Crossville businesswoman Maggie Clark believes a bevy of bills in the Tennessee legislature restricting hemp-related products will take the industry away from people who built it and give it to a “conglomerate.”
A grower, manufacturer and retailer of hemp products, Clark says her business, Cann-I-Help, and small stores across Tennessee will suffer, even after complying with federal and state laws for six years.
“I feel like they’re gonna take what I worked my ass off, blood, sweat and tears, from the ground up, boot-straps business, small business, woman-owned, woman-operated, and they’re gonna take that away from me and give it to somebody … who’s been operating federally illegally for the last 25 freaking years,” Clark says.
Numerous bills that will handcuff the industry are to be taken up this year, including one that would shift regulation of hemp and cannabinoid products to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission from the Department of Agriculture.
Under that measure, businesses would need $750,000 in assets to back their operations, according to Clark, who says she started her business with only $4,000.
“I built this business from the ground up with nothing, and now they’re gonna take that away from me?” Clark says.
The hemp industry has exploded since products were legalized in 2019, bringing in an estimated $280 million to $560 million in yearly sales, according to industry data.
House Bill 1376, which is sponsored by House Majority Leader Willam Lamberth of Portland and Republican Sen. Richard Briggs of Knoxville, would stop convenience stores from selling hemp and cannabidiol products and direct those exclusively to vape shops and liquor stores, which would be allowed to sell beverages containing low levels of THC, the main psychoactive compound from the cannabis plant.
Lamberth contends his legislation is necessary to make sure customers know they are buying potentially “dangerous” products.
“They’re clearly powerful intoxicants, and they’re THC-derived,” Lamberth says.
Hemp is distinguished from marijuana in that it contains a compound called delta-9 THC. Cannabis with a concentration of less than 0.3% delta-9 THC is defined as legal hemp in Tennessee – and federally. Cannabis with concentrations greater than .3% is classified as marijuana and is illegal to grow, sell or possess in Tennessee.
Hemp flowers also contain THCA, a nonintoxicating acid that has not been outlawed in Tennessee. When heated or smoked, the THCA in the plant converts into delta-9 THC – an illegal substance in Tennessee in greater than trace amounts.
Other bills would tax and regulate hemp-related businesses, remove two hemp items, THCA and THCP from the list of approved hemp-derived cannabinoids and further crack down on any business that sells a hemp-related product to anyone under 21.
Clark, who is opposed to legalizing marijuana, says the looming changes will drive customers back into the “black market,” at the expense of store owners and hemp farmers and manufacturers, who developed their businesses with the state’s help.
The Tennessee Fuel and Convenience Association also opposes Lamberth’s bill, saying retailers have experience selling “age-sensitive” products such as beer and cigarettes, in addition to hemp and CBD products.
“It’s troubling that the proposed legislation would exclude convenience and grocery stores, while favoring liquor stores, bars and restaurants,” the association said in a statement.
Rob Ikard, president of the Tennessee Grocers and Convenience Store Association, is taking a similar stance, because the bill removes grocery stores from hemp product sales as well.
“It will have a financial impact for sure,” Ikard says.
Hemp-infused seltzers are big sellers in grocery stores, taking the place of beer among younger customers, and they would be shipped over to liquor stores under this measure.
Lawmakers passed a bill two years ago setting up new guidelines on hemp products and were sued. The lawsuit remains in court.
The Department of Agriculture was prepared to force removal of items from store shelves last Dec. 25, but a Nashville judge ruled the sale of hemp products would remain legal until at least June.
Alex Little, a Nashville attorney who represents hemp growers, says the state will “kill” portions of the industry if not careful.
“There are some bills out there that will … result in thousands of jobs lost and millions of dollars of tax revenue off the table,” Little says.
For instance, if Lamberth’s bill maintains a TCHA prohibition, Little predicts a 50% reduction in sales and the loss of thousands of jobs.
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Tennessee Lookout is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Tennessee Lookout maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Holly McCall for questions: info@tennesseelookout.com.
SUMMARY: Desmond Mills Jr., a former Memphis officer who pleaded guilty, testified during the trial of Tadarrius Bean and others charged in Tyre Nichols’ 2023 death. Nichols was beaten after fleeing a traffic stop; footage showed officers laughing while Nichols struggled. Mills admitted hitting Nichols out of anger after accidentally pepper-spraying himself and regretted failing to stop the beating. Nichols died three days later from blunt force trauma. Defense argued Nichols resisted arrest, while prosecutors said officers were “overcome by the moment” and failed to intervene. The trial, moved from Memphis due to publicity, addresses charges including second-degree murder amid scrutiny of MPD’s conduct.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Kim Jarrett | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-30 12:15:00
(The Center Square) – Democrats and Republicans from three states are supporting a 287-mile trail that would include Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina.
The lawmakers are asking for a feasibility study on the Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail. U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., said Wednesday the trail deserves a national scenic designation.
“The Benton MacKaye Trail is an invaluable part of my district in East Tennessee that thousands of Tennesseans and Americans hike each year, and the trail connects some of the most beautiful and pristine parts of Tennessee with Georgia and North Carolina,” Fleischmann said.
The trail that winds through the Southern Appalachian Mountains was completed in 2005, according to Bob Cowdrick, president of the Benton MacKaye Trail Association, which has supported its development since 1980, according to the bill.
“This study would help protect our storied outdoor heritage for future generations, support local economies, and provide a wide array of recreation opportunities for everyone from day hikers to thru-hikers and solo trekkers to families,” Cowdrick said.
The trail’s path is made up of 95% of federal land. It passes through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Chattahoochee-Oconee, Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests. It begins at North Georgia’s Springer Mountain and ends at North Carolina’s Mount Sterling, according to the Benton MacKaye Trail Association.
The bill is cosponsored in the House by Democrats Steve Cohen of Tennessee and Lucy McBath of Georgia. Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., is also a cosponsor. Republican North Carolina Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd are cosponsoring it in the Senate with Rep. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga. The bill is currently in the House Natural Resources Committee.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The article reports on bipartisan support for a feasibility study on the Benton MacKaye National Scenic Trail, without advocating for a particular ideological stance. The language used is factual and neutral, primarily focusing on the collaboration between Democrats and Republicans from three states. The article does not show a clear bias in favor of one political party or the other. It simply highlights the specifics of the bill, its sponsors, and the potential benefits of the trail, such as supporting local economies and outdoor recreation. Therefore, it adheres to neutral, factual reporting without promoting a specific viewpoint.
The trio charged in a Tennessee political corruption case shared text messages in early 2020 complaining about the state’s failure to pay a mysterious vendor for work on lawmakers’ constituent mailers, at one point cursing the administrator in charge of handling invoices.
One text message from former Rep. Robin Smith of Hixson to ex-Speaker of the House Glen Casada said, “Connie’s a bi—.” Casada responded, “Agreed!”
Smith, who pleaded guilty in the fraud and kickback case and is cooperating with federal prosecutors, was referring to now-retired Legislative Administration Director Connie Ridley, who handled payments for the state’s postage and printing program for lawmakers. Ridley held up payments because of problems with W-9 tax forms by the vendor, Phoenix Solutions, which was run by former legislative aide Cade Cothren, and Casada, testimony showed.
Smith testified she was “highly frustrated” because Ridley approved work without having the federal tax documents on hand. Eventually, Cothren sent the state a W-9 signed as “Matthew Phoenix,” one of the key documents prosecutors are using in the case to show deception by Smith, Casada and Cothren to direct business to Phoenix Solutions without state officials or lawmakers knowing who was behind the company.
Casada and Cothren had stepped down from their posts at different points in 2019 because of a racist and sexist texting scandal. Casada remained in the General Assembly but not as House speaker.
Connie Ridley, former director of legislative administration, shown leaving Nashville’s federal courthouse on April 25, 2025. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
Another text displayed for the jury Tuesday showed the state had paid for work on a lawmaker’s constituent mailer but didn’t include taxes.
Smith and Cothren sent each other “incredulous” text messages and Smith added another one saying, “Quite the bullsh–.”
Smith, former chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party, met with Ridley to speed up payments in February 2020 when the state owed Phoenix Solutions $34,000 for work on several Republican lawmakers’ constituent mailers, including now-former Rep. Patsy Hazlewood of Signal Mountain, Rep. Dan Howell of Cleveland, Rep. Esther Helton-Haynes of East Ridge, Rep. Dennis Powers of Jacksboro, Rep. Susan Lynn of Mt. Juliet, Rep. Bud Hulsey of Bristol, Rep. Chris Hurt of Halls, Rep. Andrew Farmer of Sevierville and Smith and Casada.
Ridley testified earlier this week she didn’t find out Phoenix Solutions was run by Cothren until May 2020 when federal authorities told her to continue processing the New Mexico-based company’s invoices.
Earlier Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Eli Richardson ruled that prosecutors can present evidence showing the trio wanted to expand from constituent mailers, which are paid for with tax money, to House Republican Caucus work. Defense attorneys argued that the prosecutors should be limited to evidence about the postage and printing program because it is outlined in the indictment, not an effort to tap into caucus funds.
Tennessee Lookout is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Tennessee Lookout maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Holly McCall for questions: info@tennesseelookout.com.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Right
The content highlights a political corruption case involving Republican lawmakers in Tennessee, presenting factual details about legal proceedings, text communications, and testimonies. While it exposes misconduct within a specific party, the reporting style remains largely neutral and focused on the facts without overt editorializing or broad partisan critique. This aligns with a center-right bias, as it scrutinizes members of a right-leaning party but in a relatively balanced and fact-based manner typical of moderate conservative or center-right news coverage.
