Is Delta-9 Legal in Tennessee? Recent Laws and Buying Options

Dave
January 9, 2025

So you want to get high legally in Tennessee. If not, kinda weird that you’re reading this article. Anyway, we’ve got good news for you.

Delta-9 products have been completely legal here since 2019 thanks to Tennessee Senate Bill 357, as long as they contain no more than 0.3% THC on a dry weight basis. If this number sounds familiar, it’s probably because these are the same guidelines the 2018 Farm Bill laid out on a federal level the year before.

But before you light up, there are two important exceptions to these laws: you gotta be 21 or older to buy or use any hemp-derived THC products. And, anything over that 0.3% THC limit is still considered marijuana, which Tennessee hasn’t legalized for medical or recreational use.

The state just updated their hemp laws in 2023, and there have been some changes of note, but no worries, man. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about how to stay out of hot water when it comes to Delta-9.

Tennessee Delta-9 Laws

Before we dig into the good stuff (like how you can get 100% legal THC gummies, THC drinks, THCa flower, and THCa prerolls on Cheechandchong.com), let’s go over Tennessee’s Delta-9 laws. They’re actually pretty straightforward, but there are some important updates you should know about.

Hemp-Derived Delta-9 THC Laws

Like we said earlier, hemp-derived Delta-9 THC is legal in Tennessee as long as it doesn’t exceed 0.3% THC content by dry weight. This matches up with federal law under the 2018 Farm Bill. Step over that line though, and you’ve left “hemp” territory and are now dealing with “marijuana”, which is still illegal in Tennessee.

Under the new bill signed into law in 2023, you’re no longer legally allowed to do the following while enjoying hemp-derived cannabinoids (like legal Delta-9):

Operate vehicles (that includes cars, boats, planes, whatever.)
Do any task that requires focus and attention, such as professional work, operating machinery, etc. (this one is weirdly vague, so be careful)

Part B of this law also says that both property owners and employers are allowed to tell you not to use Delta-9 on their turf.

And, of course, you have to be 21 or older to buy or use legal hemp products.

Trying to be the cool uncle and help some underage kids out? Don’t, man. Helping anyone underage get their hands on legal hemp products is a definite no-no under the new law.

But, as long as you’re 21 and following these rules, you’re legally allowed to get all the Delta-9 gummies and THCa vapes you want in the state of Tennessee.

Medical Marijuana Laws

Medical marijuana in Tennessee is honestly kind of a mess, man…

While plenty of bills have tried to set up a medical program, none have made it into law yet.

They do allow some low-dose oil for specific circumstances, but you can’t even buy it in state.

And if you actually manage to get your hands on it and want to use this oil legally, there are strict rules. It can’t have more than 0.9% THC, and the bottle needs a manufacturer’s label with details like expiration date and THC strength.

Plus, in order to qualify for the oil, you need to be dealing with a serious condition, like epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, ALS, end-stage cancer, MS, Parkinson’s, HIV/AIDS, sickle cell disease, or quadriplegia.

Even then, you’ll need a doctor’s note saying other treatments haven’t worked, and that note is only good for six months.

Are Other Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids Legal in Tennessee?

While we are quite partial to it, Delta-9 THC isn’t the only cannabinoid to think about. Here’s what else is legal in Tennessee.

Delta-8 THC, Delta-10 THC, and THCa Are Legal in Tennessee

Tennessee bundles all these together as “hemp-derived cannabinoids,” but they handle them differently than Delta-9. While Delta-9 products can contain up to 0.3% THC by weight, these other cannabinoid products have a stricter limit of 0.1%. Still legal though, and still a good time.

CBD Is Legal in Tennessee

Even though cannabidiol (CBD) can’t get you high, there’s a lot it can do. Folks love having access to it, and use it for everything from helping with anxiety, to relieving tension and pain, and even to help them sleep better.

Thankfully, CBD is completely legal in Tennessee as long as it doesn’t exceed 0.3% THC by weight.

Purchasing Delta-9 in Tennessee Legally and Safely

Tennessee used to be pretty laid back about hemp products, but in 2023 they got serious about regulation with Tenn. Code Ann. § 43-27.

Among other things, the new state laws set up rules for packaging and labeling of hemp products so you know exactly what you’re getting.

We actually love seeing regulations like this, because they make it way easier for you to know the products you’re getting are legal, and let you worry less about the safety of what you’re buying.

Federal law also states that the packaging on hemp products has to be tough to open. And before you start up about your arthritis, the reason behind it is to make sure all packaging is child-resistant, and that at least 85% of kids can’t figure out how to open them without help.

Checking the Label of Your Delta-9 Products

Tennessee wants you to know exactly what you’re getting, so they’ve got some strict rules about what needs to be on those labels. According to Tenn. Code Ann. § 43-27-209, all labels have to include the following:

Ingredients and Nutritional Information: Just like your to-go snacks when you get the munchies, all hemp-derived products need a full list of ingredients, including any allergens. They also need that black and white nutrition facts panel so you know all the details about what you’re putting in your body.
Warnings: The label has to let you know these products can affect your mind and body. There’s also the usual “keep away from kids” warning required, and anything else the Tennessee Department of Agriculture decides you need to know.
Cannabinoid Content: No surprises here. Labels must show exactly how many milligrams of cannabinoids (like THC) are in each serving and the whole package.
Product Specifications: This is basic stuff like the weight of the product and when it expires. Simple but important.
Testing Transparency: Every product needs a QR code that takes you to all the details about testing, including batch numbers, dates, and exactly what’s in there.

Speaking of labels and testing, you can check out all Cheech and Chong’s Delta-9 products and lab results right on our website. Whether you’re into gummies, drinks, or vapes, we’ve got what you need, and it’s all Tennessee-legal.

Can Your Employer Drug Test for Delta-9 in Tennessee?

Here’s where things get a little tricky…

Even though Delta-9 products are legal in Tennessee when they’re not above 0.3% THC by weight , employers can still say “no” to any cannabis use.

The law actually gives them the right to drug test you and doesn’t require them to make any exceptions for legal Delta-9 use.

If you’re working in Tennessee and you’re reading this article, pay very close attention to this next part…

Just because your Delta-9 is legal does NOT mean you’ll pass a drug test.

Drug tests can’t tell the difference between legal Delta-9 and illegal marijuana, so you’ll fail either way. And THC can show up in your urine for up to 30 days, and it sticks around in your blood, saliva, and hair for different lengths of time too. Better check your company’s policy before you decide to light up.

Tennessee Delta-9 Possession Laws

So, we’ve covered what’s legal, and we’ve even shown you where you can buy Delta-9 products (in case you forget, it’s from us, at Cheechandchong.com).

The next most important thing is what you can get caught with, and not get in trouble for…might not seem like it, but these are kind of different things.

Even though you can legally buy hemp-derived Delta-9 THC (as long as it’s no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight), you don’t want to get caught holding any unused product without its original packaging. Since cops can’t tell the difference between legal weed and illegal weed, getting caught without your packaging could lead to a Class C misdemeanor.

In fact, Tennessee takes this so seriously, they’ve written about it specifically in their laws.

The exact wording is as follows:

“(b) A person who obtains a product containing a hemp-derived cannabinoid that is sold at retail shall store any unconsumed portion of the product in its original packaging. It is a Class C misdemeanor offense for a person to violate this subsection (b).” (Tenn. Code Ann. § 43-27-209)

Yeah, they’re pretty serious about this. On top of that, having any kind of cannabis product that goes above that magic 0.3% number could mean even bigger problems. If you’re caught with anything with more than 0.3% THC now you’re looking at a Schedule VI controlled substance charge.

The punishment for having illegal weed depends on how much you’re caught with. Getting caught with less than half an ounce gets you a Class A misdemeanor. But the penalties get way worse from there (based on the wording in sections Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-417):

Half an ounce to 10 pounds lands you a Class E felony with fines up to $5,000 and 1 to 6 years in jail
10 to 70 pounds? Now you’re looking at a Class D felony with up to $50,000 in fines and 2 to 12 years behind bars…yikes.