“As chair of the Medical Marijuana Commission of Tennessee, we had the privileged to interact with many legislators. On both sides of the aisle, it was made clear to us that they absolutely would,” said Harrington.
“By statute, it [Tennessee’s creation of the medical marijuana commission] says that this commission will serve as a resource for the study of federal and state laws regarding medical cannabis; and the preparation of legislation to establish and effective patient focused medical cannabis program in the state upon the rescheduling or rescheduling of marijuana from one of the CSA,” added Harrington.
(CNN) — President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday to expedite the reclassifi…
However, some Tennessee officials are standing firm against marijuana all together. Lt. Randy McNally shared this statement with Local 3 News:
“It is important to remember that Schedule III drugs are still tightly regulated and can only be dispensed by a pharmacist at the direction of a physician – and usually only for short term use. Recommended dosages would still have to be established and rules regarding how it would be dispensed would still have to be promulgated. While the federal change does allow easier study and testing of the drug, I have no interest in changing how we schedule marijuana in Tennessee. In my mind it remains a dangerous drug with little demonstrated medicinal efficacy.”
“We’re also asking Congress to reconsider its classification of hemp-derived CBD to ensure seniors can access CBD products they have found beneficial for pain and other reasons,” said President Donald Trump on Thursday while signing the executive order.
State lawmakers will be back in Nashville for the legislative session on January 13.
